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Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:28

Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness · Ezekiel 16:1–34
Read Ezekiel 16

Translations

Modern
Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied.
Traditional
Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.
Literal
And you prostituted yourself with the sons of Assyria from your lack of being satisfied, and you prostituted yourself with them, and still you were not satisfied!
Latin
Et fornicata es in filiis Assyriorum eo quod necdum fueris expleta: et postquam fornicata es, nec sic es satiata:

Original

Hebrew
English
Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied.

Notes

Ezekiel 16:26–29

Jerusalem eagerly sought close relationships with Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. These political alliances cost a great deal of money. They also failed to bring the help and protection that the leaders expected.

Even if these agreements had brought clear political benefits, they would still have been wrong. They showed that Jerusalem did not trust the Lord. Instead of depending on him, the city looked to other nations for safety.

These alliances also led to another serious problem. Israel began to worship the gods of those nations. Political dependence slowly became spiritual unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 16:1–63

In Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is described as an unfaithful wife and a prostitute. This language is very strong. Even in English, the chapter can be difficult to read. In its ancient setting, it would have sounded even more shocking.

Ezekiel used graphic language to show how serious Judah’s sin was. He did not try to make his message softer or more polite. He spoke in a direct and forceful way.

This strong language is the main point of the chapter. Ezekiel wanted the people to feel how terrible their sin was in God’s sight. The shocking description helped them understand that God’s judgment was not unfair.

If Ezekiel had used softer words, the people might not have understood the full seriousness of their sin. The strong picture was necessary to show why God’s judgment was justified (that is, right and fair).

Ezekiel 15:1–24:14

This section includes eight metaphors, each showing from a different angle the certainty of Jerusalem's upcoming judgment. The images are of:

  1. a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);

  2. a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);

  3. a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);

  4. Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);

  5. a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);

  6. a sword (Ezekiel 21);

  7. two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and

  8. a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

Events

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel

Glossary

Adultery Bride of Christ Ezekiel, Book of High Place Hittites Sexual Immorality

Topics

Assyria: The Jews Condemned for Following the Idolatries of High Places: Licentious Practices At High Places: The Jews: Condemned for Building Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Assyrians In Lasciviousness: Figurative