Ezekiel 16:28-38

28 And thou didest fornication with the sons of Assyrians, for thou were not [ful]filled yet; and after that thou didest fornication, neither so thou were [ful]filled. (And thou didest fornication, that is idolatry, with the Assyrians, for thou were not yet fulfilled; and after that thou didest fornication with them, thou were still not fulfilled.)

29 And thou multipliedest thy fornication in the land of Canaan with Chaldees, and neither so thou were [ful]filled. (And thou multipliedest thy fornication, that is, thy idolatry, in the land of Canaan with the Chaldeans, and thou were still not fulfilled.)

30 In what thing shall I cleanse thine heart, saith the Lord God, when thou doest all these works of a woman, an whore, and greedy asker? (With what thing, or how, shall I cleanse thy heart, saith the Lord God, when thou doest all these works of a greedy whorewoman?)

31 For thou madest thy bordel house in the head of each way, and thou madest thine high place in each street; and thou were not made as an whore full of annoying, increasing price (but thou were not made like a common whore, naming a price),

32 but as a woman adulteress, that bringeth in aliens on her husband. (but like an adulterous woman, who bringeth in strangers instead of her husband!)

33 Hires be given to all whores, but thou hast given hire, [or meed,] to all thy lovers; and thou gavest to them, that they should enter to thee on each side, to do fornication with thee. (Commonly, or usually, wages, or money, be given to all whores, but thou hast given wages, or gifts, or rewards, to all thy lovers; and thou gavest to them, so that they would come to thee on every side, or from all quarters, to do fornication with thee.)

34 And it was done in thee against the custom of women in thy fornications, and fornication shall not be after thee; for in that that thou gavest hires, and tookest not hires, the contrary was done in thee. (But it was done by thee against the custom of such women with thy fornications, for no one followed after thee for fornication, and in that thou gavest gifts, or money, and tookest no gifts, the contrary was done by thee.)

35 Therefore, thou whore, hear the word of the Lord.

36 The Lord God saith these things, For thy riches is shed out, and thy shame is showed in thy fornications on thy lovers, and on the idols of thine abominations, (and) in the blood of thy sons (and daughters), which thou gavest to them; (The Lord God saith these things, For thy riches be poured out, and thy shame, or thy nakedness, is shown in thy fornications with thy lovers, and with the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou gavest to them;)

37 lo! I shall gather together all thy lovers, with which thou were meddled (together), and all men which thou lovedest, with all men which thou hatedest; and I shall gather them on thee on each side, and I shall make naked thy shame before them, and they shall see all thy filth(hood). (lo! I shall gather together all thy lovers, with whom thou were mixed, or mingled, together, and all the men whom thou lovedest, with all the men whom thou hatedest; and I shall gather them together against thee on every side, and I shall make thee naked before them, and they shall see all thy nakedness.)

38 And I shall deem thee by the dooms of adulteresses, and (those) shedding out blood; and I shall give thee into the blood of strong vengeance, and of fervor. (And I shall judge thee by the laws of adultery, and by the laws for those who shed out blood; and I shall give thee unto the blood of strong vengeance, and of jealousy.)

Ezekiel 16:28-38 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 16

In this chapter the Jewish nation is represented under the simile of a female infant, whose birth, breeding, marriage, grandeur, and conduct, are described, in order to show the wickedness and ingratitude of, his people; who, on account thereof, are threatened with judgments; though mercy is promised to a remnant that should repent. The prophet is directed to make known to Jerusalem her abominable sins, Eze 16:1,2; and, in order to this, is bid to take up the following parable of a female infant; whose descent, birth, and wretched condition, at the time of it, are pointed at, Eze 16:3-5; which are expressive of the low and forlorn estate of the Jews originally; and then follow the benefits and blessings of God bestowed upon them, both in their infant and adult state; the preserving them alive in Egypt, and their multiplication there; and afterwards the covenant made with them, when brought out from thence; and the Lord's espousal of them to himself, as his own people, having a strong affection for them, Eze 16:6-8; the large provision of good things he made for them, both in the wilderness, and especially in the land of Canaan; the riches he bestowed upon them, and the flourishing and prosperous kingdom he raised them to, which made them famous among all the nations round about them, Eze 16:9-14; and yet, after all this, such was the ingratitude of this people, as to commit spiritual whoredom, that is, idolatry, to a very great degree, Eze 16:15; which is aggravated by their converting and applying the good things which the Lord gave them to idolatrous uses, Eze 16:16-19; by sacrificing their sons and daughters to idols, which were the Lord's, Eze 16:20,21; by not calling to mind the former wretched estate out of which they were brought, Eze 16:22; by building high places in every street and way, and there committing idolatries, Eze 16:23-25; by the various nations, whose examples they followed, and with whom they joined, as the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, Eze 16:26-29; and by the great difference between them and all other harlots, whom they exceeded, Eze 16:30-34; wherefore, on account of all this, they are threatened to be dealt with as an adulterous woman; made a spectacle of; condemned to die, to be stripped, stoned, and burned, Eze 16:35-43; and, that the Lord might appear to be just in executing such judgments on them, they are declared to be as bad as the Hittites and Amorites their parents; and worse than their sisters Samaria and Sodom; and therefore could expect to fare no better than they; and should become proverb and a byword, and bear their sins, shame, and punishment, in the sight of their neighbours, and be despised by them, Eze 16:44-59; nevertheless, the covenant of grace made with his chosen people among them should stand firm; which being manifested to them, would be a means of bringing them to a sense of sin, shame for it, and an acknowledgment of the Lord's grace and goodness to them Eze 16:60-63.