Ezekiel 23:23 kjv
The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.
Ezekiel 23:23 nkjv
The Babylonians, All the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, All the Assyrians with them, All of them desirable young men, Governors and rulers, Captains and men of renown, All of them riding on horses.
Ezekiel 23:23 niv
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.
Ezekiel 23:23 esv
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
Ezekiel 23:23 nlt
For the Babylonians will come with all the Chaldeans from Pekod and Shoa and Koa. And all the Assyrians will come with them ? handsome young captains, commanders, chariot officers, and other high-ranking officers, all riding their horses.
Ezekiel 23 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of My anger... I send him against a godless nation, and against the people of My wrath..." | God uses nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Jer 25:9 | "...I will send and get all the tribes of the north," declares the LORD, "and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I will bring them against this land..." | God designates Nebuchadnezzar as His servant in judgment. |
| Hab 1:6 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people, who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own." | Chaldeans specifically empowered for judgment. |
| Hos 4:12 | "My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles... they commit harlotry, forsaking their God." | Idolatry depicted as spiritual harlotry. |
| Jer 3:6-9 | "Have you seen what faithless Israel did?... Faithless Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense," declares the LORD. "And I saw that for all the adulteries..." | Judah's persistent spiritual unfaithfulness. |
| Deut 31:16-18 | "...this people will arise and play the harlot after the foreign gods of the land... and forsake Me and break My covenant..." | Warning against spiritual harlotry and covenant breaking. |
| Judg 2:17 | "...they quickly turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers had done. But they played the harlot..." | Israel's repeated pattern of idolatry. |
| 2 Chron 21:11-13 | "...Moreover, you have made the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab..." | Jehoram's lead in Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry. |
| Joel 2:1-11 | Describes a vast and mighty invading army, unparalleled, with riders like horses, sounding like chariots. | Imagery of an overwhelming invading force. |
| Jer 6:22-23 | "Behold, a people is coming from the north country... They are cruel and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea..." | Description of invaders from the north (Babylon). |
| Isa 5:26-30 | "...He will lift up a signal to a distant nation, and whistle for it from the ends of the earth... swift and speedily they come... none is weary or stumbles." | God summoning distant, swift nations for judgment. |
| Zech 14:2 | "For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured..." | God orchestrates nations against Jerusalem. |
| Rev 17:1-6 | Depicts "the great harlot who sits on many waters," full of abominations, showing judgment on spiritual apostasy. | Judgment on spiritual harlotry and worldliness. |
| Isa 30:1-3 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "who execute a plan, but not Mine... who proceed down to Egypt... without consulting My mouth..." | Warning against relying on foreign alliances. |
| 2 Kgs 16:7-9 | King Ahaz sending for Assyrian help against Israel and Syria, stripping temple treasures. | Israel's trust in foreign powers over God. |
| Hos 5:13 | "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb. But he is unable to cure you..." | Relying on human alliances for help. |
| Dan 2:21 | "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings..." | God's sovereignty over nations and leaders. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | "The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations... The counsel of the LORD stands forever..." | God's ultimate control over nations' plans. |
| Rom 9:17 | "...For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed through all the earth." | God raises up entities (even enemies) for His purpose. |
| Ezek 29:19-20 | "...I have given him (Nebuchadnezzar) the land of Egypt as his wages for the work which he performed for Me..." | God pays Gentile kings for their service as His instrument. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things." | God is sovereign over all events, including judgment. |
| Jer 27:6-7 | "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, My servant..." | Reiterates Babylon's role as God's servant for judgment. |
Ezekiel 23 verses
Ezekiel 23 23 Meaning
Ezekiel 23:23 details the specific composition of the army that the Lord would bring against Jerusalem (referred to as Oholibah) as divine judgment. It identifies various constituent groups, including the Babylonians, Chaldeans, and other obscure tribes (Pekod, Shoa, Koa), along with those associated with the former Assyrian empire. The verse further emphasizes the formidable nature of this force by describing its members as "desirable young men" who are high-ranking officials (governors and commanders) and skilled military specialists (charioteers, horsemen, and warriors). This detailed enumeration underscores the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the impending divine punishment.
Ezekiel 23 23 Context
This verse is situated within Ezekiel's elaborate allegory of two sisters, Oholah (representing Samaria/Israel) and Oholibah (representing Jerusalem/Judah) in Chapter 23. Both sisters are condemned for spiritual harlotry—entering into unholy political alliances with foreign powers (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon) and adopting their idolatrous practices, rather than trusting in the Lord. Oholah has already been judged and destroyed by Assyria (verses 9-10). Ezekiel 23:23 is part of the specific prophecy of Oholibah's (Jerusalem's) impending judgment. Despite witnessing Oholah's fate, Oholibah's spiritual promiscuity intensified, prompting God to bring the very nations she lusted after, specifically the Babylonians and their allies, as instruments of His righteous indignation against her. The historical context is the period leading up to and including the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar in the early 6th century BCE. God uses this powerful pagan empire as His "rod" of discipline against His unfaithful people, a common theme in prophetic literature.
Ezekiel 23 23 Word analysis
- The Babylonians (Hebrew: B'nê-Bāḇel, lit. "sons of Babel" or "men of Babylon"): This refers to the inhabitants and military forces of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which was God's chosen instrument of judgment against Judah at this time. Their inclusion here signals the main executor of the prophecy.
- and all the Chaldeans (Hebrew: wəḵol-Kaśdîm): The Chaldeans were a powerful Semitic tribal group that eventually dominated Babylonia and formed the ruling dynasty (the Neo-Babylonian dynasty). In the Old Testament, "Chaldeans" is often used interchangeably with "Babylonians," but here it might specify the core ethnic/ruling group, emphasizing their pivotal role in the military campaign.
- Pekod (Hebrew: Pəqōḏ), and Shoa (Hebrew: wəŠôʿaʾ), and Koa (Hebrew: wəQôaʿ): These three names are less common and likely refer to distinct tribal groups or minor nations. Scholars generally place them in eastern Mesopotamia or southwestern Media, indicating a broad coalition of peoples under Babylonian suzerainty. Their specificity underscores the extensive reach and diverse composition of the invading force orchestrated by God.
- and all the Assyrians with them (Hebrew: wəḵol-ʾAššûr ʾittām): This is significant because the Assyrian Empire had already fallen. It could refer to remnant Assyrian peoples who were incorporated into the Neo-Babylonian army, or tribes from the former Assyrian territories now serving Babylon. This also has an ironic theological resonance, as Jerusalem previously committed spiritual harlotry with Assyria (Ezek 23:5-8); now those associated with Assyria come against her as part of God's judgment.
- all desirable young men (Hebrew: băḥûrîm ḥămuḏîm kōllām): Băḥûrîm denotes choice young men, often associated with military fitness or eligibility. Ḥămuḏîm means "desirable," "coveted," or "choice." This phrase initially hints at the seductive appeal of these foreign nations to Oholibah in her harlotry, as she lusted after such "choice" and "handsome" figures (Ezek 23:12). Now, this quality shifts context: these are desirable (i.e., formidable and strong) warriors whom God empowers to execute judgment, transforming an object of lust into an instrument of wrath.
- governors (Hebrew: pəḥōṯ): High-ranking officials appointed by the ruling power to administer provinces or regions. Their presence indicates a well-organized, top-down military leadership.
- and commanders (Hebrew: wəsaḡānîm): Also high-ranking military or civil officers, second only to the governor. This further emphasizes the elite and structured nature of the Babylonian-led coalition, indicating a strategic and determined invasion, not a mere skirmish.
- all of them charioteers (Hebrew: rok̄əḇê merekāḇ): Charioteers were an elite and powerful component of ancient armies, representing speed, shock, and technological advancement. Their inclusion highlights the military might and strategic prowess of the invaders.
- horsemen (Hebrew: wərok̄əḇê sûsîm): Cavalry, distinct from chariots, providing rapid movement and flanking capabilities. Together with charioteers, they form the highly mobile and potent striking force.
- and warriors (Hebrew: wəḵol-giḇbôrê): General term for strong, mighty, or heroic men of war. This encompasses the broader strength and fighting capability of the entire army.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "The Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them": This specific enumeration provides a precise identity of the judgment forces. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty over nations, marshalling diverse groups—from the empire's core to obscure tribes and former enemies/territories—to accomplish His will against His own unfaithful people. It paints a picture of a broad, comprehensive coalition leaving no corner of Mesopotamia unrepresented in the attack.
- "all desirable young men, governors and commanders, all of them charioteers, horsemen and warriors": This segment focuses on the quality and composition of the attacking army. The "desirable young men" ironically twist Jerusalem's former lust into the means of her destruction. The listing of "governors and commanders" stresses the organized, authoritative, and formidable leadership. The final mention of "charioteers, horsemen, and warriors" highlights the full spectrum of a powerful ancient military force, demonstrating its overwhelming might, skill, and devastating effectiveness—an inescapable judgment from which there is no escape for Oholibah.
Ezekiel 23 23 Bonus section
The specific naming of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, while not widely recognized today, would have resonated with Ezekiel's original audience as concrete, if perhaps minor, constituents of the broader Mesopotamian sphere. This detail moves beyond generic threats to a specific, geographically identifiable force, lending strong authenticity and immediate terror to the prophecy. The irony inherent in "desirable young men" shifting from an object of sinful infatuation (Ezek 23:6, 12, 16) to an instrument of divine retribution serves as a profound theological lesson: the very things one covets or relies on outside of God can become the means of one's downfall. This echoes biblical principles where one's chosen path of sin ultimately leads to its bitter consequences. The meticulous description of the military structure—from top leadership to specialized units—also showcases the completeness of God's control, orchestrating every detail of the impending doom.
Ezekiel 23 23 Commentary
Ezekiel 23:23 provides a stark and detailed vision of the instruments of divine judgment against Jerusalem's persistent spiritual harlotry. By enumerating the Babylonians, Chaldeans, various minor tribes, and even elements associated with the former Assyrian power, the verse emphasizes the universal scope of the coalition God would assemble. This force is depicted not as a mere raiding party, but as a mighty, well-led, and technologically advanced army—comprising "desirable young men" who paradoxically were once objects of Jerusalem's lust now turned agents of her destruction, along with skilled governors, commanders, charioteers, and horsemen. This passage underlines God's sovereignty over the nations, His abhorrence of idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness, and the certain and comprehensive nature of the judgment that befalls those who reject Him. It teaches that God uses seemingly hostile or wicked human powers as His precise and powerful tools to enforce His covenant and administer justice.