Ezekiel 16:17

Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Thou hast also taken {H3947} thy fair {H8597} jewels {H3627} of my gold {H2091} and of my silver {H3701}, which I had given {H5414} thee, and madest {H6213} to thyself images {H6754} of men {H2145}, and didst commit whoredom {H2181} with them,

You also took your beautiful jewels made of my gold and my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images, with which you continued to prostitute yourself.

You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself.

Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them;

Ezekiel 16:17 is a poignant verse within a powerful allegorical chapter that vividly portrays Jerusalem's spiritual infidelity. Here, the prophet Ezekiel, speaking for God, describes how the city (personified as an unfaithful wife) misused the very blessings bestowed upon her by God, turning them into instruments of idolatry.

Context

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel is an extended parable detailing Jerusalem's history from its humble, unwanted beginnings to its rise as a powerful, adorned city, all thanks to God's gracious intervention. God found Jerusalem as a helpless infant, adopted her, cleansed her, and lavished her with rich blessings, comparing her adornment to that of a queen (Ezekiel 16:10-14). However, despite this divine favor, Jerusalem became arrogant due to her beauty and prostituted herself spiritually by engaging in idolatry with surrounding nations. Verse 17 specifically condemns the perversion of God's material gifts—gold and silver—which were intended for His glory but were instead fashioned into "images of men," or idols, becoming objects of spiritual "whoredom" and betrayal.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery: The core message is Israel's profound unfaithfulness to God. The "images of men" refer to man-made idols, often anthropomorphic, which stood in direct opposition to the living God. The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: zanah) is consistently used in the prophetic books to signify spiritual infidelity and the worship of false gods, likening it to a bride betraying her husband.
  • Perversion of Blessings: God had generously provided Israel with wealth and beauty, symbolized by the "fair jewels of my gold and of my silver." This verse highlights the egregious sin of using God's own gifts to worship rival deities, demonstrating extreme ingratitude and defiance.
  • God's Jealousy and Righteous Indignation: The tone of the passage reveals God's deep hurt and anger over His chosen people's betrayal. His covenant with Israel was meant to be exclusive, and their idolatry provoked His righteous jealousy, as seen in the Second Commandment against idolatry.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "images of men" translates from the Hebrew tselem ish, referring to idols crafted in human form. This emphasizes the human-centric nature of these false gods, contrasting sharply with the transcendent, invisible God of Israel. The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: zanah) is crucial; while it literally means physical prostitution, its consistent metaphorical use throughout Ezekiel and other prophetic books (like Hosea and Jeremiah) highlights the spiritual adultery committed when Israel turned from Yahweh to other gods.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:17 serves as a powerful reminder that idolatry is not limited to physical statues. In modern contexts, it applies to anything we elevate above God in our hearts and lives—be it money, career, relationships, power, or even self-image. The verse challenges us to examine how we use the blessings God has given us—our talents, resources, time, and influence. Are we using them for His glory, or are we perverting them to serve our own desires or other "gods" in our lives? True spiritual faithfulness involves acknowledging God as the sole source of all good things and dedicating our lives and resources to Him alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 23:14

    And [that] she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

  • Ezekiel 23:21

    Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Jeremiah 2:28

    But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

  • Ezekiel 16:11

    I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

  • Isaiah 57:7

    Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

  • Isaiah 57:8

    Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it].

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