Ezekiel 16:31

29 So you extended your promiscuity to Chaldea, the land of merchants—but even with this you were not satisfied!

30 How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!

But when you built your mounds at the head of every street and made your lofty shrines in every public square, you were not even like a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

32 You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband!

33 Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But when you built your mounds at the head of every street and made your lofty shrines in every public square, you were not even like a prostitute, because you scorned payment.
KJV
In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;
WEB
in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay.
ASV
in that thou buildest thy vaulted place at the head of every way, and makest thy lofty place in every street, and hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest hire.
DARBY
in that thou buildest thy place of debauchery at the head of every way, and makest thy high place in every street! And thou hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest reward,
BLB
in your building your mounds at the head of every road, and your high place you made in every public square. And you were not even like a prostitute because of your scorning of a prostitute’s payment.
ÅB
da du bygget din hvelving ved hvert veiskjell og din offerhaug i hver gate. Men du var ikke som andre skjøger, for du foraktet skjøgelønn.
OTB
Når du bygde dine hauger på hvert gatehjørne og laget dine høye steder på hvert offentlig torg, var du ulik en prostituert fordi du foraktet betaling.
B1930
da du bygget din hvelving ved hvert veiskjell og din offerhaug i hver gate. Men du var ikke som andre skjøger, for du foraktet skjøgelønn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 16:33–34

    Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 52:3

    For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”

    Read in context
  • Hosea 12:11

    Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:24–25

    you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:39

    Then I will deliver you into the hands of your lovers, and they will level your mounds and tear down your lofty shrines. They will strip off your clothes, take your fine jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.

    Read in context