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Ezekiel 16:38

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 16:38 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy.
Ezekiel 16:38 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
35Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of Jehovah:
36Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness uncovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers; and because of all the idols of thy abominations, and for the blood of thy children, that thou didst give unto them;
37therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee on every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.
38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy.
39I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thy vaulted place, and break down thy lofty places; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take thy fair jewels; and they shall leave thee naked and bare.
40They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.
41And they shall burn thy 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 shalt also give no hire any more.
← Ezekiel 16:37Ezekiel 16:39 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I will judge thee as women that break wedlock, &c.] The marriage covenant, defile the marriage bed, and were adulteresses, who by the law of Moses were to be punished with death, (<032010>Leviticus 20:10 <052222> Deuteronomy 22:22); and shed blood are judged; who also were punished with death according to the original law in (<010906>Genesis 9:6); the Jews were not only guilty of spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry; but also of murder, by sacrificing their infants to idols; and murder often follows upon adultery, as Kimchi observes; and, these people were guilty of shedding innocent blood on other accounts; but the first mentioned is chiefly designed here: and I will give thee blood in…”
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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
“judge thee, as women that break wedlock-- (Lev 20:10; compare Eze 16:2). In the case of individual adulteresses, stoning was the penalty (Joh 8:4-5). In the case of communities, the sword. Also apostasy (Deu 13:10) and sacrificing children to Molech (Lev 20:1-5) incurred stoning. Thus the penalty was doubly due to Israel; so the other which was decreed against an apostate city (Deu 13:15-16) is added, "they shall stone thee with stones and thrust thee through with . . . swords." The Chaldeans hurled stones on Jerusalem at the siege and slew with the sword on its capture. shed blood . . . judged-- (Gen 9:6). jealousy--image taken from the fury of a husband in jealousy shedding the blood of an…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Judah is now represented as undergoing the punishment adjudged to an adulteress and murderess. Only in her utter destruction shall the wrath of the Lord, the jealous God, cease. Ezekiel 16:36 Filthiness - Or, brass, i. e., money, is lavished. The Hebrews generally speak of money as gold Isaiah 46:6, but brass coins were not unknown in the time of the Maccabees. Compare Matthew 10:9; Mark 12:41. Ezekiel may here have put brass for gold contemptuously. Compare Isaiah 1:22-25; Isaiah 48:10. Ezekiel 16:38 I will give thee blood in fury - Rather, “I will make thee a bloody sacrifice to fury and jealousy.” By the Law of Moses, death was the penalty for murder Exodus 21:12, and for adultery…”
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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
“Blood - Thou gavest the blood of thy children to idols in sacrifice; I will give thee thine own blood to drink. Ezekiel 16:42”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“as women: Heb. with judgments of women, etc. Eze 16:40, Eze 23:45-47; Gen 38:11, Gen 38:24; Lev 20:10; Deu 22:22-24; Mat 1:18, Mat 1:19; Joh 8:3-5 shed: Eze 16:20, Eze 16:21, Eze 16:36; Gen 9:6; Exo 21:12; Num 35:31; Psa 79:3-5; Jer 18:21; Zep 1:17; Nah 1:2; Rev 16:6 Ezekiel 16:39”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification