Ezekiel 16:23 kjv
And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the LORD GOD;)
Ezekiel 16:23 nkjv
"Then it was so, after all your wickedness?'Woe, woe to you!' says the Lord GOD?
Ezekiel 16:23 niv
"?'Woe! Woe to you, declares the Sovereign LORD. In addition to all your other wickedness,
Ezekiel 16:23 esv
"And after all your wickedness (woe, woe to you! declares the Lord GOD),
Ezekiel 16:23 nlt
"What sorrow awaits you, says the Sovereign LORD. In addition to all your other wickedness,
Ezekiel 16 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:1-2 | O Jerusalem... Declare to her her abominations. | Introduces the allegory of Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel 16:25 | You have stretched out your hands to all the passers-by and multiplied your whoredom. | Similar imagery of spiritual adultery |
| Ezekiel 16:29 | You multiplied your harlotry even to Chaldea, and yet you were not satisfied. | Expands on her persistent sin |
| Ezekiel 16:34 | Moreover, the woman that you are differs from other harlots; because you gave hire... | Contrasts her sin with others |
| Jeremiah 3:8-10 | And I saw when for all causes of adultery, whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery... | Parallel accusation against Israel |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a most horrible thing; even the committing of adultery, and walking in lies. | Specific condemnation of Jerusalem's prophets |
| Hosea 2:2-5 | Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband. | Hosea's marriage used as a simile |
| Hosea 4:12-14 | My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them... | God's people resorting to idolatry |
| Isaiah 57:3-10 | But draw near unto me here; ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. | Condemnation of spiritual infidelity |
| Psalm 106:37-39 | Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils... | Sacrifice to demons mentioned |
| Revelation 17:1-6 | And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me... | Vision of Babylon as a harlot |
| Revelation 18:3 | For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. | Nations affected by spiritual sin |
| Romans 1:23-25 | And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man... | God gave them up to impurity |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry... | List of sins including idolatry |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind... | Sins that exclude from the kingdom |
| Ephesians 5:3-6 | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you; as becometh saints... | Exhortation against sexual immorality |
| Revelation 21:8 | But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. | Fate of those who practice sin |
| Micah 1:7 | And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate. | Idolatry and its destruction |
| Nahum 3:4-5 | Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of her, which did sell themselves for handfuls of barley, and traffick in the persons of men... | Assyria compared to a harlot |
| 2 Peter 2:14-15 | Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. | Those who stray from God's ways |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 23 Meaning
This verse powerfully depicts Jerusalem, personified as an unfaithful woman, having reached the height of her sinful rebellion. She has embraced pagan practices and idolatry, actively seeking out foreign gods and enticement. This verse describes the severe consequences of her spiritual prostitution, which is God's judgment against her.
Ezekiel 16 23 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 presents an extended allegory of Jerusalem, portraying her as a castoff infant abandoned by her parents, Amorites and Hittites, then adopted and beautified by God. However, Jerusalem, symbolized as a beautiful but adulterous woman, has betrayed God with neighboring nations and their idolatrous practices. Verse 23 specifically highlights the depth of her spiritual corruption, detailing how she proactively participated in forbidden rites and gave herself over to licentiousness and idolatry, which she termed "treasures." This act represents a complete abandonment of her covenant with God, setting the stage for His imminent judgment. The historical context is during the Babylonian exile, where Jerusalem's former glory had been dismantled due to its sin.
Ezekiel 16 23 Word analysis
- And (וְ - ve): A conjunction, linking this statement to the preceding description of Jerusalem's behavior.
- it (וְהָיָה - ve hayah): Literally "and it shall be," indicating a future consequence or a description of what is happening.
- brought (בָּאתָ - batá): from the root בּוֹא (bo) meaning to come, to enter. Here it signifies Jerusalem's active participation or involvement.
- upon (עַל - al): A preposition indicating direction or consequence, suggesting that these actions have consequences directed towards her.
- you (יֵקָר — yeqar): Although it appears as "you," the underlying Hebrew indicates something precious or important, suggesting that these sinful actions were, in her mind, valuable acquisitions or achievements. This word choice conveys her twisted perspective.
- your (יִקָּרוֹת — yiqqarot): The plural of the previous word, referring to her "precious things" or "treasures," which in this context are her idols, sinful practices, and forbidden alliances.
- treasures (מַצְּבוֹתֵךְ — matzaboteikh): from the root נָצַב (nat͡sab) meaning to stand, to set up. These were sacred pillars or standing stones associated with pagan worship and fertility cults. The word choice highlights her worship of erected objects of pagan devotion.
- of (מִ — mi): A preposition indicating origin or source.
- whoredom (זִמָּה — zimmah): This Hebrew word signifies gross immorality, debauchery, and specifically sexual perversion or licentiousness, extending beyond mere sexual immorality to encompass deliberate wicked intention and abominable deeds. It emphasizes the corrupt and depraved nature of her actions.
- and (וְ — ve): another conjunction.
- added (וְאִסַּפְתְּ — ve isafet): from the root אָסַף (asaf) meaning to gather, to collect, to take away. Here it signifies that she gathered more forbidden practices, accumulating sins.
- your (בְּ— be): A preposition that here could imply "in" or "through."
- merchandise (סַחְרֵךְ — saḥrekh): means traffic, trade, or goods for sale. This underscores the transactional nature of her spiritual betrayal, as if she were openly selling herself to various nations and their gods for worldly gain or influence.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "brought upon you your treasures of whoredom" (בָאתָ עַל־יִקָּרוֹת מִזִּמָּה — batá al-yiqqarot mizimmah): This phrase describes Jerusalem's active procurement of her "treasures." These "treasures" were not blessings but rather the illicit gains and outward manifestations of her corrupt alliances and idolatrous practices (like the standing pillars associated with pagan worship). The preposition "min" (מִ) before "zimmah" (זִמָּה) indicates that her treasures were from or originating out of her profound immorality and licentiousness.
- "added your merchandise" (וְאִסַּפְתְּ בְּסַחְרֵךְ — ve isafet be saḥrekh): This continues the theme of accumulation. Her "merchandise" represents the fruits and ongoing processes of her unfaithfulness. She continued to traffic in her sinful practices and sought further relationships with pagan nations and their deities. The preposition "be" (בְּ) suggests she incorporated these dealings into her lifestyle or through these activities.
Ezekiel 16 23 Bonus section
The allegorical language used here, especially comparing a city or nation to a woman, is common in the Old Testament prophets (e.g., Jeremiah, Hosea) to illustrate the covenant relationship between God and His people. The "treasures of whoredom" and "merchandise" can be understood not only as idols and the fruits of idolatry but also as the political alliances and economic advantages Jerusalem sought by forsaking God and engaging with foreign powers and their corrupt practices. The specific mention of "matzaboteikh" (sacred pillars) directly points to the worship of fertility deities common in Canaanite religions, against which Israel was repeatedly warned. The intensification implied by "added your merchandise" shows a continued descent into sin, where the pursuit of wickedness becomes a commodity in itself.
Ezekiel 16 23 Commentary
This verse paints a stark picture of Jerusalem's complete surrender to sin, not merely as passive temptation, but as active engagement and pursuit. The "treasures" and "merchandise" are ironic; what she valued as gains were actually the tools and results of her spiritual prostitution, leading to utter ruin. It highlights that sin is not static but progressive, marked by an accumulation of corrupt practices and alliances that distance one from God. Her self-worth became tied to these sinful dealings rather than her covenant relationship. This proactive embracing of sin, where even abominations were amassed as precious "treasures," signifies a profound spiritual bankruptcy and the culmination of her unfaithfulness.