Ezekiel 16:38

38 1And I will judge you 2as women who commit adultery and 3shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.

Ezekiel 16:38 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 16:38

And I will judge thee as women that break wedlock
The marriage covenant, defile the marriage bed, and were adulteresses, who by the law of Moses were to be punished with death, ( Leviticus 20:10 ) ( Deuteronomy 22:22 ) ; and shed blood are judged;
who also were punished with death according to the original law in ( Genesis 9:6 ) ; the Jews were not only guilty of spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry; but also of murder, by sacrificing their infants to idols; and murder often follows upon adultery, as Kimchi observes; and, these people were guilty of shedding innocent blood on other accounts; but the first mentioned is chiefly designed here: and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy;
by way of retaliation; blood being shed, blood is given, and that in wrath and vengeance; the allusion is to a jealous and abused husband, that avenges himself of the person that has injured him; see ( Revelation 16:6 ) .

Ezekiel 16:38 In-Context

36 Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whorings with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them,
37 therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
38 And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
39 And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places. They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare.
40 They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Ezekiel 21:30
  • 2. Ezekiel 23:45; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22
  • 3. Genesis 9:6; [Ezekiel 18:10; Ezekiel 23:37, 45]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.