and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse uses a striking metaphor: Jerusalem's "birth" and "nativity" are not just from the land of Canaan, but specifically from an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This isn't just about geography; it's about character, accusing Jerusalem of inheriting the deepest moral corruption and idolatrous practices of these notorious Canaanite peoples.
and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God, through Ezekiel, is about to launch into a powerful, allegorical history of Jerusalem, stripping away any pride in her perceived status. He declares that her origin wasn't divine, but rather from the very pagan nations of Canaan, personified by an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This sets the stage for a harsh unveiling of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, comparing her spiritual adultery to the corruption of her supposed "ancestors."
God uses a powerful metaphor to describe Jerusalem's origin. It's not about where its buildings were first laid, but where its very character was formed.
The Lord tells Ezekiel that Jerusalem's 'birth and nativity' are from the land of Canaan, with the Amorites as father and Hittites as mother. This isn't just a historical or geographical statement. The Hebrew word translated 'birth' (and related terms) can also evoke the image of 'digging out' or 'cutting stone from a quarry.'
A Foundation of Corruption
This imagery suggests that Jerusalem’s fundamental nature, its very core, was hewn from the morally corrupt bedrock of Canaanite society. The Amorites and Hittites were among the most prominent and wicked of the peoples inhabiting the land, known for their idolatry and debauchery. By declaring them Jerusalem's 'parents,' God is saying the city's foundational identity was deeply intertwined with the very corruption He had condemned and driven out.
It's like saying a building's foundation was laid with cursed stones – the structure itself is compromised from the start.
Jerusalem prided itself on its lineage from Abraham. But God flips this, showing that actions, not just blood, define who we truly are.
The people of Jerusalem likely saw themselves as distinct and superior to the Canaanites, tracing their spiritual lineage back to Abraham. However, God declares their 'father' was an Amorite and their 'mother' a Hittite. This is a shocking indictment!
Imitation Over Inheritance
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This declaration means that Jerusalem, despite its Abrahamic roots, had so deeply adopted the wicked practices and corrupt morals of the Canaanites that God considered them spiritually descended from them. Their 'birth' and 'nativity' in Canaan, and their subsequent 'dealings' (another possible meaning for a Hebrew word used here), mirrored the very people they were supposed to displace.
God is highlighting that true identity isn't merely about who your ancestors were, but about who you resemble in character and conduct. The Jews had become like the Canaanites they were meant to conquer and cleanse.
Understand the original words
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The Adonai (Lord/Master) who holds sovereign authority over all things. It signifies His supreme power and His role as the rightful Ruler over Jerusalem and all nations.
kena'ani · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A designation for the people and culture of Canaan, often associated with idolatry, moral corruption, and those who stood in opposition to the covenant purposes of God for Israel.
emori · Hebrew Noun
A generic term for early inhabitants of the land of Canaan, frequently associated with the pagan cultures that Israel was commanded to displace or separate from.
chitti · Hebrew Noun
A prominent ancient Near Eastern people group often cited in the Bible as one of the nations Israel was to displace; they are associated with the lineage of the land's original, non-Israelite inhabitants.
By calling Jerusalem's origins 'Amorite' and 'Hittite,' Ezekiel is not just speaking of ethnic ancestry but of the city's deep-seated history of idolatry and corrupt practices that mirrored its pre-Israelite inhabitants, a spiritual inheritance that led to its current downfall.
c. 2000 BC - 1600 BC
Amorite and Hittite Dominance
The Amorites and Hittites were major powers in Canaan and the wider Near East, establishing kingdoms and empires.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham Enters Canaan
Abraham, a Chaldean, journeys to Canaan and sojourns there, forming a covenant relationship with God. His descendants, Isaac and Jacob, are born in the land.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Settle in Canaan
Following the Exodus, the Israelites conquer and settle in the land of Canaan, displacing or absorbing the existing Canaanite populations, including remnants of Amorite and Hittite groups.
c. 1000 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, establishing it as the capital of unified Israel. The city was previously inhabited by Canaanites.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its population and scattering them among other conquered peoples.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and exiles much of the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage directly parallels Ezekiel's imagery of 'birth' as 'origin,' using the metaphor of being 'hewn from rock' and 'dug from a pit' to emphasize lineage and foundational identity.
John 8:44Jesus uses a similar, strong metaphor when confronting the religious leaders, calling them children of the devil, to highlight their spiritual heritage and corrupt actions overriding their physical lineage.
Genesis 15:16This verse directly mentions the Amorites as one of the peoples whose iniquity filled the land God promised to Abraham, setting the stage for why associating Jerusalem with them carries such grave condemnation.
Amos 2:9Amos also uses the Amorites as a representative people of Canaanite corruption, stating 'the Amorite stood before them,' showing a consistent prophetic theme of indicting Israel by their wicked predecessors.
This passage from the Apocrypha echoes Ezekiel's strong language, directly calling someone a 'seed of Canaan, and not of Judah,' to accuse them of being corrupted by lust and deception, mirroring the spiritual degradation Ezekiel addresses.
cambridgeEzekiel 16:3: "And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite."
3 . Thy birth … land of Canaan ] of the Canaanite. “Birth” is origin (ch. Ezekiel 21:30 , Ezekiel 29:14 ), the figure being taken from a mine or a quarry, cf. Isaiah 51:1 , “Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.” When Jerusalem’s origin is said to be from the land of the Canaa…
barnesEzekiel 16:3: "And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite."
Birth - See the margin; the word represents "origin" under the figure of "cutting out stone from a quarry" (compare Isaiah 51:1 ). An Amorite - the Amorite, a term denoting the whole people. The Amorites, being a principal branch of the Canaanites, are often taken to represent the whole stock Genesis 15:16; 2 Kings 21:11. An…
The verse uses a striking metaphor: Jerusalem's "birth" and "nativity" are not just from the land of Canaan, but specifically from an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This isn't just about geography; it's about character, accusing Jerusalem of inheriting the deepest moral corruption and idolatrous practices of these notorious Canaanite peoples.
God, through Ezekiel, is about to launch into a powerful, allegorical history of Jerusalem, stripping away any pride in her perceived status. He declares that her origin wasn't divine, but rather from the very pagan nations of Canaan, personified by an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This sets the stage for a harsh unveiling of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, comparing her spiritual adultery to the corruption of her supposed "ancestors."
God, through Ezekiel, is about to launch into a powerful, allegorical history of Jerusalem, stripping away any pride in her perceived status. He declares that her origin wasn't divine, but rather from the very pagan nations of Canaan, personified by an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This sets the stage for a harsh unveiling of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, comparing her spiritual adultery to the corruption of her supposed "ancestors."
"and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite." — The verse uses a striking metaphor: Jerusalem's "birth" and "nativity" are not just from the land of Canaan, but specifically from an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. This isn't just about geogra…
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Last reviewed October 2026