Ezekiel 16:18 kjv
And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.
Ezekiel 16:18 nkjv
You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set My oil and My incense before them.
Ezekiel 16:18 niv
And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them.
Ezekiel 16:18 esv
And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them.
Ezekiel 16:18 nlt
You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them.
Ezekiel 16 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:17 | "You also took your handsome sons and daughters, whom you had borne to me, and offered them to them as food. Is this not enough of your abominations... | Eze 23:37 |
| Revelation 17:4 | She had a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. | Rev 18:16 |
| Jeremiah 2:23 | "How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done—you swift dromedary traverzing her ways! | Jer 3:2-3, 3:6-8 |
| Isaiah 3:18 | In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, | Isa 57:7-8 |
| Hosea 2:8 | For she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. | Hos 10:1, Hos 13:1 |
| Jeremiah 3:13 | Only acknowledge your guilt— that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreign gods under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. | Jer 3:2-6 |
| Ezekiel 23:40 | And you even sent for men who came from afar, to whom a messenger was sent, and they came! And you bathed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself. | Eze 16:33-34, Jer 4:30 |
| Isaiah 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who linger late into the evening as wine inflames them! | Isa 5:11-12 |
| Psalm 45:13 | The king’s daughter is inside; her raiment is of wrought gold. | Ps 45:13-14 |
| Hosea 9:1 | Rejoice not, O Israel! ... you have played the whore, turning from your God. You have loved wages of harlotry at every grain’s threshold. | Hos 9:1, Hos 2:9-12 |
| Jeremiah 7:31 | They built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. | Jer 7:31, 2 Kings 23:10 |
| Proverbs 7:10 | And behold, the woman met him, a woman of the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart. | Prov 7:10 |
| Deuteronomy 28:30 | You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall enjoy her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit. | Deut 28:30 |
| Ezekiel 16:11 | I also clothed you with embroidered cloth, and shod you with dolphin skin; I swathed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. | Eze 16:10-11 |
| Hosea 2:15 | And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as on the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. | Hos 2:15 |
| 2 Kings 9:22 | So Joram said, "Make ready my chariot." And Jehu the son of Nimshi rode out, and met him, and said, "What have you to do with peace?" | 2 Ki 9:22 |
| Galatians 5:19 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, | Gal 5:19 |
| Micah 6:11 | Shall I count innocent the scales of injustice, and the bag of deceitful weights? | Mic 6:11 |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 18 Meaning
This verse describes the opulent adornments made by Jerusalem, personified as a harlot, from spoils taken from nations. These embellishments were crafted from gold and silver, showcasing her beauty and attractiveness for illicit unions, mirroring her idolatrous practices and spiritual unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel 16 18 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 presents a vivid allegory of Jerusalem, likening her to a foundling girl who grows into a beautiful woman. This beauty, however, becomes the source of her harlotry and spiritual unfaithfulness to God. The chapter details Jerusalem's progressively worse acts of idolatry and her alliances with surrounding nations, which are depicted as her lovers. Verse 18 specifically highlights how Jerusalem utilized the very provisions God had given her—fine clothing, precious metals, and jewelry—to adorn herself for her pagan worship and illicit relationships. This contrasts sharply with the purity and faithfulness God desires for His people. The prophecy unfolds within the historical context of the Babylonian exile, emphasizing God's judgment against Judah's persistent sin.
Ezekiel 16 18 Word Analysis
- And you also:
- (vav-ve-gam - וְגַם): Conjunction "and" plus "also" or "even."
- Indicates a continuation and addition to her previous sins, piling on more transgression.
- took:
- (laqach - לָקַח): To take, seize, acquire.
- Highlights an act of appropriation and misuse.
- your fine cloths:
- (beytshu - בֵּצִיא): Perhaps "fine linens" or "embroidery."
- Refers to valuable, decorative textiles, symbolizing outward prosperity.
- you adorned:
- (ataq - עָטַק): This is likely a textual issue or less common verb. Some suggest variations like 'atad' (to twine) or link it to adornment contextually. The Septuagint and Vulgate render it as adorning or making beautiful.
- Points to intentional beautification.
- yourself with them:
- Emphasizes that the adornment was personal and self-serving.
- And you took:
- (ve-laqachti - וְלָקַחְתִּי): Again, "and you took."
- Repeats the act of taking, reinforcing the theme of misappropriation.
- your oil:
- (mish'cha - מִשְׁחָה): Oil, specifically for anointing.
- Often used in religious rituals and signifying blessing or consecration. Here, its misuse is condemned.
- and your perfumes:
- (ubosem - וּבֹשֶׂם): Fragrant substances, incense, spices.
- Used in worship or for luxury, contributing to sensory appeal for sinful purposes.
- and you set them:
- (vaten - וְתֵן): To give, put, set.
- Indicates placing these precious items for a specific purpose.
- before them:
- (lefaneyhem - לִפְנֵיהֶם): Before their faces, in their presence.
- The idols and nations (her lovers) for whom she offered these tributes.
- for a pleasing aroma:
- (laqetach reyach nicach - לְקֶטַח רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ): Lit. "an accepted pleasing aroma."
- Echoes the language of sacrifices and offerings acceptable to God (e.g., Leviticus). Here, it’s offered to false gods, corrupting its intended divine purpose.
- saith the Lord GOD:
- (ne'um Adonai Yehovih - נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה): The solemn declaration of the Sovereign Lord.
- Authoritative confirmation and judgment by God Himself.
Group Analysis:The verse emphasizes the perverse transformation of divine gifts (fine clothes, oil, perfumes) into instruments of idolatry and spiritual fornication. What God intended for blessing and pleasing worship, Jerusalem used to entice pagan deities and foreign nations, creating a "pleasing aroma" for sin rather than for Him. This reflects a profound spiritual corruption where the sacred is made profane.
Ezekiel 16 18 Bonus Section
The use of fine cloths, oil, and perfumes for illicit enticement finds a parallel in the "works of the flesh" described in Galatians 5:19-21, which includes sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, and the like. Both passages highlight how misplaced desires and self-indulgence lead to the corruption of good things. Furthermore, the "pleasing aroma" spoken of here contrasts with the aroma of Christ's love in 2 Corinthians 2:15, which is life unto life for believers and death to those who reject Him, showing how what is "pleasing" can have vastly different spiritual significance. The entire allegory points to the comprehensive nature of covenant unfaithfulness, affecting every aspect of life, even the use of material possessions.
Ezekiel 16 18 Commentary
Jerusalem’s spiritual harlotry is depicted through the misuse of God’s blessings. The luxurious garments, fragrant oils, and perfumes, meant to represent God’s favor and protection, were instead used to attract pagan deities and foster alliances with foreign powers. This act turns God’s gifts into tools for rebellion and spiritual infidelity, essentially offering them as tribute to false gods. The phrase "pleasing aroma" directly contrasts with the acceptable offerings in God's temple, highlighting the abhorrent nature of Jerusalem's devotion to idols. God declares this as an act He has witnessed and judges, underscoring His personal offense at this defilement of His gifts and His covenant.