What does Ezekiel 16:35 mean?
"¶ Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:" - Ezekiel 16:35
Ezekiel 16:35 (KJV) states: "Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord."
This verse comes from the Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament, where the prophet Ezekiel delivers God's message to the Israelites. In this particular passage, God is addressing the sinful and unfaithful nature of the Israelites, comparing them to a promiscuous woman who has abandoned her husband (God) for other lovers (idols).
The use of the word "harlot" in this verse is a powerful and condemning metaphor for the spiritual infidelity of the Israelites. It conveys the depth of their betrayal and the severity of their sin in the eyes of God. By choosing this strong and provocative language, God is emphasizing the seriousness of the Israelites' disobedience and their unfaithfulness to the covenant they made with Him.
In the broader context of the Book of Ezekiel, this verse is part of a larger passage where God is recounting the history of Israel and condemning their idolatry, injustice, and unfaithfulness. The metaphor of the unfaithful wife is used to vividly illustrate the gravity of the Israelites' sins and the broken relationship between them and God.
The theme of unfaithfulness and betrayal is a central theme in the Bible, and it is particularly prominent in the prophetic books such as Ezekiel. The unfaithfulness of the Israelites is not just a historical or cultural issue, but a spiritual and moral one. It speaks to the fundamental human tendency to turn away from God and pursue other things that ultimately lead to destruction and separation from Him.
The symbolism of the unfaithful wife also points to the larger theme of God's faithfulness and mercy. Despite the Israelites' repeated infidelity, God continues to reach out to them and offer them the chance to repent and return to Him. This theme of God's enduring love and desire for reconciliation is a recurring motif throughout the Bible, and it is especially poignant in this passage.
The verse also serves as a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences of disobedience. God's message to the Israelites through Ezekiel is a reminder that their actions have serious consequences and that they must turn away from their sinful ways and return to Him. It is a plea for them to heed His word and turn back to the covenant relationship they once had with Him.
In a broader theological sense, this verse also speaks to the nature of sin and its destructive power. The imagery of the unfaithful wife serves as a poignant reminder of how sin can lead us away from God and into spiritual ruin. It underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and the devastating consequences of turning away from Him.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 16:35 (KJV) is a powerful and evocative verse that encapsulates the themes of unfaithfulness, repentance, and God's enduring love found throughout the Bible. Through the potent metaphor of the unfaithful wife, God's message to the Israelites through Ezekiel serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the need for reconciliation with God. It is a timeless and universal call to heed God's word and return to Him in repentance and faithfulness.
Have questions about Ezekiel 16:35?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Ezekiel 16:35 Artwork
Ezekiel 16:35 - "¶ Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:"
"¶ Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:" - Ezekiel 16:35
Genesis 35:16-20
Genesis 29:16-35
Ezekiel 35:1 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 40:35 - "¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;"
Ezekiel 35:2 - "Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,"
Ezekiel 20:35 - "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face."
Psalms 35:16 - "With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth."
Ezekiel 48:35 - "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there."
Ezekiel 35:14 - "Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate."
Ezekiel 27:35 - "All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance."
Ezekiel 35:10 - "Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:"
Ezekiel 35:4 - "I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 36:35 - "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited."
Ezekiel 35:9 - "I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 35:7 - "Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth."
Acts 16:35 - "And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go."
Job 35:16 - "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge."
Numbers 16:35 - "And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense."
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Ezekiel 35:1
Ezekiel 35:13 - "Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them."
Genesis 35:16 - "¶ And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour."
"¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;" - Ezekiel 40:35
Ezekiel 35:5 - "Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:"
Numbers 35:16 - "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."
Exodus 35:16 - "The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,"
"With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth." - Psalms 35:16
Jeremiah 35:16 - "Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:"
"Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it," - Ezekiel 35:2