Ezekiel 16 36

Ezekiel 16:36 kjv

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

Ezekiel 16:36 nkjv

Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them,

Ezekiel 16:36 niv

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children's blood,

Ezekiel 16:36 esv

Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whorings with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them,

Ezekiel 16:36 nlt

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have poured out your lust and exposed yourself in prostitution to all your lovers, and because you have worshiped detestable idols, and because you have slaughtered your children as sacrifices to your gods,

Ezekiel 16 verses

Ezekiel 16 36 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:36 is a pronouncement of divine judgment upon Jerusalem, likened to an unfaithful wife. The Lord God declares that this judgment is directly due to her excessive "lust" or extravagant debauchery, her open display of "nakedness" through spiritual harlotry with pagan nations and their gods (her "lovers"), and the heinous practice of sacrificing her own children to these "detestable idols." This verse explicitly connects these abominable acts—idolatry, sexual sin (metaphorical for unfaithfulness), and child sacrifice—as the reasons for God's impending severe retribution.

Ezekiel 16 36 Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 is a lengthy and dramatic allegory comparing Jerusalem to an abandoned foundling who God rescued, nurtured, adorned, and married, establishing a sacred covenant. Despite this covenant love and abundant provision, Jerusalem turned away from God, prostituted herself with foreign nations and their pagan deities, and defiled herself with abominable practices. The chapter meticulously details Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, presenting a vivid indictment. Verse 36 specifically marks a turning point in God's declaration, transitioning from recounting the depths of her sin (verses 1-34) to explicitly stating the reasons for the coming severe judgment, laying out the egregious acts that compel His punitive action. Historically, this refers to Judah's deep syncretism and idolatry leading up to the Babylonian exile, abandoning the covenant with the true God for alliances and religious practices of surrounding, morally corrupt nations.

Ezekiel 16 36 Word analysis

• Thus says the Lord God (כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִה֙, koh-’amar Adonai Yĕhovih): A powerful prophetic formula, signaling a direct divine decree and emphasizing the absolute authority and certainty of the ensuing message. It asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and judgment.

• Because your lust was poured out (יַ֗עַן הִשָּׁפֵךְ֩ נֻשְׁפֵּ֤ךְ בֹּשְׁתֵּךְ֙, yaʿan hishaphekh nushpek boshtek):

  • lust/profusion/debauchery (נֻשְׁפֵּ֤ךְ, nushpekh - related to שָׁפַךְ, shapakh "to pour out"): This word carries the nuance of excess, an overflowing, unrestrained discharge. It signifies an extravagant, uninhibited display of immorality and sinful passion, akin to a torrent of depravity. It suggests a wilful, unbridled pursuit of illicit spiritual and literal pleasure.

• and your nakedness uncovered (וַתֵּגָלֶה֙ עֶרְוָתֵ֔ךְ, va-ttegaleh ʿervatekh):

  • nakedness (עֶרְוָתֵ֔ךְ, ʿervatekh, from עֶרְוָה, ʿervah): Literally means 'nakedness', often signifying shame, disgrace, and exposure in a degrading sense. Here, it is symbolic of Jerusalem's public and blatant sinfulness, revealing her shameful spiritual infidelity to the world, much like a prostitute's brazen display.
  • uncovered (וַתֵּגָלֶה֙, va-ttegaleh, from גָּלָה, galah "to uncover, expose"): Implies an intentional act of exposing what should be concealed, signifying brazen shamelessness rather than accidental revelation. It highlights the open nature of Jerusalem's apostasy.

• through your harlotry (בְּתַזְנֻתַ֗יִךְ, b'taznutayikh, from זָנָה, zanah "to commit harlotry, be a prostitute"): Refers to spiritual prostitution, where Jerusalem's unfaithfulness to her covenant with God is likened to a woman's infidelity to her husband. This term broadly encompasses all forms of idolatry and political alliances contrary to God's will. It’s a recurring metaphor throughout prophetic literature for Israel's faithlessness.

• with your lovers (וְאֵת֙ תַּזְנוּתַ֙יִךְ֙ עַל־מְאַהֲבַ֣יִךְ, v’et taznutayikh ʿal-meʾahaváyikh):

  • lovers (מְאַהֲבַ֣יִךְ, meʾahaváyikh, from אָהֵב, ʾahev "to love"): These refer to the pagan gods worshipped by foreign nations (Baal, Molech, Asherah, etc.) and the foreign alliances that Jerusalem pursued for security, wealth, or power, instead of relying on God. These "lovers" represent the alluring yet ultimately destructive temptations that led Jerusalem astray.

• and through all your detestable idols (וְעַ֤ל כָּל־גִּלּוּלֵי֙ תוֹעֲבֹתַ֔יִךְ, ve-ʿal kol-gillûlê tôʿavotayikh):

  • detestable idols (גִּלּוּלֵי֙ תוֹעֲבֹתַ֔יִךְ, gillulê tôʿavotayikh): Gillulim (גִּלּוּל) is a derogatory term for idols, often translated as "dung-gods" or "blocks of wood/stone." It conveys utter contempt and worthlessness. To’evah (תּוֹעֵבָה) signifies something abominable or detestable, especially to God. Together, it stresses the extreme repugnance of Jerusalem's idolatrous objects and practices in God's sight.

• and because of the blood of your children which you offered to them (וְדַם־בָּנַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תְּ לָהֶ֔ם, ve-dam banayikh asher natat lahem):

  • blood of your children (וְדַם־בָּנַ֙יִךְ֙, ve-dam banayikh): This directly points to the horrific practice of child sacrifice, a paramount abomination. The sanctity of life, especially innocent life, is deeply violated here. It’s the ultimate act of defilement and rejection of God’s commands, often linked with Molech worship (Lev 18:21, Jer 32:35).
  • offered to them (אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תְּ לָהֶ֔ם, asher natat lahem): 'Offered' (natan) here implies a dedicated gift or sacrifice. This shows the children were not simply victims of war or misfortune, but were deliberately presented as sacrifices to pagan deities, a horrifying inversion of the divine gift of children.

Ezekiel 16 36 Bonus section

The concept of "lust" (nushpekh, from shapakh "to pour out") in this context extends beyond mere sexual desire. It encapsulates an overwhelming, profligate waste of spiritual energy and covenant loyalty, "poured out" in debauchery with idols and foreign powers, much like precious anointing oil would be squandered. This extravagant, unrestrained outpouring signifies an insatiable desire for all things unholy and contrary to God’s commands, which directly provoked His wrath. The imagery also sets the stage for the reciprocal "pouring out" of God's wrath, a common theme in Ezekiel, mirroring the excess of Jerusalem's sin with an excess of divine judgment. This verse underlines the profound grief of God over the perversion of the sacred covenant, portraying His former "bride" as utterly given over to the very evils from which He sought to save her.

Ezekiel 16 36 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:36 articulates God's righteous anger and the rationale for Jerusalem's impending judgment. It highlights Jerusalem's unrestrained spiritual infidelity, described in terms of a prostitute shamelessly flaunting her sins ("lust poured out," "nakedness uncovered"). Her "harlotry" encompassed both religious syncretism, worshipping "detestable idols," and geopolitical alliances with pagan nations (her "lovers"). The apex of her abomination was the brutal practice of child sacrifice, dedicating the very offspring God had given her to foreign, inanimate deities. This verse starkly emphasizes that these deeply offensive acts—sacrilege against God's covenant, public immorality, and the gravest violation of human life—have irrevocably triggered God's punitive response. It's not an arbitrary judgment but a just consequence for profound and sustained rebellion against a loving covenant Lord.