Ezekiel 16:38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:35-43

Adultery was by the law of Moses made a capital crime. This notorious adulteress, the criminal at the bar, being in the foregoing verses found guilty, here has sentence passed upon her. It is ushered in with solemnity, Ezek. 16:35. The prophet, as the judge, in God's name calls to her, O harlot! hear the word of the Lord. Our Saviour preached to harlots, for their conversion, to bring them into the kingdom of God, not as the prophet here, to expel them out of it. Note, An apostate church is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:38

And I will judge thee as women that break wedlock ,.... The marriage covenant, defile the marriage bed, and were adulteresses, who by the law of Moses were to be punished with death, Leviticus 20:10 ; and shed blood are judged ; who also were punished with death according to the original law in Genesis 9:6 ; the Jews were not only guilty of spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry; but also of murder, by sacrificing their infants to idols; and murder often follows upon adultery, as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 16:38

Verse 38 This verse is only added for the sake of explanation. Already God had explained shortly and clearly every event which should happen to the Jews, yet they should perish in the greatest disgrace and be destitute of all help, since through distrust in God they sought the favor of men, like a woman eager for lovers. But he confirms the same teaching, that they should suffer double punishment, since they not only polluted themselves thus shamefully, but also by impious slaughters, since... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:1-63

The thought that underlies Ezekiel's parable, that Israel was the bride of Jehovah, and that her sin was that of the adulterous wife, was sufficiently familiar. Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:21 ) had spoken of the "faithful city that had become a harlot." Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 2:2 ) had represented Jehovah as remembering "the kindness of her youth, the love of her espousals." What is characteristic of Ezekiel's treatment of that image is that he does not recognize any period in which Israel had been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-59

Inexcusable infidelity. Universal consent accounts that woman vile who, married to a kind and honourable husband, in order to gratify her own unchastened desires, commits adultery with her neighbours and acquaintances, and expends her husband's substance in rewarding her numerous and profligate admirers. The guilt of Jerusalem must indeed have been great if it could only be adequately set forth under the similitude of guilt so flagrant and abominable as that described in this most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:35-43

Judicial verdict. It is a great kindness done by any one if he disclose to us the real nature of our sin. Light from any quarter should be welcomed. To demonstrate to the Hebrews that their idolatry was the worst form of adultery was an act of condescension on the part of God. By their own state law they knew that this sin incurred the penalty of death. With all the circumstance of judicial solemnity, the Supreme Judge summons the attention of the culprit: "O harlot, hear the word of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:35-43

A picture of righteous retribution because of apostasy. "Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out," etc. The scope and meaning of this paragraph is clearly and forcibly stated in the 'Speaker's Commentary:' "The punishment of Judah is represented by the same figure as her sin. She has been portrayed as an adulteress and a murderess. She is now represented as undergoing the punishment adjudged to an adulteress and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:38

The bloodshed may refer, as in Ezekiel 16:36 , to the Moloch sacrifices, or may include also other crimea, assassinations and judicial murders ( Jeremiah 2:34 ). Strictly speaking, the punishment of the adulteress was death by stoning (Le Ezekiel 20:2 , Ezekiel 20:10 ; Deuteronomy 21:21 ; Deuteronomy 22:21 ; John 8:5 ). Did Ezekiel think of the stones cast against the city from the catapult engines of the Chahleans as a literal counterpart of that punishment? In the last clause... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 16:35-43

Judah is now represented as undergoing the punishment adjudged to an adulteress and murderess. Only in her utter destruction shall the wrath of the Lord, the jealous God, cease.Ezekiel 16:36Filthiness - Or, brass, i. e., money, is lavished. The Hebrews generally speak of money as gold Isaiah 46:6, but brass coins were not unknown in the time of the Maccabees. Compare Matthew 10:9; Mark 12:41. Ezekiel may here have put brass for gold contemptuously. Compare Isaiah 1:22-25; Isaiah 48:10.Ezekiel... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 16:37-39

Ezekiel 16:37-39. Behold, I will gather all thy lovers Those allies, whose friendship thou hast courted, by complying with their idolatries; with all them that thou hast hated As Edom, Moab, and Ammon: who were always of an envious and hostile disposition toward the Jews, and insulted over their calamities. And I will discover thy nakedness to them They shall see thee carried away captive, stripped, and bare, without any covering to thy nakedness, according to the barbarous custom of... read more

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