Ezekiel 16:19 Meaning and Explanation
“My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even the food God provided for Jerusalem's sustenance is offered as sacrificial incense to idols.
The Context of Ezekiel 16:19
Jerusalem burns God's provisions as offerings to idols.
What Does Ezekiel 16:19 Mean?
Jerusalem takes the finest foods God gave her—fine flour, oil, and honey—and burns them as a 'sweet savor' before idols. These foods were meant to nourish and strengthen her, evidence of God's daily care. Instead, they are used in pagan worship, offered as an aroma pleasing to false gods.
This verse completes a devastating picture of wholesale inversion. Every gift—garments, jewels, oil, incense, and food—that signified God's abundance and covenant care is redirected toward idolatry. God summarizes this section by adding 'and thus it was,' confirming that Jerusalem's idolatrous practices are established facts, not mere accusations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 16:19
What does Ezekiel 16:19 mean?
Even the food God provided for Jerusalem's sustenance is offered as sacrificial incense to idols.
What is the context of Ezekiel 16:19?
Jerusalem burns God's provisions as offerings to idols.