Ezekiel 16:34 kjv
And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.
Ezekiel 16:34 nkjv
You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite."
Ezekiel 16:34 niv
So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.
Ezekiel 16:34 esv
So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different.
Ezekiel 16:34 nlt
So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay your lovers instead of their paying you!
Ezekiel 16 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 16:34 | you have gone up to a harlot’s hire, instead of receiving hire | Fulfillment of prophetic judgment |
| Jer 2:20 | You harlots harlot have hired yourself with everyone | Idolatry as spiritual prostitution |
| Hos 2:3 | lest I strip her before her nakedness, and set her as in the day | Consequences of unfaithfulness |
| Isa 50:1 | Has any divorce deed of your mother been given to her? | God's covenant faithfulness |
| Ps 73:27 | those who are far from you shall perish | Divine separation from God |
| Gal 5:19 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: which are adultery | Spiritual unfaithfulness defined |
| Rev 18:3 | for all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality | Judgment on idolatrous systems |
| Rev 17:4 | clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls | Symbolism of Babylon's wealth |
| Rom 6:21 | what fruit did you have then from those things of which you are now ashamed? | Consequences of sin |
| Nah 3:4 | Because of the many prostitutions of the harlot | Judgment on Assyria |
| Eze 23:42 | But a rabble of men of the market town, was invited with common men | Further description of promiscuity |
| Mic 1:7 | All her wages she has given to the harlot, out of her vineyard she gathered it | Consequences of idolatry and sin |
| 1 Cor 6:15 | Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? | Call to sexual purity |
| Eph 5:3 | sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness | Warning against impurity |
| Rev 14:4 | These are the virgins who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. | Purity of the redeemed |
| Prov 2:16-17 | To deliver you from the young woman with her smooth words, from the adulteress with her studying ways | Protection from temptation |
| Deut 23:17 | None of the daughters of Israel shall be a shrine prostitute | Prohibition of Canaanite practices |
| Jer 3:6 | look at what you have done on the high hills and in the valleys | Recognition of widespread sin |
| Ps 106:39 | thus they became a stain to themselves | The consequences of sinful choices |
| 1 Thes 4:4 | that each of you should possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor | Proper conduct in marriage |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 34 Meaning
You are now unlike any other harlot, for you have given hire instead of receiving hire.
Ezekiel 16 34 Context
This verse is part of a lengthy allegorical discourse in Ezekiel chapters 16 and 23, where Jerusalem is depicted as an unfaithful wife or harlot, engaging in idolatry and spiritual prostitution with surrounding nations. Chapter 16 specifically traces Jerusalem's history from abandonment and neglect to prosperity and subsequent infidelity with various nations. Verse 34 follows descriptions of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, where she lavished her wealth and affection upon lovers who ultimately abandoned her. This particular verse marks a turning point, highlighting the peculiar nature of Jerusalem's "wages" – she paid them instead of being paid, a direct reversal illustrating her utter degradation and corrupted state. This context underscores God's deep disappointment and impending judgment.
Ezekiel 16 34 Word Analysis
and it is contrary to thee: The Hebrew can also be rendered as "and it is opposed to you" or "and it is contrary to your nature/custom." This signifies a deep aberration from what was right or intended.
harlotry: The Hebrew word is "zenunim" (זְנוּנִים), often translated as "fornication" or "adultery," but in the prophetic context of Israel's relationship with God, it signifies idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness to the covenant. It refers to the act of seeking and serving other gods.
that thou takest hire: "Lakeh sekar" (לָקֵחַ שֵׂכָר) – "taking payment" or "receiving wages." Typically, a harlot receives payment for her services.
instead of thine accustomed hire: "Tahat sekerayik" (תַּחַת שְׂכָרַיִךְ) – "instead of your payment/wages." This phrase inverts the expected scenario. Usually, Israel, as God's chosen, would receive His blessings (His "wages" or provision) for faithfulness. Here, she is "paying" her lovers (the foreign nations/idols) instead of receiving payment for her covenant relationship with God. This signifies her spiritual destitution and that she has become a supplier of payment to others rather than being a recipient of God's blessings due to her faithlessness.
groups of words: "takest hire, instead of thine accustomed hire" – This entire phrase captures the reversal of fortune and responsibility. Jerusalem, which should be receiving God's favor (her rightful "hire" for covenant faithfulness), has instead spent her resources and affections on foreign alliances and idols, essentially paying them off. It highlights her fallen status where she is now the provider of illicit benefits, rather than the recipient.
Ezekiel 16 34 Bonus Section
The imagery of spiritual adultery, using the metaphor of sexual harlotry, is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. This metaphor emphasizes the intimate and covenantal nature of God's relationship with Israel. When Israel turned to other gods, it was seen as a betrayal of this covenant, akin to a wife's infidelity. The specific mention of "taking hire instead of receiving hire" highlights how the nations that Israel sought as lovers and relied upon ultimately exploited her, demanding tribute and allegiance, leaving her depleted. This reflects the deceptive nature of sin; it promises pleasure and benefit but ultimately results in loss and spiritual impoverishment. The reversal noted in this verse speaks to the judgment of God, turning the tables on those who have turned away from Him.
Ezekiel 16 34 Commentary
This verse powerfully illustrates the perverse inversion of relationship caused by unfaithfulness to God. Jerusalem, meant to be a recipient of God's covenant blessings, has sunk so low that she now "pays" her illicit lovers—the foreign nations and idols she pursued—rather than receiving payment as a harlot normally would. This shows a complete loss of spiritual integrity and a reversal of the natural order of the covenant relationship, where God is the source of blessing. She has squandered her God-given resources and divine favor on empty pursuits, leaving her in a state of deficit and disgrace. It's a picture of profound spiritual bankruptcy, where the one meant to be provided for is now the provider of destructive enticements.