Ezekiel 16:24

[That] thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.

That thou hast also built {H1129} unto thee an eminent place {H1354}, and hast made {H6213} thee an high place {H7413} in every street {H7339}.

'you built platforms and made yourself high places in every open space.

you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square.

that thou hast built unto thee a vaulted place, and hast made thee a lofty place in every street.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 16 presents a vivid and often shocking allegory of God's relationship with Jerusalem, personifying the city as an abandoned infant rescued and raised by God, only to become a beautiful woman who then turns to prostitution. This "harlotry" is a metaphor for Jerusalem's widespread spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. Verse 24 specifically details one aspect of this unfaithfulness: the construction of pagan shrines.

The phrase "eminent place" or "high place" (Hebrew: bamah) refers to elevated platforms or altars built for worship, often associated with idolatrous practices in ancient Near Eastern religions. While some high places were initially used for legitimate worship of Yahweh, they frequently devolved into centers for the worship of Baal, Asherah, and other Canaanite deities, often involving illicit sexual rites and even child sacrifice. The phrase "in every street" emphasizes the pervasive and public nature of Jerusalem's apostasy, indicating that idolatry was not hidden but flaunted throughout the city, a stark contrast to the exclusive devotion God commanded in His covenant.

Key Themes

  • Pervasive Idolatry: The verse highlights the depth and breadth of Jerusalem's sin, indicating that pagan worship was not confined to hidden corners but was openly practiced "in every street," demonstrating a complete departure from God's laws.
  • Spiritual Harlotry: As part of the broader allegory in Ezekiel 16, building these high places signifies Jerusalem's betrayal of her covenant with God, much like a wife who commits adultery. This imagery of spiritual harlotry is central to Ezekiel's message, as seen in Ezekiel 16:32.
  • Covenant Unfaithfulness: The construction of these altars was a direct violation of God's commands against idolatry, epitomized by the first commandment to have no other gods before Him. Israel's actions represented a profound breaking of the covenant relationship established at Mount Sinai.

Linguistic Insights

The term "high place" is a translation of the Hebrew word bamah (ื‘ึผึธืžึธื”). These were often literal elevations or constructed platforms used for religious rituals. Throughout the Old Testament, the "high places" are consistently condemned as centers of pagan worship and a source of Israel's spiritual corruption, even when attempts were made to appropriate them for Yahweh worship (e.g., 1 Kings 14:23). The command to destroy these pagan high places was clear from the beginning of Israel's entry into Canaan.

Practical Application

While we may not build physical "high places" in our streets today, the principle of idolatry remains highly relevant. Idolatry is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts or demands our ultimate devotion and trust. This can manifest as:

  • Materialism: Placing wealth, possessions, or comfort above God.
  • Self-Worship: Exalting personal desires, achievements, or reputation over God's will.
  • False Ideologies: Adhering to philosophies, political systems, or cultural trends that contradict biblical truth.
  • Relational Idols: Allowing relationships with others to become the primary source of our identity or security instead of God.

Ezekiel 16:24 serves as a powerful reminder for believers to examine their own lives for "high places"โ€”areas where allegiance is given to something other than God. It calls for exclusive devotion and faithfulness to the One who has redeemed us, recognizing that true fulfillment and spiritual well-being come only from Him.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 2:20

    ยถ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

  • Isaiah 57:7

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

  • Psalms 78:58

    For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

  • Ezekiel 16:39

    And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.

  • Ezekiel 16:31

    In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

  • Ezekiel 20:28

    [For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

  • Ezekiel 20:29

    Then I said unto them, What [is] the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.