Kiera Jefferson
The phrase when I saw thee polluted in thine own blood is derived from the Bible, specifically Ezekiel 16:6-8. In this passage, the speaker, presumably God, addresses Jerusalem, describing how they found her helpless and covered in her own blood. Despite her state, the speaker tells her to Live! and helps her to thrive and grow, just like a plant in a field. The speaker then forms a covenant with her, promising to protect and care for her.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Verse | Ezekiel 16:6-8 |
| Speaker | Lord Jehovah/Lord GOD |
| Addressee | Jerusalem |
| Quote | "And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live." |
| Context | Jerusalem is described as having been cast out and unpitied at birth. The speaker then passes by and sees Jerusalem in her blood, telling her to live and helping her to thrive and grow. |
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What You'll Learn
- The speaker commands the addressee to live despite being polluted in their own blood
- The addressee is described as naked and bare, lacking clothing to cover their nakedness
- The speaker enters into a covenant with the addressee, declaring them as theirs
- The addressee grows and develops, reaching puberty and attaining physical maturity
- The speaker expresses their desire for the addressee to thrive and multiply like plants in a field
The speaker commands the addressee to live despite being polluted in their own blood
The speaker in this passage is issuing a command to live to an addressee who is described as being "polluted in [their] own blood." The speaker's words are powerful and direct, with a clear instruction to the addressee to survive and thrive despite the apparent pollution of their blood.
The speaker's command to "live" is repeated for emphasis, indicating the importance and urgency of the message. The speaker does not elaborate on the nature of the pollution, but the addressee is described as being in a state of misery, filth, and nakedness. Despite this, the speaker offers hope and the promise of a transformation.
The speaker instructs the addressee to grow and flourish like a plant in a field, suggesting a renewal and a fresh start. The speaker promises to cover the addressee's nakedness and to enter into a covenant with them, offering protection and a relationship with the Lord. The speaker's words suggest a journey of growth and development, from a state of helplessness and pollution to one of beauty and ornamentation.
The passage conveys a message of redemption and transformation. Despite the addressee's polluted state, the speaker commands them to live and offers the opportunity for a new beginning. The speaker's words provide encouragement and a path forward, with the promise of the Lord's guidance and protection.
The repetition of the word "live" serves as a powerful refrain throughout the passage. It emphasizes the speaker's determination and insistence that the addressee overcomes their current state. The speaker's command is a call to action, urging the addressee to embrace life and rise above their challenging circumstances.
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The addressee is described as naked and bare, lacking clothing to cover their nakedness
The Bible passage in question is Ezekiel 16:6-8, in which God speaks to Jerusalem, describing her as "polluted in thine own blood". This is a metaphorical expression of God's disappointment and anger at Jerusalem's sins. The city, personified as a woman, is depicted as lying helpless and bloody, with God commanding her to "Live!".
God then describes how he helped Jerusalem to thrive and grow, like a plant in a field. This growth is described in positive terms, with references to beauty, ornaments, and the development of breasts and hair. However, despite this growth and the attainment of "excellent ornaments", Jerusalem is described as "naked and bare, lacking clothing to cover their nakedness". This description highlights a state of vulnerability and exposure, implying that despite Jerusalem's development, she is still lacking in some essential way.
The passage continues with God's promise to cover Jerusalem's nakedness, a gesture that symbolizes protection and intimacy. By spreading his skirt or robe over her, God enters into a covenant with Jerusalem, claiming her as his own. This act of covering suggests a restoration of dignity and a promise of protection and care.
The contrast between Jerusalem's growth and development and her state of nakedness highlights a sense of vulnerability and exposure. Despite attaining beauty and ornaments, the absence of clothing underscores a lack of protection and a need for divine intervention. God's act of covering her nakedness signifies a transformative moment, where God not only shields Jerusalem from harm but also establishes a sacred bond with her.
This passage illustrates God's compassion and willingness to restore and redeem Jerusalem, despite her past sins and state of vulnerability. It also emphasizes the power dynamic between God and Jerusalem, with God taking on the role of protector and savior, and Jerusalem as the dependent and vulnerable recipient of God's grace and mercy.
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The speaker enters into a covenant with the addressee, declaring them as theirs
The speaker, the Lord God, addresses the addressee, Jerusalem, in the second person. The Lord God describes finding Jerusalem helpless and "polluted in [her] own blood", and commands her to "Live". The Lord God then describes helping Jerusalem to thrive and grow, comparing her growth to that of a plant in a field. Jerusalem becomes beautiful, with "excellent ornaments": her breasts have formed and her hair has grown.
Despite Jerusalem's nakedness, the Lord God enters into a covenant with her, covering her with his skirt and declaring her to be his. The Lord God promises to wash Jerusalem and anoint her with oil, symbolically cleansing her of her blood.
The covenant between the Lord God and Jerusalem is a solemn agreement that creates a bond between the two parties. By entering into this covenant, the Lord God is declaring Jerusalem to be under his protection and care. The Lord God has taken Jerusalem, who was once helpless and polluted, and transformed her into a source of beauty and life.
The imagery of blood and pollution in the passage suggests that Jerusalem was once in a state of sin or impurity. The Lord God's command to "Live" can be interpreted as a call to repentance and a promise of forgiveness. The covenant between the Lord God and Jerusalem is a symbol of their renewed relationship, with Jerusalem now belonging to the Lord God.
The passage reflects a theme of redemption and transformation, with the Lord God taking something polluted and making it beautiful and holy. The covenant between the Lord God and Jerusalem is a symbol of their sacred bond and Jerusalem's newfound status as the Lord God's beloved.
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The addressee grows and develops, reaching puberty and attaining physical maturity
The addressee, having been left for dead, is given new life and told to "grow up like a plant in the field". They grow tall and beautiful, their breasts form, and their hair grows, but they are naked and without clothes. The addressee reaches physical maturity, and their body is ready for love.
As the addressee grows and develops, they are watched over. Their nakedness is covered, and a covenant is made with them, marking a new stage in their development. The addressee has multiplied and become great, attaining physical maturity and beauty.
The addressee's growth and development are presented as a transformation from a state of misery and filth to one of beauty and maturity. The image of the addressee growing like a plant in a field is a powerful one, conveying a sense of natural, vibrant life.
The addressee's nakedness is also significant. Despite their physical maturity, they are described as being "stark naked" or "naked and bare". This vulnerability is addressed by the one who watches over them, who covers their nakedness and enters into a covenant with them.
The covenant marks a turning point in the addressee's development, as they are now protected and cared for. The addressee's growth and attainment of physical maturity are thus presented as a journey from vulnerability to strength, guided by a higher power.
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The speaker expresses their desire for the addressee to thrive and multiply like plants in a field
In this passage, the speaker, identified as the Lord God, comes across the addressee, who is described as being in a state of distress, "kicking about in [their] own blood". Despite this grim beginning, the speaker commands the addressee to "Live!" and helps them to thrive and grow like a plant in a field. The addressee is then described as growing and developing, eventually becoming beautiful, with formed breasts and grown hair, though still naked and without clothes.
The speaker's desire for the addressee to thrive and multiply like plants in a field is a powerful metaphor for growth and transformation. Despite the addressee's initial state of distress and pollution, the speaker sees their potential and commands them to live and grow. This growth is described in lush, natural imagery, with the addressee thriving like a plant and multiplying like the buds of the field.
The speaker's use of the phrase "like plants in a field" conveys a sense of abundance and fertility. Plants in a field grow freely and abundantly, nourished by the sun and rain. They multiply and spread, covering the earth with their beauty and usefulness. The speaker wishes the same for the addressee, that they may grow and spread, becoming numerous and strong.
The image of plants growing in a field also evokes a sense of natural beauty and harmony. Plants grow in fields according to their own natural rhythms, each contributing to the overall beauty and balance of the ecosystem. The speaker wishes for the addressee to find their own place in this natural harmony, to grow and thrive in their own unique way, just as the plants in a field do.
Finally, the speaker's words convey a sense of hope and encouragement. By comparing the addressee to plants in a field, the speaker acknowledges the potential for growth and transformation, even in the face of adversity. No matter how polluted or distressed the addressee may be, the speaker believes in their ability to thrive and multiply, just as plants do, bringing beauty and life to the world around them.
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Frequently asked questions
This quote is from Ezekiel 16:6.
The Lord God says, "Live" once more, and the subject thrives like a plant in the field, growing tall and beautiful.
The Lord God is addressing Jerusalem, whose birth and nativity are described in the preceding verses.
