Ezekiel 16:34

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the contrary {H2016} is in thee from other women {H802} in thy whoredoms {H8457}, whereas none followeth {H310} thee to commit whoredoms {H2181}: and in that thou givest {H5414} a reward {H868}, and no reward {H868} is given {H5414} unto thee, therefore thou art {H1961} contrary {H2016}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You are the opposite of other women - you solicit the fornication, you aren't solicited; and you pay them, they don't pay you - you're the opposite!

Berean Standard Bible

So your prostitution is the opposite of that of other women: No one solicited your favors, and you paid a fee instead of receiving one; so you are the very opposite!

American Standard Version

And thou art different from other women in thy whoredoms, in that none followeth thee to play the harlot; and whereas thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, therefore thou art different.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 16:34 vividly portrays Jerusalem's spiritual unfaithfulness as a harlotry so profoundly perverse that it completely inverts the typical dynamics of prostitution. Unlike a common prostitute who receives payment for her services, Jerusalem actively paid her "lovers"—symbolizing her zealous pursuit of idolatry and illicit political alliances with pagan nations. This unprecedented depravity underscores the extreme depth of her rebellion against God's sacred covenant, revealing a self-degrading and costly betrayal of her divine relationship with Yahweh.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The entire [chapter of Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - The Allegory of Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness") functions as an extended, powerful allegory, depicting God's relationship with Jerusalem as a divine marriage. The narrative begins by recounting Jerusalem's humble origins as an abandoned infant, whom God found, nourished, adorned, and eventually married, lavishing upon her every blessing and privilege. Despite God's unwavering faithfulness and lavish provision, Jerusalem repeatedly turned to spiritual prostitution, engaging in idolatry and forming unholy alliances with pagan nations. Verses [Ezekiel 16:15-33](/ezekiel/16-15-33 "Ezekiel 16:15-33 - Jerusalem's Spiritual Adultery and Abominations") detail her egregious acts, including building high places, offering sacrifices, and even sacrificing her own children to foreign gods. Verse 34 serves as a climactic summary, highlighting the unique and unparalleled nature of her sin—a perversion even of harlotry itself—before the pronouncement of severe judgment in [Ezekiel 16:35ff](/ezekiel/16-35 "Ezekiel 16:35ff - God's Judgment and Promise of Restoration"). This verse sets the stage for God's righteous indignation and the subsequent divine reckoning.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, prostitution was generally understood as a transaction where a woman received payment for sexual services. The prophetic metaphor of "spiritual whoredom" was a common and potent literary device used by prophets like [Hosea](/hosea/1 "The Book of Hosea") and [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah") to describe Israel's idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness to Yahweh. Jerusalem, as the capital and religious center, was meant to be exclusively devoted to the one true God. However, throughout its history, particularly during the monarchical period, Judah frequently pursued political alliances with powerful pagan nations like Egypt and Assyria. These alliances often involved adopting the foreign deities and religious practices of their allies, including abhorrent rituals like child sacrifice, which God condemned as spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 16:34 emphasizes that Jerusalem's actions went beyond mere participation in pagan rites; she actively initiated and paid for these "affairs," demonstrating an extreme, self-driven abandonment of God, a level of depravity unparalleled among nations.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is **Covenant Unfaithfulness**, depicting Israel's profound betrayal of her sacred marriage covenant with God, a relationship established at Sinai. This unfaithfulness manifests as **Spiritual Prostitution and Idolatry**, where the pursuit of foreign gods and political alliances is equated with illicit sexual relations, highlighting the intimate and exclusive nature of the divine-human bond. The unique twist introduced in this verse—Jerusalem paying her "lovers"—introduces the theme of **Unprecedented Depravity**, emphasizing that her sin was not merely common idolatry but a perverse, self-degrading form of it, where she actively expended her own resources to engage in spiritual adultery. This egregious betrayal inevitably leads to the theme of **Divine Jealousy and Judgment**, as God's response to such profound infidelity is righteous indignation and the promise of severe consequences. However, even within judgment, Ezekiel often holds out the possibility of **Future Restoration** through God's sovereign grace, as seen later in [Ezekiel 16:60-63](/ezekiel/16-60-63 "Ezekiel 16:60-63 - God's Everlasting Covenant and Restoration").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **contrary (Hebrew, _hephek'_):** H2016. This term, derived from a root meaning "to turn," signifies "the reverse" or "opposite." In Ezekiel 16:34, it profoundly emphasizes the inversion of natural or expected order. Jerusalem's actions are fundamentally opposite to the norms of harlotry, highlighting the shocking and perverse nature of her spiritual unfaithfulness. She did not merely transgress; she inverted the very dynamic of the sin itself, making her depravity uniquely egregious.
* **whoredoms (Hebrew, _taznûwth'_):** H8457. Derived from the primitive root _zânâh_ (H2181), this noun specifically means "harlotry" or "fornication." In this allegorical context, it unequivocally refers to "idolatry" and "spiritual fornication." It vividly portrays the breaking of the covenant relationship between God and Israel as an act of profound marital infidelity, underscoring the severity of their spiritual treason and the deep offense it caused to their divine Husband.
* **reward (Hebrew, _'ethnan'_):** H868. This word denotes "a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)" or "hire." The shocking element in the verse is that Jerusalem *gives* this reward (using H5414, _nâthan_, "to give") rather than receiving it. This highlights the self-abasement and extreme degradation of her spiritual harlotry, as she pays for the privilege of engaging in idolatry and illicit alliances, rather than being sought out or compensated. It signifies a proactive, self-destructive pursuit of sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the contrary is in thee from [other] women in thy whoredoms":** This opening clause immediately establishes Jerusalem's unique and perverse nature. Her spiritual harlotry is not merely comparable to that of other nations or "women" (peoples) but is fundamentally "contrary" or reversed. This sets her apart in her depravity, indicating a level of sinfulness that defies even the common understanding of illicit behavior.
* **"whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms":** This clarifies the "contrary" nature. Unlike a typical harlot who is pursued by clients and receives payment, no one seeks Jerusalem's "services" or pays her for her spiritual "favors." She is not in demand in this perverse marketplace of idolatry; rather, she is the active, initiating party.
* **"and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee":** This is the core of the verse's shocking revelation and the ultimate inversion. Jerusalem actively pays her "lovers"—her pagan allies and their gods—for the privilege of engaging in idolatry and forming unholy alliances. She expends her own resources (symbolically, her wealth, children, and devotion) to sin, rather than profiting from it. This illustrates her profound, self-abasement, and self-destructive spiritual addiction, demonstrating a perverse eagerness for sin.
* **"therefore thou art contrary":** This concluding phrase reiterates and emphasizes the central point: Jerusalem's entire spiritual posture and behavior are an inversion of what is expected, confirming her unique and unparalleled rebellion against God. It serves as a stark summation of her unparalleled guilt.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 16:34 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message and emotional impact. The entire chapter functions as an extended **Allegory**, where Jerusalem is personified as a woman whose life mirrors the nation's spiritual journey, particularly its covenant unfaithfulness. Within this, **Personification** is central, as Jerusalem is depicted with human actions and motivations, specifically those of a harlot. The verse employs profound **Irony** by portraying Jerusalem as a harlot who pays her clients rather than being paid. This inversion highlights the extreme degradation and self-abasement of her spiritual unfaithfulness, as she actively seeks out and funds her own destruction. The language also contains elements of **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the uniqueness of Jerusalem's depravity to underscore its shocking and unprecedented nature. Finally, **Metaphor** is central, with "whoredom" serving as a powerful and visceral metaphor for idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, making the spiritual betrayal tangible, repulsive, and deeply offensive to the divine Husband.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 16:34 serves as a powerful indictment of Israel's profound covenant unfaithfulness, revealing the depth of her spiritual idolatry. It underscores God's absolute expectation of exclusive devotion from His people, viewing any turning to other gods or illicit alliances as a betrayal akin to marital infidelity. The "contrary" nature of Jerusalem's sin—her active pursuit and payment for spiritual "lovers"—highlights the self-degrading and costly nature of idolatry, demonstrating that sin is not merely passive temptation but often an aggressive, self-initiated rebellion that demands a price from the sinner. This passage vividly portrays God's righteous grief and jealousy over His bride's defection, setting the stage for the severe judgments to come, yet also implicitly pointing to the need for a radical transformation that only God can provide. It reminds us that devotion to God is not a transaction for gain, but a costly commitment of the heart.

* [Hosea 2:5](/hosea/2-5 "Hosea 2:5 - Israel's Pursuit of Lovers and Its Consequences")
* [Jeremiah 2:33](/jeremiah/2-33 "Jeremiah 2:33 - Jeremiah's Lament Over Israel's Pursuit of Foreign Gods")
* [Revelation 17:1-6](/revelation/17-1-6 "Revelation 17:1-6 - The Great Prostitute and Babylon's Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 16:34, though rooted in ancient Israel's specific historical and covenantal context, offers profound and challenging insights for contemporary believers. It forces us to confront the insidious and often subtle nature of spiritual idolatry in our own lives. While we may not bow to physical idols, the principle of actively "paying" for things that draw us away from God remains acutely relevant. This could manifest as sacrificing our precious time, vital energy, financial resources, or even our moral integrity to gain worldly approval, accumulate material possessions, pursue fleeting pleasures, or achieve professional advancement. When we prioritize these pursuits over our devotion to God, we are, in a spiritual sense, "giving a reward" to false gods, actively investing in that which diminishes and ultimately degrades our relationship with the one true God. The verse calls us to a radical self-examination, urging us to identify and dismantle any "contrary" patterns in our hearts that lead us to chase after worldly satisfactions at the expense of our divine covenant, reminding us that true fulfillment, lasting joy, and ultimate security are found only in exclusive, unreserved devotion to our Creator.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "rewards" (e.g., comfort, status, pleasure, validation, security) might I be "paying" for in my life that subtly or overtly draw me away from exclusive devotion to God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be actively pursuing worldly values or fleeting pleasures, rather than diligently seeking God's will and kingdom first?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more exclusive commitment to God, resisting the subtle and overt temptations of spiritual idolatry in my daily life and prioritizing His presence and purposes above all else?**

### FAQ
**Why does God use such strong and graphic imagery to describe Jerusalem's sin?**

Answer: God employs such strong and graphic imagery—specifically the metaphor of a harlot who pays her lovers—to convey the extreme severity and perversity of Israel's sin from His divine perspective. Idolatry was not a minor transgression but a profound betrayal of a sacred covenant, akin to marital infidelity. The graphic nature underscores the depth of the spiritual offense and God's righteous anger and grief. It was intended to shock and awaken the audience to the gravity of their actions and the profound dishonor they brought upon God's holy name. This vivid language emphasizes that Israel's sin was not merely passive temptation but an active, self-initiated, and costly rebellion against their covenant Lord, making their spiritual unfaithfulness uniquely abhorrent in God's eyes. It highlights that they were not merely victims of temptation but active participants in their own spiritual degradation.

**Does this passage about spiritual whoredom apply to individual believers today?**

Answer: Yes, while the primary context of [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - The Allegory of Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness") is national Israel's covenant unfaithfulness, the underlying principles of spiritual idolatry and exclusive devotion to God are timeless and profoundly applicable to individual believers today. Just as Israel was called to be exclusively devoted to Yahweh, Christians are called to be faithful to Christ, fleeing from anything that would usurp His rightful place in their hearts. The New Testament explicitly warns believers against idolatry, which can manifest in modern forms such as materialism, self-worship, the pursuit of power, or placing anything above God. [1 Corinthians 10:14](/1_corinthians/10-14 "1 Corinthians 10:14 - Flee from Idolatry") explicitly warns believers to "flee from idolatry." Jesus Himself taught in [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - No One Can Serve Two Masters") that "No one can serve two masters," emphasizing the necessity of singular devotion. Therefore, Ezekiel 16:34 serves as a stark warning against allowing anything to become an idol that we "pay" for with our time, energy, or affection, diverting our hearts from Christ and His kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 16:34 profoundly highlights the depth of humanity's (represented by unfaithful Israel) spiritual depravity and inherent inability to maintain faithfulness to God's covenant. This stark portrayal of Israel's "contrary" and self-degrading whoredom—paying for her sin instead of receiving payment—underscores the desperate need for a new covenant and a perfect redeemer. Jesus Christ stands in stark contrast to unfaithful Israel; He is the perfectly obedient Son and the faithful Bridegroom, who, unlike the nation, never pursued "lovers" or paid for sin. Instead, He, the sinless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), paid the ultimate price—His own life on the cross—to redeem His unfaithful bride, the Church. His sacrifice was the divine "reward" given *for us*, not by us, to atone for our spiritual harlotry and rebellion ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - Christ Died for Us While We Were Still Sinners")). Through His perfect obedience and atoning death, Christ inaugurated a new and better covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - A Better Covenant Established on Better Promises")), enabling His Spirit to indwell believers and empower them to live in true faithfulness ([Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - New Heart and Spirit")). The Church, now made pure and holy by His blood, is called to be the radiant Bride of Christ ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church and Gave Himself for Her")), living in exclusive devotion to Him, a devotion made possible only by His transformative grace and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.