Ezekiel 16 28

Ezekiel 16:28 kjv

Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

Ezekiel 16:28 nkjv

You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied.

Ezekiel 16:28 niv

You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians too, because you were insatiable; and even after that, you still were not satisfied.

Ezekiel 16:28 esv

You played the whore also with the Assyrians, because you were not satisfied; yes, you played the whore with them, and still you were not satisfied.

Ezekiel 16:28 nlt

You have prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, too. It seems you can never find enough new lovers! And after your prostitution there, you still were not satisfied.

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 28 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:28 graphically depicts Jerusalem's (Judah's) spiritual unfaithfulness to God as the act of a prostitute. It specifically condemns her alliances with Assyria, interpreting these political treaties as acts of "harlotry" because they implied a reliance on foreign powers and their gods rather than on the covenant God, Yahweh. The repeated emphasis on Jerusalem being "unsatiable" highlights a fundamental spiritual emptiness and a ceaseless craving for illicit security that no earthly or idolatrous partner could ever truly fulfill, perpetuating a cycle of deeper betrayal.

Ezekiel 16 28 Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 is one of the most extended and graphic allegories in the Bible, portraying Jerusalem's history from her abandonment at birth, to her adoption and adornment by God, and finally, to her subsequent egregious unfaithfulness. The city is personified as a female child whom God nurtured into a beautiful bride, making a solemn covenant with her. Despite God's abundant grace and provisions, she turned away to prostitute herself to numerous foreign nations and their idolatrous practices. Verse 28 specifically details her illicit relations with the "Assyrians," reflecting a historical period where the kingdom of Judah, instead of trusting in the Lord, repeatedly sought political and military alliances with powerful regional empires like Egypt and Assyria. These alliances often entailed adopting foreign customs and worshipping their gods, which was a profound breach of the Mosaic covenant and spiritual treason. The chapter paints Jerusalem's actions as worse than Sodom and Samaria, demonstrating the depth of her apostasy.

Ezekiel 16 28 Word analysis

• Thou hast played the whore / Thou hast played the harlot:

  • Hebrew: zanah (זָנָה). This verb specifically means "to commit fornication," "to act as a harlot," or "to be unfaithful." It's overwhelmingly used in the Old Testament as a metaphor for Israel's idolatry and spiritual apostasy. Its significance here is profound, directly linking political alliances and the adoption of foreign cults to the betrayal of a marriage covenant, as God is often presented as Israel's husband (Jer 31:32, Is 54:5). This language is intensely polemical, denouncing such actions as not just disobedient, but morally perverse and deeply shameful, especially in a culture where purity and marital fidelity were highly valued. It contrasts sharply with God's steadfast loyalty.

• also with the Assyrians:

  • Assyrians: Refers to the Assyrian Empire, a dominant ancient Near Eastern superpower that exerted significant influence over Israel and Judah from the 9th to 7th centuries BCE. Historical alliances with Assyria (e.g., King Ahaz's pact in 2 Kgs 16) were strategic geopolitical moves, but they signified a lack of faith in God's protection. For Ezekiel, these weren't merely political dealings but spiritual "harlotry," trading reliance on God for the supposed security of a foreign power, which often came with religious compromise and adopting their deities. This was a direct violation of the covenant which demanded exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.

• because thou wast unsatiable / and yet thou wast not satisfied:

  • Hebrew: lo' sava' (לֹא שָׂבַע). Sava' means "to be full," "satisfied," "sated." The negation emphasizes Jerusalem's chronic spiritual emptiness. Despite continually seeking new "lovers" (foreign nations/gods) and illicit alliances, she found no true peace, security, or fulfillment. This highlights the inherent futility of spiritual apostasy; false worship and human reliance can never satisfy the deepest needs of the soul, only perpetuate a cycle of craving for more. This "insatiability" showcases the idolatrous heart's endless pursuit of something that only God can provide, drawing the people further into sin.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians... yea, thou hast played the harlot with them": The repetition with slight variation (whore/harlot, also with/with them) emphasizes the consistency and pervasiveness of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness. It's not an isolated incident but a pattern. By specifically naming "Assyrians," the metaphor moves from a general charge to a pointed accusation regarding definite historical betrayals of trust in Yahweh, revealing the insidious nature of choosing human might over divine power.
  • "because thou wast unsatiable; yea, ...and yet thou wast not satisfied": These twin phrases are pivotal. They underline the motive and consequence of Jerusalem's actions. The motivation is an inherent, unfulfilled longing, a spiritual void that God was meant to fill. The outcome is continuous dissatisfaction, illustrating the tragic cycle of sin: more sin to satisfy a hunger that sin itself exacerbates. This paints a picture of spiritual addiction, where seeking external solutions only deepens the internal emptiness and estrangement from God.

Ezekiel 16 28 Bonus section

The shocking and graphic imagery in Ezekiel (and Hosea, Jeremiah) served to jar the original audience into recognizing the gravity of their sin. It wasn't merely ritual transgression but a profound, personal betrayal of their "husband," the LORD. This imagery finds resonance in the New Testament with the "great harlot" of Revelation (Rev 17), representing a spiritual system or city (Babylon) that similarly commits spiritual fornication with earthly powers, intoxicating nations with its corruptions, underscoring the enduring danger of apostasy and worldly entanglement for God's people throughout history. The "insatiable" nature is a hallmark of fallen humanity, continually seeking fulfillment in transient things, demonstrating that only true satisfaction can be found in God (Ps 63:5).

Ezekiel 16 28 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:28, deeply embedded in the extended allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful bride, lays bare the severe spiritual offense of Judah. By using the metaphor of a harlot, God, through Ezekiel, powerfully conveys the profound betrayal of covenant fidelity. The "harlotry" specifically refers to Judah's repeated acts of seeking political alliances with foreign powers, notably Assyria, rather than trusting solely in God's protection. This wasn't merely a political misstep but a theological apostasy, indicating a turning away from the exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh.

The repeated emphasis on Jerusalem being "unsatiable" and "not satisfied" is critical. It exposes the spiritual bankruptcy of her choices. These foreign alliances and the idolatrous practices that often accompanied them provided no lasting security or fulfillment. Instead, they fueled an insatiable craving, driving Judah deeper into sin without ever achieving genuine satisfaction or peace. This illustrates a universal spiritual truth: anything other than God is a broken cistern that can never hold living water (Jer 2:13), and the pursuit of satisfaction outside of Him leads only to a cycle of greater emptiness and despair. It's a stark warning against placing trust in worldly power or any alternative to God's divine provision and exclusive claim over His people's hearts.