Ezekiel 16:33 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:33 mean?

Ezekiel 16:33 says that, unlike others who receive gifts for prostitution, Jerusalem (pictured as an unfaithful woman) actually gives gifts to her lovers and pays them to come to her. This reversal highlights how extreme and desperate Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness has become in seeking alliances and idols.

In this verse, God is speaking through Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, using the image of prostitution to describe their spiritual unfaithfulness. Instead of being paid like a typical prostitute, Jerusalem is so eager for attention from other nations and their gods that she pays them, showing the depth of her betrayal and the unnaturalness of her actions.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:33

• "give" (נָתַן, natan): This word is used twice, emphasizing the act of giving rather than receiving, which is central to the verse’s reversal.
• "gifts" (אֵתְנָן, etnan and מַתָּן, mattan): Two different words for "gifts" are used, one often meaning payment for prostitution and the other a general gift, highlighting both the transactional and the voluntary aspects of Jerusalem’s actions.
• "hirest" (שָׁכַר, shakar): This word means to hire or pay wages, underlining that Jerusalem is actively paying others, not being paid herself, which is the opposite of what would be expected.

Why Ezekiel 16:33 matters

• This verse clears up the misunderstanding that Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness was passive; instead, it shows she was actively seeking out and paying for relationships with other nations and their gods.
• The verse emphasizes the depth of Jerusalem’s spiritual desperation and the unnaturalness of her actions, making the betrayal even more shocking.
• Ezekiel 16:33 connects to the wider passage where Jerusalem’s history is described as a series of betrayals, using strong imagery to show how far the people have strayed from their relationship with God.