THEOSISJerome of Stridon
But like an unfaithful spouse who turns to others in place of her husband, you have provided payment to all your lovers, offering gifts to entice them from every corner to engage in illicit relations with you. This behavior is contrary to the typical conduct of women who commit adultery, and thus there shall be no other like you. You have given payment without receiving any in return, which has brought you disgrace unlike that of others.
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In the scriptures, the reference to your likeness is absent in the original Hebrew, creating a complex issue: to whom does this woman bear resemblance, given that Jerusalem itself is identified as an unfaithful wife? Jerusalem squandered all the bounty granted to her by her gracious husband on strangers, specifically demons and idols, as noted in Hosea 2:8: "But she did not realize that it was I who provided her with grain, new wine, and oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold." Thus, out of His righteous anger, God declares that He will withdraw His gifts, taking away her grain and wine at their proper times, along with her garments and coverings, leaving her exposed and unprotected. He will reveal her impurities and no one will save her from His judgment.
While it is common for adulterous women to gain favors from their lovers, Jerusalem behaved oppositely by offering more than she received. To highlight her generosity, it is illustrated that she honored those who came to her, drawing many from her surroundings into her disgrace. In this regard, Jerusalem excelled all other harlots, not only parting with gifts acquired through shameful means but also with the gifts entrusted to her by her husband. She indulged in every form of abomination, surpassing even those to come in her lasciviousness.
Thus, it is written: after you, there shall be no other instances of such infidelity; compared to you, future acts of adultery will seem insignificant. All that has been said regarding Jerusalem applies equally to the Church and the souls of the faithful, who offer their husband’s gifts—symbolized as gold in thought, silver in speech, and garments that conceal their shame—to those who lead them astray, whether through malevolent forces or misguided teachings that promote debauchery as harmless or encourage natural impulses without restraint.
Accepting this false doctrine, hapless Jerusalem, who should have sought divine vision, misused her intellect and eloquence for unwelcome purposes. She pursued her lovers brazenly in front of her husband, adorned in the very gifts meant for her honorable use. The phrase about giving gifts to entice them from all corners to sin with her signifies every form of sin; she craved it, going far beyond mere transgression. She marred herself against the laws of nature and corrupted her entire being, from head to toe.