Ezekiel 16:25

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 16:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou hast built thy lofty place at the head of every way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredom.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou hast built thy lofty place at the head of every way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredom.
Ezekiel 16:25 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25Thou hast built thy lofty place at the head of every way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredom.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, &c.] Where two or more ways, or two or more streets, met; and so was most conspicuous, and was seen from different parts; which shows the same as before: and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred; by the Lord himself, Who otherwise greatly desires and delights in the beauty of his people, when they worship him, (<194511>Psalm 45:11); and by all good men, and such as fear the Lord, who cannot but abhor such idolatrous practices, and those that are guilty of them; and even by the Heathens themselves, to whom the Jews became mean and despicable, when they fell into idolatry, and under the displeasure of God, whom they forsook; as a common…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“at every head of the way--in the most frequented places (Pro 9:14). thy beauty . . . abhorred, . . . opened . . . feet to every one--The wanton advances were all on Israel's part; the idolatrous nations yielded to her nothing in return. She had yielded so much that, like a worn-out prostitute, her tempters became weary of her. When the Church lowers her testimony for God to the carnal tastes of the world, with a view to conciliation, she loses everything and gains nothing.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“At every head of the way - Not content with what was done in the city, she built her idol temples in the country, wherever it was likely passengers would come. Ezekiel 16:26”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“at every: Eze 16:31; Gen 38:14, Gen 38:21; Pro 9:14, Pro 9:15; Isa 3:9; Jer 2:23, Jer 2:24, Jer 3:2, Jer 6:15 and hast made: Eze 23:9, Eze 23:10, Eze 23:32; Rev 17:1-5, Rev 17:12, Rev 17:13, Rev 17:16 Ezekiel 16:26”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification