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 {H5414} gifts {H5078} to all whores {H2181}: but thou givest {H5414} thy gifts {H5083} to all thy lovers {H157}, and hirest {H7809} them, that they may come {H935} unto thee on every side {H5439} for thy whoredom {H8457}.
but also instead of receiving gifts like every other prostitute, you give gifts to all your lovers, you bribe them to come to you from all over the place and have sex with you!
Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.
They give gifts to all harlots; but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and bribest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredoms.
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Hosea 8:9
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. -
Hosea 8:10
Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. -
Isaiah 57:9
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell. -
Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them]. -
Isaiah 30:7
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still. -
Deuteronomy 23:17
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. -
Deuteronomy 23:18
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Ezekiel 16:33 is a vivid and stark condemnation of Jerusalem's (representing Israel's) spiritual unfaithfulness, portraying her as a harlot who not only engages in illicit relationships but also pays her "lovers" to do so, an inversion of typical prostitution. This illustrates the extreme depth of her spiritual degradation and desperate pursuit of idolatry and foreign alliances.
Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel Chapter 16, a powerful and extended allegory where God recounts His relationship with Jerusalem. He describes finding her as an abandoned infant, raising her, adorning her with splendor, and entering into a covenant relationship with her, making her His own. However, despite His lavish care and blessing, Jerusalem then prostituted herself, turning to idolatry and forming unholy alliances with surrounding nations. Verse 33 emphasizes her unparalleled depravity by highlighting that she aggressively sought out these "lovers" (foreign powers and their gods) by offering them gifts, rather than receiving payment herself.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "whoredom" or "harlotry" is zanah (זָנָה), which is frequently used metaphorically throughout the Old Testament to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly idolatry and abandoning God's covenant for other gods or alliances. The "lovers" mentioned here refer to the various gentile nations (like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon) with whom Israel sought alliances, placing their trust in human power and pagan deities rather than divine provision and protection.
Related Scriptures
This theme of spiritual harlotry is a common metaphor used by the prophets to describe Israel's unfaithfulness. The prophet Hosea's marriage to Gomer served as a vivid object lesson of Israel's unfaithfulness and God's enduring love. Jeremiah also condemns Judah's spiritual adultery in passages like Jeremiah 3:6-9. Deuteronomy 31:16 also speaks of Israel's turning to foreign gods as "playing the harlot."
Practical Application
Ezekiel 16:33 serves as a profound warning against spiritual compromise and the pursuit of security or satisfaction outside of God. It challenges believers today to examine where their ultimate trust and devotion lie. Are we "giving gifts" (our time, energy, resources, and affections) to worldly pursuits or modern "idols" (money, power, status, entertainment, comfort) that draw us away from our covenant relationship with God? The verse reminds us of the seriousness of any form of idolatry, urging us to maintain undivided loyalty to God and to seek our fulfillment solely in Him. It calls for a heart that is truly devoted to God, recognizing that true provision and security come only from Him.