Ezekiel 23 3

Ezekiel 23:3 kjv

And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

Ezekiel 23:3 nkjv

They committed harlotry in Egypt, They committed harlotry in their youth; Their breasts were there embraced, Their virgin bosom was there pressed.

Ezekiel 23:3 niv

They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.

Ezekiel 23:3 esv

They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled.

Ezekiel 23:3 nlt

They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed men to fondle their breasts.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 3 Meaning

The verse states that the "whoredoms" or "spiritual prostitution" of Samaria, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel, were represented by Aholah, and the whoredoms of Jerusalem, the southern kingdom of Judah, were represented by Aholibah. Both sisters engaged in adulterous relationships with foreign nations and their gods, a metaphor for Israel's apostasy from Yahweh.

Ezekiel 23 3 Context

Ezekiel 23 continues the prophetic imagery initiated in the previous chapter. It's a vivid and disturbing allegory illustrating the deep-seated corruption and apostasy of both the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the southern kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem). The chapter uses the analogy of two unfaithful sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, to portray the nations' repeated rejection of God in favor of political alliances and idolatrous worship with surrounding nations like Egypt and Assyria. This verse specifically introduces these symbolic characters and their defining sin of spiritual prostitution. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, during which Ezekiel ministered to the Jewish people, delivering messages of judgment and hope.

Ezekiel 23 3 Word analysis

• וְגַם (wə·ḡam): "And also" or "Furthermore." This conjunction links the description of Samaria's sin to a broader statement or possibly connects it to a previous discussion of infidelity or judgment.
• הָיְתָה (hā·yə·ṯâ): "she was" or "she became." Indicates a state of being or a transformation.
• אָחוֹת (ʾā·ḥō·ṯ): "sister." This establishes a familial relationship, emphasizing the shared heritage and covenant responsibilities of the two kingdoms, making their divergence all the more tragic.
• לָהּ (lāh): "to her." Possessive pronoun, indicating "her sister."
• וְלֹא (wə·lō): "and not" or "nor." Introduces a negation.
• חָתְנָה (ḥā·ṯə·nâ): "did she become related by marriage" or "she did not take a husband" or "she was not a mother." In this context, it emphasizes that despite the shared lineage, the spiritual relationship of loyalty to God was broken, not merely strained by a distant relative.
• אָחוֹת (ʾā·ḥō·ṯ): "sister." Repeats the term for emphasis on the sibling connection.
• לְאַהֳלִיבָה (lĕ·ʾa·ho·lî·ḇâ): "to Aholibah." Names the second sister, Jerusalem. The name itself is significant.
• וַתִּהְיֶינָה (wat·tih·yê·nâ): "and they were." Connects the sisters in their shared state of defilement.
• מְאַהֲבוֹת (mə·ʾa·hă·ḇō·ṯ): "lovers" or "loving." Refers to their adulterous desires and pursuits.
• אֹתִי (ʾō·ṯî): "Me." God (Yahweh) refers to Himself in the first person, indicating the offended party in this spiritual adultery.
• לִי (lî): "to Me." Further emphasizes God's possession and claim.
• וְגַם (wə·ḡam): "and also." Adds another layer to their unfaithfulness.
• בָּנוֹת (bā·nō·ṯ): "daughters." A familial term reinforcing their relationship to God and to each other.
• יָלְדוּ (yā·lə·ḏū): "they bore" or "they gave birth to." Implies responsibility for the children they produced through their adulterous unions.
• זִמָּה (zim·mâ): "lewdness," "wickedness," "whoredoms." This is the core sin being described—spiritual prostitution through alliances and idolatry.
• אַף (ʾap̄): "indeed," "also," "even." Intensifies the following statement.
• זִמָּתֶנָה (zim·mā·ṯen·nâ): "their lewdness" or "their whoredoms." Directly links their daughters (actions or possibly the resultant worship/practices) to their own impurity. The plural possessive ties it specifically to Aholah and Aholibah.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Samaria ... sister ... to Aholibah": The connection between Samaria (northern kingdom) and Jerusalem (southern kingdom) is established through the sisterhood. This highlights their shared heritage from Jacob (Israel) and their joint covenant relationship with God. The distinct names given to each represent their individual histories of unfaithfulness.
• "whoredoms ... they bore ... whoredoms": This repetition of "whoredom" (zimmah) underscores the pervasive nature of their sin. It suggests that not only did they themselves engage in spiritual prostitution, but they also produced or perpetuated the same corrupt practices through their allegiances and choices, passing on this legacy of sin to what they established.

Ezekiel 23 3 Bonus section

The names "Aholah" (her tent) and "Aholibah" (my tent is in her) are symbolic. "Aholah" might allude to the idolatrous worship centers set up in Samaria, including those that departed from the prescribed tent of worship. "Aholibah" referring to Jerusalem, the location of God's designated temple and covenant, ironically becomes a term for desecration due to her sins. This naming convention highlights how places once dedicated to God were defiled by the unfaithfulness of His people. The allegory of sisters further emphasizes that sin within God's covenant family is a betrayal of the most intimate relationship, surpassing even betrayal within a marital context.

Ezekiel 23 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 23 paints a stark picture of spiritual adultery through the analogy of two sisters, Aholah (Samaria) and Aholibah (Jerusalem). This verse sets the stage by identifying them and their inherent flaw. The chosen terms "sister" and the repeated concept of "whoredoms" reveal a deep spiritual corruption that stemmed from broken covenantal relationships. Israel, as God's chosen people, was to be exclusively devoted to Him, like a wife to her husband. Their seeking of alliances and worshiping foreign gods were direct violations of this covenant, described as "whoredom." The repetition of the sin, even to the point of "bearing whoredoms," emphasizes that their unfaithfulness was not an isolated incident but a pervasive characteristic that became engrained, even propagated. This allegory served as a powerful indictment of their persistent apostasy, ultimately leading to severe judgment.