What is the meaning of Ezekiel 16:35? Therefore • The word signals a conclusion rooted in everything said earlier in Ezekiel 16. • God has cataloged Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness: adopted by grace (vv. 3-7), later embracing idolatry and political alliances likened to prostitution (vv. 15-34). • Judgment is never arbitrary; it flows from clear moral cause and effect (Galatians 6:7-8). • As in Isaiah 5:3-5, the “therefore” shifts from recounting sin to announcing the verdict. O prostitute • The term describes Jerusalem’s spiritual infidelity, not mere social sin. • Hosea 1-3 and Jeremiah 3:1-9 employ the same imagery to show covenant betrayal. • Calling the city “prostitute” exposes sin honestly, removing excuses and self-deception (Psalm 51:6). • It also affirms that sinful alliances with pagan nations and idols are as intimate and offensive to God as marital unfaithfulness (James 4:4). hear • God graciously commands attention before executing judgment, giving space for repentance (Isaiah 55:6-7). • The imperative echoes the Shema, “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4), underscoring that listening precedes life or destruction (Matthew 7:24-27). • Refusal to hear intensifies guilt; acceptance leads to mercy, as illustrated in Nineveh’s response in Jonah 3:5-10. the word of the LORD! • The coming pronouncement carries divine authority and certainty (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25). • God’s word performs what it declares; nothing can thwart it (Isaiah 55:11). • For the faithful remnant, the same word that judges also promises restoration (Ezekiel 16:60-63), mirroring Romans 11:22—kindness and severity in perfect balance. summary Ezekiel 16:35 is the hinge between accusation and judgment. Because Jerusalem chose spiritual adultery, God now addresses her directly, demanding she listen to His authoritative decree. The verse underscores three realities: sin has consequences, God still calls sinners to hear Him, and His word is final. |
    |