Thee, Polluted: A Tale Of Passing By

when i passed by thee and saw thee polluted

The phrase when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood is a quote from the Bible, specifically Ezekiel 16:6. In this verse, God is speaking to Jerusalem, comparing its birth and nativity to that of someone cast out and left to die in their own blood. Despite this grim beginning, God commands Jerusalem to Live and thrive like a plant in the field, growing tall and beautiful. This verse highlights the transformative power of God's word and the potential for growth and redemption, even in the face of adversity.

Characteristics Values
Verse Ezekiel 16:6
Speaker God
Addressee Jerusalem
Command Live
Context Jerusalem's birth and nativity

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The speaker passes by and sees the addressee in their own blood

The speaker, God, addresses Jerusalem, describing a vision of the city's birth and early vulnerability. In this vision, God sees Jerusalem helpless and bloody, "polluted in [its] own blood". Despite this inauspicious beginning, God commands Jerusalem to "Live".

God then describes Jerusalem's growth and development, comparing it to the blossoming of a plant in the field. God notes how Jerusalem grew tall and beautiful, with breasts and hair, yet naked and bare. This imagery reflects the city's emergence as a powerful entity, adorned with "excellent ornaments".

As God passes by again, God sees that Jerusalem is now "old enough for love". God covers Jerusalem's nakedness with a skirt, entering into a covenant and declaring Jerusalem as God's own. This covenant signifies a sacred agreement between God and the city, marking a pivotal moment in their relationship.

Despite Jerusalem's initial state of pollution and vulnerability, God's intervention transforms it into a thriving entity. God's command to "Live" is not just a call to existence but also a blessing of prosperity and growth. This passage illustrates God's power to bring life and beauty out of suffering and despair, reflecting God's grace and compassion towards Jerusalem.

The phrase "when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood" captures a critical moment in this narrative. It serves as a reminder of Jerusalem's humble beginnings and the divine intervention that shaped its destiny. God's words, "Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live," convey a powerful message of hope and resilience, indicating that even in the midst of blood and struggle, there is a possibility for survival and flourishing.

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The speaker tells the addressee to live

In Ezekiel 16:6, the speaker, God, commands the addressee, Jerusalem, to live despite being polluted in their own blood. This passage reflects God's compassion and desire for life, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.

The speaker's instruction to "live" is a powerful and direct command. It serves as a testament to the speaker's ability and willingness to impart life and transform situations. By issuing this command, the speaker demonstrates their authority and sovereignty over life and death.

The speaker's words "when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live" highlight their active involvement and personal witness to the addressee's condition. Despite the pollution and bloodshed, the speaker chooses to bestow life and offer a chance for growth and transformation.

The speaker's instruction to live extends beyond mere existence. As seen in the subsequent verses of Ezekiel 16, the speaker helps the addressee to thrive and flourish like a plant in the field. This growth is described as an increase and a journey toward greatness, where the addressee attains excellent ornaments and enters a covenant with the speaker.

The speaker's command to live is an empowering act that not only offers life but also provides the necessary conditions for growth and development. It is a testament to the speaker's commitment to the addressee's well-being and their desire for them to reach their full potential. The speaker's words serve as a reminder that life is a gift and a call to embrace it fully, even in challenging and polluted circumstances.

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The speaker washes the addressee and covers their nakedness

In Ezekiel 16:6-8, the speaker, who is God, finds the addressee, Jerusalem, polluted in her own blood. God commands Jerusalem to live and thrive like a plant in the field. In verse 8, God describes how Jerusalem has grown and developed, with her breasts formed and hair grown, yet she is still naked and bare.

The speaker then washes the addressee and covers their nakedness. God says, "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness" (Ezekiel 16:8). God makes a covenant with Jerusalem, saying, "Yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine" (Ezekiel 16:8).

The washing of the addressee is mentioned in the previous verse, Ezekiel 16:7, where God says, "Then I caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness" (Ezekiel 16:7-8).

The speaker's actions of washing the addressee and covering their nakedness can be seen as symbolic of God's grace and mercy towards Jerusalem. The pollution mentioned in verse 6 could be interpreted as sin or impurity, which God washes away through God's covenant with Jerusalem. The covering of Jerusalem's nakedness could also symbolize God's protection and care for the city.

Overall, the passage illustrates God's compassion and willingness to restore and redeem Jerusalem, despite her previous state of pollution and nakedness.

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The speaker enters into a covenant with the addressee

The speaker in this passage from Ezekiel 16:6-8 is God, who is addressing the city of Jerusalem. In the passage, God recalls how He passed by Jerusalem and saw it polluted in its own blood. Despite the city's pitiful state, God commanded it to live and thrive like a plant in the field. God caused the city to multiply and grow, just as a bud grows in the field.

As the city grew and developed, God passed by again and saw that it was old enough for love. God then spread His skirt over the city, covering its nakedness and entering into a covenant with it. This covenant is a solemn agreement or promise between God and the city, indicating a special relationship and protection.

The exact nature of the covenant is not explicitly stated in the passage, but it implies a commitment from God to watch over and care for the city. By entering into this covenant, God is pledging His faithfulness and protection to Jerusalem. In return, the city becomes God's possession, indicating a special relationship and dedication to Him.

The imagery used in this passage is rich and symbolic. The city's pollution and nakedness represent its vulnerable and pitiful state, while the blood could symbolize violence, sacrifice, or sin. God's act of covering the city with His skirt signifies His grace, mercy, and willingness to cleanse and restore.

Through this covenant, God is promising to transform and elevate the city, just as He caused it to grow and flourish. This passage reflects God's compassion and faithfulness, as He chooses to enter into a relationship with Jerusalem despite its polluted state. It demonstrates God's desire to bring life and restoration, even in the midst of brokenness and despair.

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The addressee is likened to an infant

In the Bible verse Ezekiel 16:6, the speaker is addressing someone whom they have seen "polluted in [their] own blood". The addressee is likened to an infant, helpless and vulnerable, as they are described as "kicking about in [their] own blood". Despite this vulnerable state, the speaker commands the addressee to "Live!" and helps them to thrive and grow like a plant in a field.

The speaker's language and actions towards the addressee convey a sense of tenderness and care akin to that offered to an infant. The speaker covers the addressee's nakedness with their skirt, an act of protection and intimacy. This action also symbolizes the establishment of a covenant between the speaker and the addressee, indicating a deep and sacred bond.

The addressee's growth is described in detail, from their initial vulnerable state to their development into a beautiful and ornamented being with formed breasts and grown hair. This transformation mirrors an infant's journey into adulthood, emphasizing the nurturing and supportive role of the speaker.

The speaker's words, "Live! Grow up like a plant in the field!", serve as an encouragement for the addressee to not only survive but also to flourish and reach their full potential. The speaker's intervention and guidance play a pivotal role in the addressee's transformation, much like the care and attention an infant receives from their caregiver.

The verse, therefore, presents a powerful message of hope and redemption, where the speaker's compassion and dedication enable the addressee to overcome their initial state of pollution and vulnerability, blossoming into a thriving and adorned individual.

Frequently asked questions

The phrase is from Ezekiel 16:6 in the King James Version of the Bible. It is God speaking to Jerusalem, telling them to live despite being polluted in their own blood.

This phrase could refer to a state of sinfulness or impurity, as blood is often associated with life and purity in the Bible.

God is commanding Jerusalem to survive and thrive despite their state of sinfulness or impurity. This could be interpreted as a call to repentance and a promise of redemption.

The passage speaks of God's compassion and covenant with Jerusalem. Despite their state of sinfulness or impurity, God chooses to cover their nakedness and enter into a relationship with them.

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