John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 16:23-25

"And it is come to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord Jehovah,) that thou hast built unto thee a vaulted place, and hast made thee a lofty place in every street. 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 16:23-25 (ASV)

The first verse is variously explained. Some read the clause separately, ויהי אחרי כל רעתך, vihi achri kel regnethek — it was after all your wickedness: and they think that God threatens the Jews here as He did in Hosea (Hosea 2:9–10), for after God had there complained that His wool and His flax had been taken away, and offered as gifts to idols, He afterwards adds, "I will demand all things back again, and then all your beauty shall be taken from you, and your nakedness shall be laid bare, so that you shall be deservedly ashamed."

Thus then they explain these words: that the condition of the Jews should be as it formerly was, as if He had said in one word, "I will so avenge Myself that, whether you will or not, you shall be compelled to feel the disgrace of your nakedness, since I will manifest it again."

But this sense seems forced; therefore I unite it with the remainder of the verse which follows it. Thus then the language of the Prophet flows on: and it was after all your wickedness that you built a high place for yourself — you made for yourself a lofty place in every street: there are two different words, but the sense is the same: you set up your high places in all the principal ways, and so, says he, your beauty became abominable.

But this is inserted by way of parenthesis, Alas! alas for you! This exclamation is abruptly interposed. But, at the same time, I have no doubt that these things all adhere together, since the Jews added sin to sin, and never made an end of sinning. He says, therefore, after they had been perfidious and ungrateful to God, after they had basely devoted all they had to perverse worship, then this new crime was added, that they had erected high places in every street and in every path.

If anyone objects that this was not a greater crime than others, the answer is easy: that God does not speak of one high place only, or of one altar, but He comprehends all the signs of idolatry by which they had infected the land; for it was the height of impudence to erect everywhere the standard of their superstitions.

For every high place and every altar was a testimony of their backsliding, just as if they had openly boasted that they would not magnify the worship of the law, and intended purposely to overthrow whatever God had prescribed. God therefore, not without cause, burns with wrath because the Jews had erected high places and altars everywhere. Now, then, we understand the Holy Spirit’s meaning as far as these words are concerned. It is added, after all your wickedness, says he; that is, in addition to all your crimes, this sin and impudence is added, that you have built not only one, but innumerable high places in every street, indeed, in every pathway of importance, that is, in the most celebrated places. For the heads of the pathways are the most conspicuous places, and whatever is done there is more exposed to the eyes of all.

We must now notice the exclamation that is interposed: Alas! alas! for you, says the Lord Jehovah. Since the Jews, through their sloth, were not at all attentive to the reproofs of the prophets, so that God might awaken them, He here pronounces His curse twice.

It is clear that they were not moved by it, but this vehemence tended to their severer condemnation, since, though they were drowned and sunk in deep sleep, they still might have been raised by this formidable voice. There is no doubt that they applauded themselves for their own superstitions, but it is for that reason profitable to estimate the weight of these words of God. For we gather from this that when idolaters indulge in their own fictions and think themselves entirely free from blame, the word of God is sufficient, by which He thunders against them, saying, Alas! alas! for you! Therefore, people should cease to judge according to their own notions and be attentive instead to the sentence of God, acknowledging His curse passing on them when they think they are rightly discharging the duty of piety by worshipping idols.

He now adds, that He made their beauty to be abhorred. I have no doubt that the Prophet alludes to the filthiness of abandoned women; and even the Latins called them “worn out,” whose foulness arises from their utterly giving themselves up to every wickedness. The Prophet then says that the people were not only like an abandoned woman who engages in impure sexual liaisons, but that their conduct was exceedingly gross; for though many gratify improper desires through intemperate lust, they nevertheless fastidiously reject those foul and shameless females who are notorious for profligacy.

The Prophet means, then, that the people had come to such a pitch of abomination, just like the most abandoned women. He now adds, You have spread your feet to every passer-by and have multiplied your fornications. This is also taken from the conduct of harlots and confirms what we have already explained: that the Jews indulged not only in one kind of idolatry but were prone to all abominations, like females who beset the paths and approach everyone they meet, and not only so, but shamelessly spread their feet everywhere to entice admirers.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, since You desire to receive us not only into confidence and dependence but also to the status of children, that we may worship You with sacred love and revere You throughout our whole life as a Father. May we so submit ourselves to You as to feel Your covenant firm and sacred towards us. May we experience that You never call people to Yourself in vain, as long as they obey You and respond to Your promises, until at length we enjoy that blessedness which is laid up for us in heaven, through Christ our Lord. — Amen.