Ezekiel 16:30

Translations

Modern

How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!

Traditional

How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

Literal

How weak is your heart, a declaration of the Lord YHWH, in your doing all these deeds of an imperious prostitute woman,

Latin

In quo mundabo cor tuum, ait Dominus Deus, cum facias omnia hæc opera mulieris meretricis et procacis?

Original

Hebrew

English

How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!

Notes

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:

a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);
a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);
a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);
Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);
a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);
a sword (Ezekiel 21);
two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and
a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

Theme notes and profiles

Apostasy and Renewal Biblical Marriage God’s Covenants The Broken Covenant

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Jeremiah 3:3
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.
Isaiah 1:3
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
Proverbs 9:13
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
Jeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
Isaiah 3:9
The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
Proverbs 7:21
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
Jeremiah 2:12–13
Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD.
Judges 16:15–16
“How can you say, ‘I love you,’” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!”
Proverbs 7:11–13
She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
Revelation 17:1–6
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

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

Topics

High Places: Licentious Practices At High Places: The Jews: Condemned for Building Idolatry: The Jews: Followed the Assyrians In Lasciviousness: Figurative Lukewarmness: Figurative

Ezekiel 16:30

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