What is the meaning of Ezekiel 16:23? Woe! - The cry is doubled to hammer home the seriousness of what is coming. God is not whispering; He is sounding an alarm. - Throughout Scripture, “woe” signals grief mixed with judgment—a divine lament that sin has reached a breaking point (Isaiah 5:8; Revelation 8:13; Matthew 23:13). - Here in Ezekiel, the repeated “woe” exposes a heartbroken God who loves His people enough to confront them. Woe to you - The target is Jerusalem, yet the words land on anyone who wears God’s name while practicing rebellion (Ezekiel 24:9; Luke 10:13). - Personal address removes every excuse. The nation can’t hide behind heritage, nor can we hide behind church membership when lifestyles contradict God’s character. - Like a surgeon identifying the diseased organ, God names the patient so the remedy—repentance—can be applied. declares the Lord GOD - This is the sovereign voice that spoke the universe into existence (Numbers 23:19; Ezekiel 12:25). When He declares, reality aligns. - His titles stack up: “Lord” (master) and “GOD” (Yahweh). The combination seals the statement with absolute authority and covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 1:18). - Because the Author of truth is speaking, the warning carries both credibility and finality. And in addition to all your other wickedness - The phrase pictures sin piled on sin—spiritual adultery, idolatry, bloodshed (Ezekiel 16:20-22; 2 Chronicles 36:14-16). - God is not exaggerating; He is cataloging. Every unrepented act becomes another layer of guilt (Jeremiah 7:9-11). - The accumulation principle still stands: “Because of your stubbornness…you are storing up wrath for yourself” (Romans 2:5). Grace cancels sin through Christ, but when grace is refused, the ledger grows. summary Ezekiel 16:23 is God’s urgent siren: an anguished double “woe,” a direct address that leaves no hiding place, a declaration backed by His own unchanging authority, and a reminder that unchecked sin stacks up fast. The verse means exactly what it says—God sorrowfully but firmly warns His people that persistent rebellion will meet inevitable judgment unless they turn back to Him. |
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