And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

EZEKIEL 16:38KJV
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Ezekiel 16:38 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:38 mean?

Ezekiel 16:38 says that God will judge Jerusalem as harshly as women who commit adultery and murder are judged, promising to punish the city with violence and anger. The verse uses the imagery of blood, fury, and jealousy to describe the seriousness of the coming judgment.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, comparing their unfaithfulness to that of an adulterous woman who also sheds blood. The historical setting is the time before Jerusalem’s destruction, and the language is meant to show how deeply God feels betrayed by the people’s idolatry and violence. The verse emphasizes that the punishment will be severe and driven by God’s righteous anger.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:38

  • The word "judge" (שָׁפַט, shafat) means to decide or pass sentence. Here, it highlights that God’s response is not random anger but a deliberate act of justice.
  • "Wedlock" (נָאַף, na'af) refers to adultery, specifically breaking the faithfulness expected in a marriage. This word paints Jerusalem’s idolatry as a personal betrayal against God.
  • "Blood" (דָּם, dam) is repeated, stressing both the violence committed by the people and the violent consequences they will face.
  • "Fury" (חֵמָה, chemah) and "jealousy" (קִנְאָה, qinah) both describe intense emotions, showing that God’s response is not cold or indifferent but deeply passionate about the broken relationship.

Why Ezekiel 16:38 matters

  • This verse clears up that God’s judgment is not arbitrary; it is compared to established legal consequences for serious crimes like adultery and murder, showing fairness and seriousness.
  • The verse reveals how personal and emotional God’s response is to the people’s unfaithfulness, using words for jealousy and fury to show the depth of His commitment.
  • Ezekiel 16:38 connects to the wider chapter, where Jerusalem’s sins are described in detail, and helps the reader understand why such strong language and consequences are used.

Where else these words appear

“wedlock” Hebrew H5003 · used in 26 verses

  • Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
  • Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
  • Ezekiel 16:32 But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

“jealousy” Hebrew H7068 · used in 41 verses

  • Numbers 5:14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
  • Psalms 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
  • Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

“shed” Hebrew H8210 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
  • Job 30:16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
  • Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

“fury” Hebrew H2534 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 27:44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
  • Psalms 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
  • Lamentations 2:4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.