God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 16:34
34You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment.
Ezekiel 16:34 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite.”
Context of Ezekiel 16:34
32You are an adulterous wife who prefers strangers to her husband. 33All prostitutes get paid. But you give gifts to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all directions to have sex with you. You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment. 35“ ‘Listen to the Lord’s word, you prostitute. 36This is what the Almighty Lord says: You exposed yourself and uncovered your naked body when you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols. You also killed your children and sacrificed their blood to these idols.
Read all of Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 16:34 word by word
וַיְהִי־בָ֨ךְ הֵ֤פֶךְ מִן־הַנָּשִׁים֙ בְּתַזְנוּתַ֔יִךְ וְאַחֲרַ֖יִךְ לֹ֣א זוּנָּ֑ה וּבְתִתֵּ֣ךְ אֶתְנָ֗ן וְאֶתְנַ֛ן לֹ֥א נִתַּן־לָ֖ךְ וַתְּהִ֥י לְהֶֽפֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the contraryהֶ֫פֶךְhephek hêphek · contrarinessH2016
- womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- in thy whoredomsתַּזְנוּתtaznûth taznûth · fornicationH8457
- whereas none followethאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- thee to commit whoredomsזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
- and in that thou givestנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- a rewardאֶתְנַן'ethnan · wagesH868
- unto thee, therefore thou artהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
Commentaries on Ezekiel 16:34
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-63In Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is described as an unfaithful wife and a prostitute. This language is very strong. Even in English, the chapter can be difficult to read. In its ancient setting, it would have sounded even more shocking. Ezekiel used graphic language to show how serious Judah’s sin was. He did not try to make his message softer or more polite. He spoke in a direct and forceful way. This strong language is the main point of the chapter. Ezekiel…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3433-34. Israel hired her paramours, instead of being, like other harlots, hired by them; she also followed them without their following her.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 16:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries