Keraia
Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:41

Judgment on Jerusalem · Ezekiel 16:35–58
Read Ezekiel 16

Translations

Modern
Then they will burn down your houses and execute judgment against you in the sight of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will never again pay your lovers.
Traditional
And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.
Literal
And they will burn your houses with fire, and they will execute judgment against you before the eyes of many women. And I will put an end to your prostitution, and even a single lover you will not pay again!
Latin
…et comburent domos tuas igni, et facient in te judicia in oculis mulierum plurimarum. Et desines fornicari, et mercedes ultra non dabis:

Original

Hebrew
English
Then they will burn down your houses and execute judgment against you in the sight of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will never again pay your lovers.

Notes

Ezekiel 16:39–43

In a tragic turn, the nations that Jerusalem trusted would later attack her. The very allies she depended on would turn against her and destroy her.

The Lord’s anger would continue until justice was complete. It would not end until Jerusalem had paid the full price for her past sins. Only then would his judgment be finished.

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

Glossary

Adultery Bride of Christ Ezekiel, Book of Hittites Sexual Immorality

Topics

Adultery: Penalties For High Places: Licentious Practices At Houses: Desolation of, Threatened As a Punishment Lasciviousness: Figurative