Ezekiel 16 47

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 verses

Ezekiel 16 47 Meaning

Ezekiel 16:47 delivers a severe indictment against Judah/Jerusalem, declaring that her wickedness not only imitated but profoundly surpassed that of the notorious cities of Sodom and Samaria, previously cited as examples of sin. The verse states that Judah was not content with merely adopting the sins and abominations of these pagan nations; rather, she regarded their level of iniquity as insufficient, striving instead for an even greater, more pervasive corruption in all aspects of her life and conduct. This highlights Judah's deliberate choice to escalate her rebellion against God beyond any known precedent.

Ezekiel 16 47 Context

Ezekiel chapter 16 is a lengthy and dramatic allegorical depiction of Jerusalem's history, presented as a deeply unfaithful wife. God recounts rescuing her as an abandoned, newborn child, raising her, lavishing her with blessings and a covenant relationship (marriage). However, she responded with egregious spiritual adultery, prostituting herself to surrounding nations and their idols, indulging in practices forbidden by God, even offering her children in sacrifice. Verse 47 follows an explicit comparison of Jerusalem's actions to those of her "sisters," Samaria (the Northern Kingdom, fallen long before Judah) and Sodom (an ancient byword for wickedness). The preceding verses (44-46) state that Jerusalem inherited her mother's ways (Hittite/Amorite paganism) and was indeed "sister" to Samaria in her idolatry and to Sodom in her iniquity. Verse 47 then intensifies this comparison, concluding that Jerusalem's wickedness was not merely equal, but actually exceeded that of her infamous sisters, adding a layer of unique culpability. The historical context is the period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, a time when the city's moral and religious corruption reached its zenith.

Ezekiel 16 47 Word analysis

• Yet (וְגַם - wə·ḡam): A conjunction serving to intensify the preceding statement, introducing a new, even more severe charge. It means "and also," or "even," highlighting the surprising and greater degree of depravity that follows, despite the established bad precedents. It underscores the profound paradox of Jerusalem's behavior.
• you were not content (וְלֹא־דַיִּךְ - wə·lō-ḏayyik): Literally "and it was not enough for you." The root day signifies "sufficiency" or "enough." This phrase implies an insatiable desire or lack of satisfaction with merely achieving the level of sin seen in Sodom and Samaria. It portrays a deliberate ambition to surpass existing wickedness. This is not passive failure but active pursuit of deeper transgression.
• to walk (לָלֶכֶת - lā·le·ḵeṯ): From halak, meaning "to walk, to go," often metaphorically meaning "to live, to behave, to conduct oneself." It describes a consistent lifestyle or pattern of conduct, not isolated incidents. This "walk" encompasses the totality of their life.
• in their ways (בְּדַרְכֵיהֶן - bə·ḏar·ḵê·hen): From derek, meaning "way, path, course of life, manner." Refers to the established modes of life, cultural norms, and religious practices of the pagan nations, specifically Sodom and Samaria, known for their specific societal and religious evils.
• or do (וְלַעֲשׂוֹת - wə·la·ʿă·śōwṯ): From `asah, meaning "to do, to make, to perform." Implies active participation and engagement in these practices, not merely passive exposure or imitation.
• according to their abominations (כְּתוֹעֲבֹתֵיהֶן - ḵə·ṯō·ʿă·ḇō·ṯê·hen): Tō`ă·ḇah refers to acts, customs, or idols that are repugnant to God, morally offensive, and ritually unclean, especially those condemned in the Mosaic Law (e.g., idolatry, child sacrifice, sexual perversions). The comparison implies a standard of pagan defilement.
• rather, as if that were too little (וּכְמַעַט מֵהֵנָּה - ūḵ·maṭ mê·hên·nāh): Literally, "and as a trifle/small amount from them" or "as if little by comparison to them." This phrase reiterates and strengthens the previous "not content." It means their wickedness seemed insufficient, even minor, when compared to what Jerusalem eventually did. It demonstrates a desire to not just equal, but to exceed, pushing the boundaries of moral depravity.
• you were more corrupt (נִשְׁחַתְּתְּ - niš·ḥat·təṯ): From the verb shaḥath in the Niphil conjugation, meaning "to be spoiled, ruined, corrupted, depraved, destroyed." This is a strong term indicating moral decay and destruction, implying an intrinsic debasement rather than just external actions. It goes beyond merely "doing bad" to "being bad" at a foundational level. The comparative sense of "more corrupt" is established by "than they."
• than they (מֵהֶן מְאֹד - mê·hen mə·ʾōḏ): Literally "from them, exceedingly." The mê prefix here signifies comparison ("than"). Məʾōḏ means "very, exceedingly, greatly," intensifying the degree of corruption. Jerusalem's depravity wasn't just greater, but exceedingly greater.
• in all your ways (בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיִךְ - bə·ḵol-də·rā·ḵā·yiḵ): Reinforces the comprehensiveness of Judah's corruption. It was not restricted to a few aspects of life or particular sins but infected the entirety of their conduct, beliefs, and societal structure.

Words-group analysis:

• "Yet you were not content to walk in their ways or do according to their abominations": This phrase reveals a shocking ambition for wickedness. Jerusalem was not passively influenced but actively felt that the existing levels of pagan immorality were insufficient for her, desiring more.
• "rather, as if that were too little, you were more corrupt than they in all your ways": This culminates the charge, unequivocally stating Jerusalem's escalated guilt. It speaks of a determined self-corruption, extending beyond external acts into an internal, pervasive depravity, setting her apart even from the most notorious sinners.

Ezekiel 16 47 Bonus section

The idea presented in Ez 16:47, of surpassing others in wickedness despite divine privilege, finds echoes in the New Testament concept of greater judgment for those who have heard the Gospel but rejected it (e.g., Jesus' denunciation of Capernaum in Matt 11:23-24, where Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would fare better on the day of judgment due to their lesser exposure to truth). Jerusalem, in Ezekiel's prophecy, embodied a similar failure, making her sin particularly heinous. This escalation of sin demonstrates a hardening of the heart against God's repeated warnings and interventions. It illustrates that spiritual "tolerance" or familiarity with divine truth, if not genuinely embraced, can ironically lead to an intensified rebellion rather than humble obedience. The verse serves as a cautionary tale not only for ancient Israel but for any community or individual granted special revelation and grace, lest they use that privilege to become even more entrenched in sin than those who never knew God's saving power.

Ezekiel 16 47 Commentary

Ezekiel 16:47 stands as a powerful testament to the principle that greater light brings greater responsibility and, consequently, greater guilt for sin. Jerusalem, chosen by God, lavished with His blessings, bound by His covenant, and recipient of His revealed law, possessed an intimate knowledge of Him that was denied to Sodom and Samaria. Her sin was not merely ignorance but a defiant rejection of grace and a deliberate pursuit of aggravated transgression. The language emphasizes a perverse competition in evil, where Jerusalem found the wickedness of her pagan "sisters" to be insufficient for her own satisfaction. This verse is a stark reminder that spiritual privilege, when met with rebellion, often leads to a more profound fall. It underscores God's deep disappointment and righteous anger at His own people who, having every reason to live righteously, chose instead to plunge into deeper depravity than even those without the Law. It highlights the devastating potential for sin's progression: from imitation to innovation, from a slight deviance to a wholesale embrace of profound evil that surpasses all preceding examples.