Ezekiel 16:47 kjv
Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.
Ezekiel 16:47 nkjv
You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.
Ezekiel 16:47 niv
You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.
Ezekiel 16:47 esv
Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.
Ezekiel 16:47 nlt
But you have not merely sinned as they did. You quickly surpassed them in corruption.
Ezekiel 16 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 16:47 | Behold, she was guiltier than she. | Ezekiel 16:47 (Direct) |
| Jeremiah 2:11 | But my people have exchanged their glory for what is worthless. | Jeremiah 2:11 (Similar theme of forsaking God) |
| Romans 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Romans 3:23 (Universality of sin) |
| Isaiah 1:4 | Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity... | Isaiah 1:4 (Accusation of national sin) |
| Micah 6:11-12 | "Can I count individuals with dishonest scales and a bag of deceitful weights?" | Micah 6:11-12 (Critique of injustice) |
| Jeremiah 5:3 | O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them, but they felt no pain... | Jeremiah 5:3 (Stubborn rebellion) |
| Proverbs 14:34 | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | Proverbs 14:34 (Consequence of sin) |
| Amos 3:2 | "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." | Amos 3:2 (God's specific judgment on Israel) |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD..." | Ezekiel 18:30 (Personal accountability) |
| Matthew 11:23-24 | "And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.” | Matthew 11:23-24 (Jesus' comparison of cities to Sodom) |
| 2 Peter 2:6 | and if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly... | 2 Peter 2:6 (God's judgment on the ungodly) |
| Jude 1:7 | just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. | Jude 1:7 (Sodom as example of judgment) |
| Genesis 18:20-21 | Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is very grave." | Genesis 18:20-21 (God's knowledge of Sodom's sin) |
| Genesis 19:24-25 | Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. | Genesis 19:24-25 (Destruction of Sodom) |
| Deuteronomy 4:28 | And there you will serve other gods, made of wood and stone, by the hand of man, things that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. | Deuteronomy 4:28 (Consequences of idolatry) |
| Isaiah 57:3-4 | "But you, draw near here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute. Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you make signs with your mouth and roll out your tongue?" | Isaiah 57:3-4 (Accusation of spiritual adultery) |
| Jeremiah 3:8-9 | I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had given her a bill of divorce and pushed her away... | Jeremiah 3:8-9 (Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness) |
| Hosea 2:2-5 | Contend against your mother, contend, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband... | Hosea 2:2-5 (Allegory of God and unfaithful Israel) |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. | Galatians 5:19-21 (List of sinful behaviors) |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. | 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Warning against sin) |
| Romans 2:1 | You have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. | Romans 2:1 (Hypocrisy of judging) |
Ezekiel 16 verses
Ezekiel 16 47 Meaning
This verse dramatically contrasts the perceived moral failings of Judah with those of its neighbors, specifically Sodom. It states that Judah's sins, in terms of quantity and severity, surpassed even those of Sodom.
Ezekiel 16 47 Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel chapter 16, which is a detailed allegory presented by God to the prophet Ezekiel concerning Jerusalem and Judah. The chapter describes Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife, born out of sin and apostasy, who has prostituted herself with foreign nations. This specific verse appears after Ezekiel has detailed the transgressions of Judah. God's judgment is pronounced upon Jerusalem for its repeated acts of unfaithfulness and idolatry, highlighting its greater sinfulness compared to the infamous city of Sodom.
Ezekiel 16 47 Word analysis
Behold (Hebrew: רָא֕וּ, ra’u) - Literally "see" or "look." It's an imperative verb used to draw the listener's attention forcefully to what follows, emphasizing the shocking nature of the statement.
she (Hebrew: הִ֣י (implied)) - Refers back to Jerusalem or Judah.
was guiltier (Hebrew: כָּֽבְדָה֙, kavda) - Literally "heavy" or "weighty." This indicates a greater degree or burden of sin, making Judah's iniquity more substantial and deserving of heavier judgment than Sodom's.
than she (Hebrew: מִמֶּנָּ֖ה, mimmenah) - This comparative phrase establishes a direct assessment of guilt relative to Sodom. The pronoun "she" again refers to Sodom.
group - "Behold, she was guiltier than she" - This phrase emphasizes God's forensic evaluation of Judah's sinfulness. It's not just a comparison but a verdict based on the enormity and persistence of Judah's rebellion.
Ezekiel 16 47 Bonus section
The comparison to Sodom is particularly poignant given the universally recognized wickedness associated with that city in the ancient Near East. Sodom's sin, described in Genesis, was so grave it provoked God's direct intervention and destruction. Ezekiel 16 paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem's pervasive spiritual corruption, idolatry, and social injustice, portraying these sins as even more reprehensible in the eyes of God due to Judah's covenant relationship with Him. This serves as a severe warning against complacency and unfaithfulness within God's own people.
Ezekiel 16 47 Commentary
This verse underscores God's justice. While Sodom's sin was horrific and led to divine destruction, Judah, as God's chosen covenant people, had received greater light and revelation. Their apostasy and spiritual adultery were therefore seen as a more profound betrayal, incurring a greater measure of guilt and heavier judgment. It highlights that knowledge and covenant responsibilities increase accountability. Jesus himself made a similar point regarding unrepentant cities in Galilee when compared to Sodom (Matthew 11:23-24).