Ezekiel 16:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jerusalem uses the fine garments God gave her to construct idolatrous shrines where she commits spiritual infidelity.
The Context of Ezekiel 16:16
Jerusalem adorns idolatrous shrines with God's gifts and commits worship-infidelity.
What Does Ezekiel 16:16 Mean?
Taking the beautiful garments God provided, Jerusalem uses them to adorn pagan 'high places'—shrines on hills used for idolatrous worship. She has perverted God's gifts, transforming them from instruments of covenant beauty into tools of unfaithfulness. On these shrines she commits 'harlotry'—participates in idolatry and false worship.
The final phrase—'the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so'—is cryptic, possibly referring to the uniqueness or unprecedented nature of such betrayal, or perhaps God's promise that such prosperity and favor will not continue given her infidelity. The phrase signals that God's blessing upon Jerusalem is conditional and will be withdrawn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 16:16
What does Ezekiel 16:16 mean?
Jerusalem uses the fine garments God gave her to construct idolatrous shrines where she commits spiritual infidelity.
What is the context of Ezekiel 16:16?
Jerusalem adorns idolatrous shrines with God's gifts and commits worship-infidelity.