“I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse speaks of restoring Sodom and Samaria alongside Judah, a surprising inclusion given their notorious wickedness. It suggests that God's ultimate plan of redemption might even encompass those considered utterly lost, bringing them back into fellowship within the restored community.
“I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst,
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, God is speaking through Ezekiel to address Jerusalem's deep unfaithfulness and the severe judgment she deserves, comparing her to her wicked "sisters," Sodom and Samaria. While the preceding verses detail the extent of Jerusalem's sin and God's impending wrath, this verse surprisingly shifts to speak of restoration, albeit in a way that emphasizes the utter impossibility for such wicked cities to ever be revived. The promise of restoring Jerusalem is thus framed in relation to the equally impossible revival of Sodom and Samaria, underscoring that any future restoration for Judah would be solely by God's grace and not by her own merit.
Imagine being told your hope hinges on Sodom and Samaria being restored. Sounds impossible, right? Yet, God's promise here is even more radical than it first appears.
A Promise Built on Impossibility
Ezekiel is speaking to Jerusalem, which has fallen into deep sin and faces imminent judgment. In this verse, God uses a seemingly impossible condition for restoration: the restoration of Sodom and Samaria.
God's point is stark: If they can be restored, then Jerusalem can be. This language emphasizes that Jerusalem's own restoration is not based on its merit, but entirely on God's sovereign grace, stretching even to the most unlikely.
More Than Just a Return from Exile
The 'captivity' being turned isn't just about returning from a physical exile. It's about a 'turning of fortunes,' a complete reversal from ruin to prosperity, from judgment to favor. This phrase highlights God's power to reverse even the most definitive-sounding outcomes.
Ask a follow-up
What does Sodom, the ultimate symbol of divine judgment, have to do with God's mercy? This verse redefines the boundaries of God's grace.
The 'Daughters' of Sin
God doesn't just mention Sodom and Samaria, but also their 'daughters.' This refers to the surrounding cities and nations, often partners in their sin and judgment. By including them, God broadens the scope of His promise even further.
A Universal Promise of Grace
The commentary suggests that this promise points beyond just the physical restoration of a remnant of Israel. It hints at a future where even those nations, and peoples comparable to Sodom and Samaria in their sin, will be brought into God's favor.
This is a profound theological statement: God's restorative power isn't limited to the 'chosen' but extends to the very nations that were associated with their worst sins. It foreshadows a time when God's people will be restored 'in the midst' of these transformed nations, signifying a radical reordering.
Understand the original words
shuv · Hebrew Verb
Used in a legal or covenantal sense, it refers to the return of a person or people to a previous condition of favor, prosperity, or status, often implying divine intervention to reverse judgment.
The prophet Ezekiel uses the historical destruction of Samaria and the ancient annihilation of Sodom to frame a stark message: Jerusalem's restoration is presented as conditional upon the impossible return of these utterly destroyed cities, emphasizing the depth of Judah's sin and the absolute necessity of God's grace for any future hope.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, with its capital Samaria, is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Its population is exiled, and foreign peoples are resettled in the land, marking the end of Israel as a distinct kingdom.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah, including its capital Jerusalem, is conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The Temple is destroyed, and a significant portion of the population is exiled to Babylon.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus' Edict and Return from Exile
The Persian king Cyrus the Great issues an edict allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the restoration period for Judah.
c. 536 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple Begins
The first wave of Jewish returnees begins the arduous task of rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple, facing significant opposition and hardship.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Under the leadership of Nehemiah, with Persian support, the walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt, providing crucial security and symbolic restoration for the post-exilic community.
c. 400 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry and Prophecy
The prophet Ezekiel delivers his oracles, including this powerful message of judgment and hope, likely during the Babylonian exile or shortly after.
This passage also speaks of a future restoration where Israel, Egypt, and Assyria will be brought together in blessing, mirroring Ezekiel's vision of restoring historically wicked nations alongside Judah.
Jeremiah 48:47This prophecy speaks of restoring the fortunes of Moab, a nation descended from Lot (and thus symbolically linked to Sodom), showing a pattern of God's mercy extending beyond expected boundaries.
Luke 17:29-30Jesus references the destruction of Sodom as a benchmark for future judgment, but also hints at a future restoration that makes even that seemingly final judgment seem like a prelude.
Romans 11:25-26Paul discusses a future 'full inclusion' of the Gentiles and the subsequent salvation of all Israel, suggesting a grander restoration where even those once considered far off (like Sodom) are brought into God's plan.
cambridgeEzekiel 16:53: "When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:"
53 . Sodom and Samaria shall be restored, and Jerusalem along with them. When I shall bring again ] Rather; and I will bring again. The phrase “turn the captivity” probably means: turn the fortunes (lit. the turning) of one. captivity of thy captives ] Most moderns by a sli…
calvinEzekiel 16:53: "When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:"
When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:
Et convertam captivitatem earum, captivitatem Sodomae et…
This verse speaks of restoring Sodom and Samaria alongside Judah, a surprising inclusion given their notorious wickedness. It suggests that God's ultimate plan of redemption might even encompass those considered utterly lost, bringing them back into fellowship within the restored community.
In this passage, God is speaking through Ezekiel to address Jerusalem's deep unfaithfulness and the severe judgment she deserves, comparing her to her wicked "sisters," Sodom and Samaria. While the preceding verses detail the extent of Jerusalem's sin and God's impending wrath, this verse surprisingly shifts to speak of restoration, albeit in a way that emphasizes the utter impossibility for such wicked cities to ever be revived. The promise of restoring Jerusalem is thus framed in relation to the equally impossible revival of Sodom and Samaria, underscoring that any future restoration for Judah would be solely by God's grace and not by her own merit.
In this passage, God is speaking through Ezekiel to address Jerusalem's deep unfaithfulness and the severe judgment she deserves, comparing her to her wicked "sisters," Sodom and Samaria. While the preceding verses detail the extent of Jerusalem's sin and God's impending wrath, this verse surprisingly shifts to speak of restoration, albeit in a way that emphasizes the utter impossibility for such wicked cities to ever be revived. The promise of restoring Jerusalem is thus framed in relation to the equally impossible revival of Sodom and Samaria, underscoring that any future restoration for Judah would be solely by God's grace and not by her own merit.
"“I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst," — This verse speaks of restoring Sodom and Samaria alongside Judah, a surprising inclusion given their notorious wickedness. It suggests that God's ultimate plan of redemption might even encompass th…
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Last reviewed October 2026