Bible Commentary

Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: 35 43. Punishment of the adulterous wife, and child-murderer This punishment is described in somewhat mixed figures: first, Eze 16:36-39, in a figure which tends to pass into a literal account of the destruction of Jerusalem; and secondly, Eze 16:40-43, in a figure suggested by the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:35”

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. 34. from other women ] Point thus: “from other women: in that thou committest whoredom, and none goeth … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:34”

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. The picture is heightened by the contrast between one who as a prostitute receives hire for her shame, and one who as a wife is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:33”

[But as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh strangers instead of her husband! 32. Seems to break the connexion and has been regarded as a gloss. The words “instead of her husband” should be “under her husband,” though her husband’s (cf. Eze 23:5, when she was mine; Num 5:19). The clauses are probably exclamatory: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:32”

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 a harlot, in that thou scornest hire; 31. Recapitulation of the acts done in her unbridled licentiousness, with the addition of a trait shewing that her dissoluteness was without … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:31”

How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these [things], the work of an imperious whorish woman; 30. How weak is thine heart ] i.e. how passion-sick, consumed by desire. The term “heart” ( fem.) occurs nowhere else, and the plur. (Psa 7:10; Pro 15:11) is hardly evidence for it … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:30”

Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith. 29. Infidelities with the Chaldeans. Past tense is better: didst multiply. in the land of Canaan ] Rather: with (lit. unto) the merchants’ land, even Chaldea. Again ch. Eze 17:4, the land of traffic. With … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:29”

Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. 28. Infidelity with Assyria. The historical tense “didst play” is better. Already Amo 5:26 appears to mention the names of Assyrian gods, for the passage can hardly refer … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:28”

Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary [food], and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way. 27. I have stretched ] I stretched and diminished them that hated were ashamed. The reference … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:27”

Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbors, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. 26. Egyptian idolatry. hast also committed ] and thou didst commit. The narrative tense should be used throughout. great of flesh ] In an obscene sense. Cf. ch. Eze 23:20. The expression … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:26”