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;

In that thou buildest {H1129} thine eminent place {H1354} in the head {H7218} of every way {H1870}, and makest {H6213} thine high place {H7413} in every street {H7339}; and hast not been as an harlot {H2181}, in that thou scornest {H7046} hire {H868};

building your platforms on every streetcorner, making your high places in every open space - and yet you aren't like a whore, because you scorn getting paid.

But when you built your mounds at the head of every street and made your lofty shrines in every public square, you were not even like a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

in that thou buildest thy vaulted place at the head of every way, and makest thy lofty place in every street, and hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest hire.

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 16:31 (KJV)

Ezekiel 16:31 is a powerful and disturbing verse within a chapter where God, through the prophet Ezekiel, graphically portrays Jerusalem's spiritual unfaithfulness using the metaphor of an unfaithful wife and harlot. This verse highlights the extreme and public nature of her idolatry.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Ezekiel addresses the exiled people of Judah, explaining why God's judgment, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, was necessary. Chapter 16 is an extended allegory of Jerusalem's history, from her humble beginnings to her rise and subsequent spiritual decline. God depicts His initial covenant with Israel as a marriage, where He found Jerusalem abandoned and destitute, then raised her to prominence, adorning her with beauty and wealth (Ezekiel 16:8). However, Jerusalem, personified as this bride, then used God's gifts for her own unfaithfulness, engaging in widespread idolatry.

The "eminent place" (often translated as "arch" or "vaulted chamber") and "high place" (a common term for pagan altars or shrines) built "in the head of every way" and "in every street" refers to the pervasive and public nature of Israel's pagan worship. These were not hidden acts; they were openly conducted at crossroads and in public spaces, making them easily accessible for all to participate in or witness. Such practices were common in ancient Near Eastern religions, but for Israel, they represented a direct violation of their covenant with the One True God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Flagrant Idolatry: The verse emphasizes the brazen and widespread nature of Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry. It wasn't clandestine; it was built into the very fabric of society, visible "in every street." This speaks to a deep-seated spiritual rebellion.
  • Extreme Unfaithfulness: The most shocking element is the comparison: "and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire." A harlot typically receives payment for her services. Jerusalem, however, is depicted as being so consumed by her desire for illicit spiritual relations (idolatry and foreign alliances) that she not only doesn't seek payment but actively "scorns hire"—she pays others, or gives gifts, to engage in these abominable acts. This signifies an unparalleled eagerness and aggressive pursuit of sin, making her worse than a common harlot (Ezekiel 16:34).
  • Covenant Violation: At its core, this verse underscores the severe violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people, which was meant to be exclusive and holy.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "eminent place" (גַּבְגֻבֵךְ - gabgubech) is unique to this chapter and often interpreted as a "brothel" or a "vaulted chamber" for illicit acts, further emphasizing the depth of moral and spiritual degradation. The phrase "scornest hire" (מְאַסֶּת שָׂכָר - me'asset sakar) powerfully conveys Jerusalem's active rejection of the typical harlot's motive for gain, instead highlighting her insatiable desire to pursue other gods and alliances for their own sake, or perhaps for perceived benefits that were ultimately destructive.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 16:31 serves as a stark warning against spiritual idolatry in any form. For believers today, it prompts reflection on:

  • What occupies our "high places"? Anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—be it wealth, power, pleasure, careers, or even good causes—can become an idol. We must ensure our devotion is solely to God, as commanded in the First Commandment.
  • The danger of actively pursuing sin: The verse's shocking imagery of Jerusalem "scorn[ing] hire" reminds us that sin is most dangerous when it is not merely a weakness but an active, aggressive pursuit, even at great personal cost.
  • God's righteous judgment: While God is patient and merciful, He is also just. This passage underscores the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness and the inevitable consequences for those who persistently turn away from Him. The prophets repeatedly warned Israel about this spiritual harlotry; see similar themes in Hosea 1:2 and Jeremiah 3:8.

This verse challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure our devotion to God is pure, exclusive, and not tainted by the pervasive "high places" of our modern world.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 52:3

    For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

  • Ezekiel 16:33

    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.

  • Ezekiel 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.

  • 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.

  • Hosea 12:11

    [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

  • Ezekiel 16:24

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

  • Ezekiel 16:25

    Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.