Ezekiel 16:33

16:32 But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. hirest: Heb. bribest

KJV

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People give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.

They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.

They give gifts to all whores: but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and hire them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.

16:34 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.

What does Ezekiel 16:33 mean?

Ezekiel 16:33 is a verse in the book of Ezekiel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָתַן (nâthan), נֵדֶה (nêdeh), זָנָה (zânâh). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

They

giveנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

giftsנֵדֶהnêdeh/nay'-deh/H5078a bounty (for prostitution)

all

whores:זָנָהzânâh/zaw-naw'/H2181to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah)

but

thou

givestנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

thy

giftsנָדָןnâdân/naw-dawn'/H5083a present (for prostitution)

all

thy

lovers,אָהַבʼâhab/aw-hab'/H157to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

and

hirestשָׁחַדshâchad/shaw-khad'/H7809to donate, i.e. bribe

them,

that

they

may

comeבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

unto

thee

every

sideסָבִיבçâbîyb/saw-beeb'/H5439(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

for

thy

whoredom.תַּזְנוּתtaznûwth/taz-nooth'/H8457harlotry, i.e. (figuratively) idolatry

hirest:

Heb.

bribest

Commentary on Ezekiel 16:33

HENRY_FULL · Ezekiel 16:33

"Jer.4" It should seem that the first two verses of this chapter might better have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, for they are directed to Israel, the ten tribes, by way of reply to their compliance with God's call, directing and encouraging them to hold their resolution, ver. 1, 2 . The rest of the chapter concerns Judah and Jerusalem. I. They are called to repent and reform, ver. 3, 4 . II. They are warned of the advance of Nebuchadnezzar and his forces against them, and are told that it is for their sins, from which they are again exhorted to wash themselves, ver. 5-18 . III. To affect them the more with the greatness of the desolation that was coming, the prophet does himself bitterly lament it, and sympathize with his people in the calamities it brought upon them, and the plunge it brought them to, representing it as a reduction of the world to its first chaos, ver. 19-31 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 22:18

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Deuteronomy 10:20

Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

1 Kings 3:6

And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. mercy: or, bounty

Isaiah 45:23

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Isaiah 45:25

In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Isaiah 48:1

Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Isaiah 48:2

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.

Ezekiel 5:2

Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

Hosea 2:19

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

Zechariah 8:8

And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 10:17

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Galatians 3:8

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,3754 In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Topics

High Places

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ezekiel 16:33.

Hosea 9:1

Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. upon: or, in, etc

Frequently asked questions

What does Ezekiel 16:33 say?

Ezekiel 16:33 (King James Version) reads: "They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. hirest: Heb. bribest"

Is Ezekiel 16:33 in the Old or New Testament?

Ezekiel 16:33 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ezekiel.

Reflect

As you read Ezekiel 16:33, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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