Eze 16:57 | KingComments | STEP | Then suddenly here is talk of a restoration that the LORD will give ( ). He will restore the captivity of Sodom and the neighboring cities and Samaria and the cities around it and Jerusalem. How great is God’s grace! To Jerusalem’s shame, this restoration will happen first with Sodom and Samaria ( ). The consolation spoken of here is also to the shame of Jerusalem, for it is the consolation of Sodom and Samaria that their wickedness has been less terrible than that of Jerusalem. The LORD will restore these three cities with their inhabitants and associated towns to their previous state, which is the state of the time before committing their abominations ( ). In her pride, Jerusalem did not even want to mention the name of Sodom ( ). That happened during the time when Jerusalem’s sin had not yet become fully manifest ( ). But that sin has now come clearly to light. As a result, Jerusalem herself is now an object of reproach of the nations around her. Her disgraceful behavior and her abominations will weigh on her ( ). All this happens to Jerusalem because she has despised the oath by which she committed herself to the LORD ( ). What Jerusalem has done toward the LORD, He will now do toward the city. He will also break His covenant with Jerusalem and cast her down in reproach and disgrace. That speaks of a restoration of Sodom raises the question of how that could happen. After all, Sodom has been completely overturned. Not a single Sodomite survived and the area of Sodom became an eternal wasteland ( ; ; ; ; ). So what about the restoration of which the LORD speaks here? To this question the commentaries do not give an unequivocal answer. The well-known German Scripture commentator Keil assumes that this verse speaks of the literal Sodom. Only he does not see in this a restoration on earth, but he sees the fulfillment of this prophecy in eternity. However, in light of what we read in the letter of Jude, that cannot be the explanation ( ). There it says: “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Keil’s statement even goes in the direction of the false doctrine of the universal atonement. Adherents of that false doctrine therefore use this verse as an argument for their false doctrine. This has come to my attention in an exchange of letters I had with an adherent of this doctrine. From the various explanations, the following statement appeals to me the most and I submit it to the reader for consideration. We can think here of Sodom in terms of Lot and his descendants. Lot and his daughters were the only ones who did not ultimately perish in the judgment that God brought upon Sodom. Lot’s posterity, which he fathered with his daughters, consists of Ammon and Moab ( ). The restoration, according to this statement, will actually take place in the restoration of Ammon and Moab ( ).

‏ Ezekiel 16:57

Promise of Restoration

Then suddenly here is talk of a restoration that the LORD will give (Eze 16:53). He will restore the captivity of Sodom and the neighboring cities and Samaria and the cities around it and Jerusalem. How great is God’s grace! To Jerusalem’s shame, this restoration will happen first with Sodom and Samaria (Eze 16:54). The consolation spoken of here is also to the shame of Jerusalem, for it is the consolation of Sodom and Samaria that their wickedness has been less terrible than that of Jerusalem.

The LORD will restore these three cities with their inhabitants and associated towns to their previous state, which is the state of the time before committing their abominations (Eze 16:55). In her pride, Jerusalem did not even want to mention the name of Sodom (Eze 16:56). That happened during the time when Jerusalem’s sin had not yet become fully manifest (Eze 16:57). But that sin has now come clearly to light. As a result, Jerusalem herself is now an object of reproach of the nations around her. Her disgraceful behavior and her abominations will weigh on her (Eze 16:58).

All this happens to Jerusalem because she has despised the oath by which she committed herself to the LORD (Eze 16:59). What Jerusalem has done toward the LORD, He will now do toward the city. He will also break His covenant with Jerusalem and cast her down in reproach and disgrace.

That Eze 16:55 speaks of a restoration of Sodom raises the question of how that could happen. After all, Sodom has been completely overturned. Not a single Sodomite survived and the area of Sodom became an eternal wasteland (Deu 29:23; Isa 1:9; Jer 49:18; 2Pet 2:6; Jude 1:7). So what about the restoration of which the LORD speaks here? To this question the commentaries do not give an unequivocal answer.

The well-known German Scripture commentator Keil assumes that this verse speaks of the literal Sodom. Only he does not see in this a restoration on earth, but he sees the fulfillment of this prophecy in eternity. However, in light of what we read in the letter of Jude, that cannot be the explanation (Jude 1:7). There it says: “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Keil’s statement even goes in the direction of the false doctrine of the universal atonement. Adherents of that false doctrine therefore use this verse as an argument for their false doctrine. This has come to my attention in an exchange of letters I had with an adherent of this doctrine.

From the various explanations, the following statement appeals to me the most and I submit it to the reader for consideration. We can think here of Sodom in terms of Lot and his descendants. Lot and his daughters were the only ones who did not ultimately perish in the judgment that God brought upon Sodom. Lot’s posterity, which he fathered with his daughters, consists of Ammon and Moab (Gen 19:30-38). The restoration, according to this statement, will actually take place in the restoration of Ammon and Moab (Jer 48:47 ; Jer 49:6).