Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

EZEKIEL 16:17KJV
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Ezekiel 16:17 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:17 mean?

Ezekiel 16:17 says that Jerusalem took the beautiful jewelry made from God’s gold and silver, which He had given her, and used it to make images of men, committing spiritual unfaithfulness with these idols. The verse accuses Jerusalem of misusing God’s gifts for idol worship, which is described as an act of betrayal.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem. The setting is a long passage where God compares Jerusalem to an unfaithful spouse, highlighting how the people have turned away from Him to worship idols. The “images of men” refers to statues or figures representing other gods, and “whoredom” is a strong metaphor for abandoning God in favor of these idols.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:17

  • “taken” (לָקַח, laqach): This word means to take or seize. It emphasizes that Jerusalem actively chose to use what God had given, not by accident but by decision.
  • “fair” (תִּפְאֶרֶת, tif’eret): This word means beauty or splendor. It highlights that the jewelry was not just ordinary but especially precious and beautiful, making the misuse even more serious.
  • “jewels” (כְּלִי, keli): This word often means vessels or articles, not just jewelry. It suggests that all kinds of valuable items given by God were used for idol-making.
  • “images” (צֶלֶם, tselem): This word means a carved or cast image, usually an idol. It makes clear that these were not just decorations but objects of worship, replacing God.

Why Ezekiel 16:17 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the problem was not just idol worship, but the misuse of God’s own gifts to create those idols, deepening the sense of betrayal.
  • The strong language (“commit whoredom”) shows how seriously God views spiritual unfaithfulness, using a metaphor that would have been shocking to Ezekiel’s audience.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in Ezekiel 16, where God recounts Jerusalem’s history and blessings, showing how the people’s actions were not just wrong but a rejection of a loving relationship.

Where else these words appear

“images” Hebrew H6754 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • Numbers 33:52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
  • Psalms 39:6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

“fair” Hebrew H8597 · used in 50 verses

  • Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
  • Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
  • Isaiah 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

“men” Hebrew H2145 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  • Leviticus 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
  • Numbers 31:35 And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.

“whoredom” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Kings 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 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 an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;