Ezekiel 16:38

38 And I will judge you as women who break wedlock and shed 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 shame was laid bare and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotries with your lovers, and because of all your 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 loathed; 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 break wedlock and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
39 And I will give you into the hand of your lovers, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places; they shall strip you of your clothes and take your fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare.
40 They shall bring up a host against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.