Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals a beautiful paradox: restoration doesn't erase the past, but intensifies the shame and memory of it. The ultimate act of God's grace in bringing other nations into His family isn't a reward for Jerusalem's faithfulness under the old covenant, but an entirely new gift, highlighting that their inclusion stems from God's sovereign mercy, not their broken promises.
Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet has been detailing Jerusalem's sinful past, comparing her to an unfaithful wife who betrayed her husband. Now, God shifts to a future of restoration, promising that even Jerusalem's former companions and enemies, symbolized as "sisters" like Sodom and Samaria, will be brought back. In this future, shame will replace pride as Jerusalem recognizes her past actions when these nations are welcomed into God's family, not because of Jerusalem's broken covenant, but by God's new, gracious promises.
God's restoration isn't about erasing our past, but about transforming how we remember it. What does it mean for your shame to become a sign of healing?
Think about it: even in the midst of incredible restoration and new relationships, Ezekiel's people are told they will 'remember their ways and be ashamed.' This isn't a sign that God's forgiveness failed, but that it's working.
The Memory That Mends
Normally, we might expect forgiveness to wipe the slate clean, to make us forget the bad stuff. But here, God's promise is different. The memory of past sins isn't erased; it's intensified and brought into the light of God's new grace. This intense remembrance leads to shame, but it's a godly shame – the kind that leads to genuine repentance and a turning away from those old ways. It’s the opposite of the defiant shame of guilt, which tries to hide. This is the humble shame of a cleansed heart recognizing its former ugliness.
Safeguarding New Blessings
This shame isn't punishment; it's protection. By remembering their past failures so vividly, Jerusalem is being equipped to cherish the new reality God is creating. It’s a safeguard against falling back into old patterns. When we truly grasp how far God has brought us, we’re less likely to wander away.
God’s family isn’t limited by earthly ties or past covenants. Discover how seemingly impossible relationships become reality in God's kingdom.
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This is where things get wild! Jerusalem, who has been unfaithful and is facing judgment, will receive her 'sisters' – historically representing those she looked down on (like Sodom and Samaria, and by extension, the Gentile nations) – as 'daughters.'
A Shift in Status
Imagine someone who's been kicked out of the club suddenly being asked to mentor new members. That’s the essence here. These 'sisters,' who were once seen as rivals or even enemies, are now brought into Jerusalem’s household in the closest possible relationship. They are given to her 'for daughters,' signifying a profound integration and a reversal of past hierarchies.
Beyond the Old Covenant
Crucially, this new family dynamic is established 'not by thy covenant.' Jerusalem broke the old covenant she had with God. This means the inclusion of these nations isn't based on her faithfulness or their ethnic background, but on something entirely new and God-initiated. It points forward to a new covenant where God's grace, not human works or lineage, defines who belongs to His family.
Our relationship with God isn't built on our track record but on His unwavering promise. What does it mean that God’s faithfulness is the foundation?
The phrase 'but not by thy covenant' is a critical theological anchor in this promise. It dramatically redefines the basis of belonging to God's people.
Breaking the Old Agreement
Jerusalem had demonstrably failed in her covenant obligations. She had broken her vows to God, acting like an unfaithful wife (as detailed throughout Ezekiel 16). Therefore, her continued inclusion, and the inclusion of the nations through her, could not possibly be based on her past performance or the Mosaic Covenant itself, which she had violated.
An Unconditional Promise
This points to a new reality – God’s new covenant. This new covenant isn't contingent on human obedience but on God’s sovereign, gracious initiative. It's rooted in His unchanging character and His original promise to Abraham that through his seed, all nations would be blessed. The inclusion of Gentiles as 'daughters' isn't a loophole; it’s the planned outworking of God’s eternal redemptive purpose, fulfilled in Christ, who perfectly upheld the covenant that humanity could not.
Understand the original words
zākar · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew word implies recalling past events or obligations, often leading to a change of heart, repentance, or an acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. It is not merely cognitive but involves a response that dictates present actions.
kālam · Hebrew Verb/Noun
In a biblical context, this is a deep sense of humiliation, dishonor, or disgrace before God due to one's sin. It is often the emotional fruit of repentance that arises when one realizes the gravity of their transgressions against a holy God.
berît · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, binding agreement or promise between God and His people, initiated solely by God's grace. It defines the relationship, stipulating God's commitment to be their God and the expectations of their faithfulness to Him.
This passage speaks to a future restoration where even former enemies and marginalized groups are brought into God's family. It highlights a profound shift from conditional, broken covenants to unconditional, grace-filled inclusion.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, with its capital Samaria, falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and the scattering of the ten tribes.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon, marking a devastating low point for Judah.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Visions Conclude
Ezekiel delivers his final visions, including the one in chapter 16, which offer hope for future restoration and a renewed covenant.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, initiating the post-exilic period.
Early 1st century AD
The New Covenant Emerges
The teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ inaugurate what theologians understand as the 'new covenant,' fulfilling promises of a renewed relationship with God.
This passage paints a beautiful picture of restoration and expansion for Jerusalem (representing God's people), where the barren woman shall have more children than the married woman, directly echoing the imagery of receiving 'sisters' as 'daughters' in Ezekiel 16:61.
Romans 9:24-26Paul quotes Hosea, explaining how God calls not only Jews but also Gentiles to Himself, showing that inclusion in God's family is not limited by ethnic or covenantal lines, which resonates with the idea of receiving 'sisters' not 'by thy covenant'.
Galatians 4:21-31This passage contrasts the children of the flesh (under the old covenant) with the children of promise (under the new covenant), using the allegory of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate that true spiritual lineage transcends the old covenant, mirroring the distinction made in Ezekiel regarding the new relationship.
Jeremiah 3:14-18Jeremiah also speaks of Israel's restoration and reconciliation, including the return of the 'children of Judah' and their dwelling with the 'children of Israel' in the land. This highlights the theme of re-gathering scattered family under a new divine relationship, similar to Ezekiel's vision.
pulpitEzekiel 16:61: "Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant."
Verse 61. - Then thou shalt remember thy ways, etc. The pardon which God gives is not, as men sometimes dream, a water of Lethe, blotting out the memory of the evil past. Ezekiel represents that memory as quickened to a new intensity in the very hour of restoration. The shame which it brings w…
clarkeEzekiel 16:61: "Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant."
Thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger - The Gentiles, who were before the Jews were called, and after the Jews were cast off, are here termed the elder and younger sister. These were to be given to Jerusalem for daughters; the latter should be converted to God by the ministry of men who sho…
This verse reveals a beautiful paradox: restoration doesn't erase the past, but intensifies the shame and memory of it. The ultimate act of God's grace in bringing other nations into His family isn't a reward for Jerusalem's faithfulness under the old covenant, but an entirely new gift, highlighting that their inclusion stems from God's sovereign mercy, not their broken promises.
The prophet has been detailing Jerusalem's sinful past, comparing her to an unfaithful wife who betrayed her husband. Now, God shifts to a future of restoration, promising that even Jerusalem's former companions and enemies, symbolized as "sisters" like Sodom and Samaria, will be brought back. In this future, shame will replace pride as Jerusalem recognizes her past actions when these nations are welcomed into God's family, not because of Jerusalem's broken covenant, but by God's new, gracious promises.
The prophet has been detailing Jerusalem's sinful past, comparing her to an unfaithful wife who betrayed her husband. Now, God shifts to a future of restoration, promising that even Jerusalem's former companions and enemies, symbolized as "sisters" like Sodom and Samaria, will be brought back. In this future, shame will replace pride as Jerusalem recognizes her past actions when these nations are welcomed into God's family, not because of Jerusalem's broken covenant, but by God's new, gracious promises.
"Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you." — This verse reveals a beautiful paradox: restoration doesn't erase the past, but intensifies the shame and memory of it. The ultimate act of God's grace in bringing other nations into His family isn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026