Ezekiel 16:29 kjv
Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied therewith.
Ezekiel 16:29 nkjv
Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied.
Ezekiel 16:29 niv
Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia, a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.
Ezekiel 16:29 esv
You multiplied your whoring also with the trading land of Chaldea, and even with this you were not satisfied.
Ezekiel 16:29 nlt
You added to your lovers by embracing Babylonia, the land of merchants, but you still weren't satisfied.
Ezekiel 16 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 16:15 | "But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot... | Early acts of spiritual harlotry by Jerusalem. |
| Eze 16:26-28 | "You played the harlot with the Egyptians... the Assyrians... the Chaldeans | Earlier illicit alliances with foreign nations. |
| Eze 16:30 | "How faint-hearted is your lust, declares the Lord GOD, seeing you do all these | Highlights the city's unrestrained, continuous lust for sin. |
| Eze 23:37 | "...committed adultery... by serving their idols, and even sacrificed their sons | Directly links harlotry to idolatry and child sacrifice. |
| Jer 2:20 | "You have said, ‘I will not serve!’... played the harlot on every high hill | Israel's long history of idolatry and rebellion. |
| Jer 2:36 | "Why do you go about so much to change your way? You shall be put to shame by Egypt | Seeking help from foreign powers will lead to shame. |
| Jer 3:8-9 | "because faithless Israel had committed adultery... with stone and with tree." | Unfaithfulness through idol worship. |
| Hos 2:5 | "She said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water'" | Motive for spiritual harlotry: perceived gain from false gods/alliances. |
| Hos 4:12 | "My people inquire of a piece of wood... a spirit of harlotry has led them astray" | The pervasive influence of idolatry on the people's judgment. |
| Hos 8:9 | "For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone..." | Seeking alliances with Assyria for security instead of God. |
| Isa 30:1-3 | "Woe to the rebellious children... who carry out a plan, but not mine... " | Denouncing seeking help from Egypt instead of God. |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses!" | Warning against trusting in human strength and foreign aid. |
| Psa 106:39 | "Thus they became unclean by their acts and played the harlot in their deeds." | General Old Testament concept of spiritual prostitution by actions. |
| Exo 34:15-16 | "You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land... You will lust after" | Commandment against alliances that lead to spiritual unfaithfulness. |
| Deut 31:16 | "You are about to sleep with your fathers. Then this people will rise and play the | Prophetic warning of future covenant unfaithfulness by Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 16:7-8 | "Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria... " | Example of a king seeking foreign alliance over God's help. |
| Rev 17:1-2 | "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute... " | New Testament parallel for spiritual harlotry on a grand scale (Babylon). |
| Rev 18:3 | "...all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality," | The intoxicating influence of the great prostitute's sin on nations. |
| James 4:4 | "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity" | Defines spiritual adultery as loving the world over God. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other | Impossibility of dual allegiance between God and worldly pursuits/idols. |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 29 Meaning
Ezekiel 16:29 depicts Jerusalem's relentless and escalating spiritual infidelity, symbolized as harlotry, by forming alliances with Chaldea (Babylon), a dominant foreign power of merchants, and engaging in its idolatry. This act signifies a deep betrayal of the covenant with God for perceived material and political gain, demonstrating an insatiable spiritual lust that even these extensive unholy unions could not satisfy.
Ezekiel 16 29 Context
Ezekiel chapter 16 is an elaborate parable portraying Jerusalem's history as an abandoned infant, adopted and cherished by God, who raised her to magnificent beauty and splendor, metaphorically marrying her. Despite God's bountiful provision and faithfulness, Jerusalem became proud of her beauty and repeatedly turned to spiritual harlotry, which refers to idolatry and forming illicit political/military alliances with foreign nations. The verse 29 follows a series of alliances Jerusalem made, first with Egypt (v. 26) then Assyria (v. 28), and now specifically highlights the latest and most egregious betrayal with Chaldea. This progression shows Jerusalem's insatiable pursuit of security and prosperity through means other than God, eventually aligning with the very power (Babylon/Chaldea) that would destroy her, highlighting the ultimate self-destructive nature of her unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel 16 29 Word analysis
- You also: Connects the current action to previous similar transgressions (alliances with Egypt, Assyria). It implies an additional layer or escalation of Jerusalem's ongoing unfaithfulness.
- multiplied (Hebrew: הִרְבִּיתְ, hirbit): Means "you made numerous," "you increased greatly." This verb emphasizes the escalating and extensive nature of Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry, not just repeating it but intensifying it in scope and frequency.
- your harlotry (Hebrew: זְנוּתֵךְ, zanûteḵ): This term goes beyond physical prostitution; it primarily denotes spiritual prostitution or idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. It describes the betrayal of the exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh, personified as a marriage, by turning to other gods or foreign political powers for security and gain.
- with the land of merchants, Chaldea:
- the land of merchants: Points to the economic allure and worldly benefits Israel sought through this alliance. Chaldea (Babylon) was renowned for its vast trade networks and wealth, signifying that the alliance was also motivated by material prosperity or commercial advantage.
- Chaldea (Hebrew: כַּשְׂדִּים, Kaśdîm): Refers to the Babylonians. This alliance is particularly significant as Babylon would become the instrument of God's judgment, ultimately destroying Jerusalem and taking its people into exile. This act of "harlotry" was a direct embrace of the power destined to overthrow her, a tragic irony in her unfaithfulness.
- and even with this: This phrase emphasizes the depth and extent of her transgression, suggesting that even this major, strategic, and self-defeating alliance was just another step in her relentless pursuit of ungodly connections.
- you were not satisfied (Hebrew: שָׂבַעַתְּ, śabact): Meaning "you were not full," "you did not get enough." This signifies an insatiable spiritual hunger for idols and illicit alliances, portraying Jerusalem as endlessly craving something other than God's covenant blessings and presence. It reveals a deep-seated spiritual emptiness that worldly pursuits or false gods could never fill.
Ezekiel 16 29 Bonus section
The concept of "harlotry" in this chapter, and throughout prophetic literature (e.g., Hosea, Jeremiah), transcends mere sexual sin. It encompasses idolatry, syncretism, and the political trust placed in foreign nations rather than in the one true God. This metaphorical usage is crucial for understanding the profound breach of covenant that God accuses Israel of. Chaldea represents the peak of this betrayal, symbolizing both the source of her downfall and the object of her illicit desire, showcasing how turning away from God often leads to embracing what ultimately harms us.
Ezekiel 16 29 Commentary
Ezekiel 16:29 serves as a stark indictment of Jerusalem's continuous and escalating spiritual betrayal. Through the potent metaphor of harlotry, God condemns the city's relentless pursuit of foreign alliances and idolatrous practices. The specific mention of "Chaldea," the very power chosen by God to execute judgment, highlights the self-destructive irony and ultimate futility of these faithless ventures. Jerusalem, portrayed as an unfaithful wife, continually sought security and satisfaction in worldly connections and false gods, failing to find contentment in her divine Husband. This verse encapsulates the climax of her spiritual promiscuity, illustrating a profound and insatiable lust for anything other than her covenant relationship with Yahweh, culminating in a state of utter dissatisfaction despite her extensive sin.