Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay your lovers instead of their paying you! English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: No one solicited your favors, and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite! King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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.” New American Standard Bible So it is the opposite for you from those women in your obscene practices, in that you are not approached for prostitution, and in the fact that you pay a prostitute’s fee, and no fee is paid to you; so you are the opposite.” NASB 1995 “Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.” NASB 1977 “Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.” Legacy Standard Bible Thus you are the opposite of those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give away your earnings and no earnings are given to you; thus you are the opposite.” Amplified Bible And you are different from other [unfaithful] women in your promiscuity, in that no one follows you to lure you into prostitution, and because you give money and no money is given you; in this way you are different.” Christian Standard Bible So you were the opposite of other women in your acts of prostitution; no one solicited you. When you paid a fee instead of one being paid to you, you were the opposite. Holman Christian Standard Bible So you were the opposite of other women in your acts of prostitution; no one solicited you. When you paid a fee instead of one being paid to you, you were the opposite.” American Standard Version And thou art different from other women in thy whoredoms, in that none followeth thee to play the harlot; and whereas thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, therefore thou art different. Contemporary English Version You're not like other prostitutes. Men don't ask you for sex--you offer to pay them! English Revised Version And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, in that none followeth thee to commit whoredom: and whereas thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary. GOD'S WORD® Translation You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don't accept payment. Good News Translation You are a special kind of prostitute. No one forced you to become one. You didn't get paid; you paid them! Yes, you are different." International Standard Version You're different from other women when you commit immorality—no one can match you in that! After all, you pay fees, but no fee is given to you. You're certainly different!" NET Bible You were different from other prostitutes because no one solicited you. When you gave payment and no payment was given to you, you became the opposite! New Heart English Bible You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.' Webster's Bible Translation And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy unlawful commerce, whereas none followeth thee to commit lewdness: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given to thee, therefore thou art contrary. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: No one solicited your favors, and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite! World English Bible You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.”’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you are opposite from [other] women in your whoredoms, "" That none go whoring after you; And in your giving a wage, "" And a wage has not been given to you; Therefore you are the opposite. Young's Literal Translation And the contrary is in thee from women in thy whoredoms, That after thee none doth go a-whoring; And in thy giving a gift, And a gift hath not been given to thee; And thou art become contrary. Smith's Literal Translation And it will be in thee the reverse from women in thy fornications, and none committing fornication after thee: and in thy giving liberal gifts, and none giving liberal gifts to thee; and thou wilt be for the reverse. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd it hath happened in thee contrary to the custom of women in thy fornications, and after thee there shall be no such fornication: for in that thou gavest rewards, and didst not take rewards, the contrary hath been done in thee. Catholic Public Domain Version And it is done with you, in your fornications, contrary to the custom of women, and even after you, there will be no such fornication. For in as much as you have given payment, and not taken payment, what has been done in you is the contrary.” New American Bible Thus in your prostitution you were different from any other woman. No one solicited you for prostitution. Instead, you yourself offered payment; what a reversal! New Revised Standard Version 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; you were different. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo you are different from other women in your whoredoms, in that you pay others a price, and no one pays a price to you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You are separate from women in your prostitutions in that you have given what is payment, and they did not give not payment to you OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the contrary is in thee from other women, in that thou didst solicit to harlotry, and wast not solicited; and in that thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, thus thou art contrary. Brenton Septuagint Translation And there has happened in thee perverseness in thy fornication beyond other women, and they have committed fornication with thee, in that thou givest hires over and above, and hires were not given to thee; and thus perverseness happened in thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness…33Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors. 34So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: No one solicited your favors, and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite! Cross References Hosea 9:1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor. Jeremiah 2:20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. Jeremiah 3:1-2 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD. / “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Isaiah 1:21 See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers! Hosea 2:5 For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’ Jeremiah 3:6 Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. Jeremiah 3:13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD. Hosea 4:12-14 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. / I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin. Isaiah 57:3 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! Jeremiah 13:27 Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?” Revelation 17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 18:3 All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.” Revelation 18:9 Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. Treasury of Scripture And the contrary is in you from other women in your prostitutions, whereas none follows you to commit prostitutions: and in that you give a reward, and no reward is given to you, therefore you are contrary. no references for this verse Jump to Previous Commerce Commit Contrary Different Favors Followeth Follows Givest Goes Harlot Harlotries Harlotry Hire Lewdness Opposite Others Play Plays Prostitute Prostitution Reward Runs Solicit Unlawful Whereas Whoredoms WomenJump to Next Commerce Commit Contrary Different Favors Followeth Follows Givest Goes Harlot Harlotries Harlotry Hire Lewdness Opposite Others Play Plays Prostitute Prostitution Reward Runs Solicit Unlawful Whereas Whoredoms WomenEzekiel 16 1. Under the parable of a wretched infant is shown the natural state of Jerusalem6. God's extraordinary love toward her, 15. Her grievous judgment 35. Her sin, equal to her mother, 46. and exceeding her sisters, Sodom and Samaria, 59. calls for judgments 60. Mercy is promised her in the end So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, prostitution was often a metaphor for idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. Typically, prostitutes were sought after and paid for their services. Here, the imagery is reversed to emphasize Israel's spiritual adultery. Unlike other nations that were pursued, Israel actively sought out foreign alliances and idolatrous practices, contrary to God's commands (Exodus 34:15-16). This highlights Israel's unique covenant relationship with God and their deliberate rebellion against it. No one solicited your favors: and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite! Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God who ministered to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He is known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions. 2. Jerusalem The city personified as an unfaithful wife in Ezekiel 16, representing the people of Israel and their spiritual adultery against God. 3. God The sovereign Lord who speaks through Ezekiel, expressing His judgment and disappointment over Israel's unfaithfulness. 4. Israelites The people of God who have turned away from Him, engaging in idolatry and alliances with pagan nations, symbolized as prostitution. 5. Babylonian Exile The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, a period of punishment and reflection for the Israelites due to their disobedience. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual AdulteryRecognize that spiritual unfaithfulness is akin to adultery, where we replace God with idols or worldly pursuits. The Cost of Sin Sin often demands more from us than we realize, leading to spiritual bankruptcy rather than fulfillment. God's Righteous Judgment God's judgment is just and serves as a call to repentance and restoration. The Opposite of Grace Unlike grace, which is freely given, sin requires payment and leaves us empty, highlighting the futility of turning away from God. Call to Repentance This passage serves as a reminder to examine our lives, repent from idolatry, and return to a faithful relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 16:34?2. How does Ezekiel 16:34 illustrate Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and rebellion against God? 3. What are the consequences of Israel's actions as described in Ezekiel 16:34? 4. How can we avoid the spiritual pitfalls highlighted in Ezekiel 16:34 today? 5. What other biblical passages address spiritual unfaithfulness similar to Ezekiel 16:34? 6. How does Ezekiel 16:34 challenge us to remain faithful in our relationship with God? 7. How does Ezekiel 16:34 challenge traditional views on justice and fairness in biblical teachings? 8. Why does Ezekiel 16:34 depict a reversal of expected roles in ancient societal norms? 9. What historical context is necessary to understand the message of Ezekiel 16:34? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 16? 11. What does 'One Shepherd and One Flock' mean? 12. Jeremiah 16:2 forbids Jeremiah from marrying or having children--how does this reconcile with earlier Biblical commands to 'be fruitful and multiply'? 13. How credible is the depiction of widespread child sacrifice in Ezekiel 16:20-21, given limited archaeological evidence for such practices in Jerusalem? 14. What does the Bible say about generational curses? What Does Ezekiel 16:34 Mean So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other womenEzekiel has just finished recounting the Lord’s tender care for Jerusalem and her shocking betrayal (Ezekiel 16:6-33). Now the prophet points out something even more appalling: Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness is not merely typical, it is inverted. • Ordinary prostitutes sell themselves for gain; Jerusalem gives herself away and still comes out poorer. • By reversing the expected pattern, the city shows how deeply sin has warped her thinking (Romans 1:22-25). • This is spiritual adultery—the covenant people exchanging the living God for idols (Jeremiah 3:20; Hosea 9:1). No one solicited your favors Unlike women who are approached by clients, Jerusalem goes looking for partners. • She courts Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, craving their idols and alliances (Isaiah 57:9-10; Hosea 2:5). • The initiative lies with her, proving that the heart’s desire, not outside pressure, drives apostasy (James 1:14-15). • God exposes the motive: dissatisfaction with Him (Jeremiah 2:13). You paid a fee instead of receiving one Instead of receiving gifts, Jerusalem pays—literally sending treasure to foreign powers and figuratively pouring devotion on lifeless gods. • King Ahaz stripped the temple to buy Assyrian help (2 Kings 16:7-9). • Judah taxed herself to purchase Egyptian protection (2 Chronicles 36:3-4), only to be betrayed (Jeremiah 2:36-37). • Every idol demands costly sacrifice yet gives nothing in return (Isaiah 44:9-20). So you are the very opposite! God underlines the point: Jerusalem’s behavior is upside-down, irrational, and ruinous. • Her sin is not only immoral, it is self-destructive (Ezekiel 6:9-10). • The contrast magnifies grace; after exposing the depth of corruption, God will still promise cleansing and restoration (Ezekiel 16:60-63). • Until repentance comes, the city stands as a warning that rejecting the Lord always turns the world on its head (Proverbs 13:15). summary Ezekiel 16:34 shows Jerusalem’s spiritual adultery reaching an absurd extreme: she pursues lovers no one else would seek, pays for the privilege, and ends poorer than before. By reversing the very nature of prostitution, the prophet exposes sin’s insanity and underscores our need to remain faithful to the God who alone satisfies and saves. Hebrew So your prostitutionבְּתַזְנוּתַ֔יִךְ (bə·ṯaz·nū·ṯa·yiḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 8457: Harlotry, idolatry is וַיְהִי־ (way·hî-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the opposite הֵ֤פֶךְ (hê·p̄eḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2016: The contrary, contrariness, perversity of that מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of of other women: הַנָּשִׁים֙ (han·nā·šîm) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female No one לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no solicited וְאַחֲרַ֖יִךְ (wə·’a·ḥă·ra·yiḵ) Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's 310: The hind or following part your favors, זוּנָּ֑ה (zūn·nāh) Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2181: To commit adultery, to commit idolatry and you paid וּבְתִתֵּ֣ךְ (ū·ḇə·ṯit·têḵ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set a fee אֶתְנָ֗ן (’eṯ·nān) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 868: The wages (of a harlot) instead of לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no receiving נִתַּן־ (nit·tan-) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set one; וְאֶתְנַ֛ן (wə·’eṯ·nan) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 868: The wages (of a harlot) so you לָ֖ךְ (lāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew are וַתְּהִ֥י (wat·tə·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the very opposite.’ לְהֶֽפֶךְ׃ (lə·he·p̄eḵ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2016: The contrary, contrariness, perversity Links Ezekiel 16:34 NIVEzekiel 16:34 NLT Ezekiel 16:34 ESV Ezekiel 16:34 NASB Ezekiel 16:34 KJV Ezekiel 16:34 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 16:34 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 16:34 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 16:34 French Bible Ezekiel 16:34 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 16:34 You are different from other women (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
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