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;

EZEKIEL 16:31KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 16:31 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:31 mean?

Ezekiel 16:31 describes how Jerusalem built places of idol worship at every major intersection and on every street, acting even more brazenly than a prostitute because she did not seek payment for her actions. The verse uses strong imagery to show how openly and eagerly the people pursued other gods, without even the usual motives of gain.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, comparing their widespread idolatry to prostitution. The setting is a prophetic message where God is confronting Jerusalem for abandoning Him and seeking out other gods in public and shameless ways. The verse highlights the depth of their unfaithfulness by saying they did not even act for personal benefit, but out of sheer disregard for their relationship with God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:31

  • "buildest" (בָּנָה, banah): This word means to build or construct. Here, it points to the active effort Jerusalem put into creating places for idol worship, not just passive participation.
  • "eminent place" (גִּבְעָה, giv‘ah): This refers to a high place or platform, often used for pagan worship. The use of this word shows that these were not hidden acts but very public and visible.
  • "harlot" (זָנָה, zanah): This word means to act as a prostitute, but in prophetic language, it often refers to unfaithfulness to God. The comparison is meant to shock, showing spiritual betrayal.
  • "scornest" (קָלַל, qalal): This word means to treat lightly or with contempt. Here, it suggests that Jerusalem despised the idea of receiving payment, acting out of reckless disregard rather than any personal gain.

Why Ezekiel 16:31 matters

  • This verse clears up that Jerusalem’s sin was not just in worshipping idols, but in doing so openly, everywhere, and without even the usual self-serving motives.
  • The comparison to a prostitute who scorns payment emphasizes just how far Jerusalem had gone in abandoning God, acting out of contempt rather than temptation or need.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 connects to the wider chapter, where God uses the metaphor of marriage to show His relationship with Jerusalem, making their unfaithfulness even more striking and personal.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H7413 · used in 4 verses

  • Ezekiel 16:24 That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.
  • Ezekiel 16:25 Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.
  • Ezekiel 16:39 And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.

“scornest” Hebrew H7046 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Kings 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
  • Ezekiel 22:5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
  • Habakkuk 1:10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

“hire” Hebrew H868 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
  • Isaiah 23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
  • Ezekiel 16:41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

“place” Hebrew H1354 · used in 11 verses

  • Leviticus 14:9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
  • Job 15:26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
  • Ezekiel 10:12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.