How weak is thine heart, saith the LORD GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘“How weak is your heart,” says the Lord Yahweh, “since you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute;
- BSB How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!
- NKJV “How degenerate is your heart!” says the Lord God, “seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.
- NASB “How feverish is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “while you do all these things, the action of a bold prostitute!
- NLT “What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign Lord, to do such things as these, acting like a shameless prostitute.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God marvels at how morally weak ('sick') her heart is, acting like a brazen prostitute. Her depravity is astonishing.
Overview
The LORD expresses something like grieved amazement at the lovesick, willful corruption of her heart. The phrase paints her not as a victim of seduction but as the bold initiator of her own ruin. It exposes the inner spiritual sickness that lies beneath outward acts of unfaithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Isa 1:3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
- Jer 3:3Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
- Prov 9:13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
- Jer 4:22For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- Isa 3:9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
- Judg 16:15–16And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
- Prov 7:21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
- Rev 17:1–6And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
- Jer 2:12–13Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
- Prov 7:11–13(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 16:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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