Ezekiel 23 31

Ezekiel 23:31 kjv

Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.

Ezekiel 23:31 nkjv

You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.'

Ezekiel 23:31 niv

You have gone the way of your sister; so I will put her cup into your hand.

Ezekiel 23:31 esv

You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.

Ezekiel 23:31 nlt

Because you have followed in your sister's footsteps, I will force you to drink the same cup of terror she drank.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 31 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:31 declares God's imminent judgment upon Jerusalem (represented by Oholibah), stating that because she has mirrored the sinful path of Samaria (Oholah), she will inevitably experience the same severe consequences of divine wrath. God Himself promises to deliver the exact measure of desolation and suffering that Samaria previously endured, into Jerusalem's own hand.

Ezekiel 23 31 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 vividly portrays God's indictment against the kingdoms of Israel and Judah through the allegory of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, the Northern Kingdom) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom). Both were wed to God but engaged in spiritual prostitution by pursuing alliances and worshipping idols of other nations like Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon. Samaria's demise at the hands of Assyria served as a stark warning. However, Jerusalem, witnessing her sister's fate, did not learn; instead, Oholibah deepened her apostasy, pursuing even more decadent and depraved spiritual adultery. Verse 31 specifically declares that because Jerusalem has actively chosen to walk in the wicked 'way' of Samaria, God's righteous judgment, symbolized by the 'cup' of divine wrath and destruction, will now be her inescapable portion, mirroring Samaria's catastrophic end. This highlights Jerusalem's obstinate unfaithfulness despite a clear precedent.

Ezekiel 23 31 Word analysis

• You (אַתְּ - 'at): Second person singular feminine pronoun. Directly addresses Oholibah, personifying Jerusalem. This makes the judgment deeply personal and unavoidable for the city representing God's chosen people.

• have walked (הָלַכְתְּ - halakht): From the Hebrew verb הָלַךְ (halakh), "to walk, go." Used metaphorically, it signifies a consistent lifestyle, pattern of behavior, or course of action. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing results, emphasizing Jerusalem's deliberate and sustained journey into apostasy.

• in the way (בְּדֶרֶךְ - bederekh): From דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), meaning "way, path, road." Metaphorically, it refers to moral conduct, chosen customs, or a spiritual life course. "In the way" implies not merely an accidental deviation but a full adoption of Samaria's entire lifestyle and religious practices.

• of your sister (אֲחוֹתֵךְ - 'achōtēkh): From אָחוֹת ('achot), "sister," here referring to Oholah, or Samaria. This connection emphasizes the shared heritage and divine covenant, but tragically, the shared path of unfaithfulness. It highlights Jerusalem's failure to learn from Samaria's downfall, implying even greater culpability.

• therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): A strong adverb meaning "therefore, accordingly, so." It acts as a logical consequence indicator, directly linking Jerusalem's actions to the ensuing divine judgment. It underscores God's justice: the punishment perfectly fits the crime.

• I will give (וְנָתַתִּי - wǝnatattī): From נָתַן (natan), "to give, place, set." The speaker is God Himself. This phrase emphasizes God's active, personal, and sovereign involvement in delivering the judgment, not merely allowing it to happen passively. He is the dispenser of justice.

• her cup (כּוֹסָהּ - kōsāh): From כּוֹס (kos), "cup," with the pronominal suffix "-ָה" (-ah) meaning "her." The "cup" is a powerful and frequent biblical metaphor for destiny, fate, and particularly for divine wrath, judgment, or suffering that must be drunk and experienced fully (Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15; Psa 75:8). "Her cup" specifies that it's the exact, bitter cup Samaria drank.

• into your hand (בְּיָדֵךְ - bǝyādēkh): From יָד (yad), "hand," with the pronominal suffix "-ֵךְ" (-ēkh) meaning "your." Receiving something "into your hand" signifies direct reception, acceptance, and unavoidable, full experience. Jerusalem will not evade or escape this designated judgment.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "You have walked in the way of your sister": This phrase encapsulates the core indictment. It's a statement of deliberate, consistent emulation. Jerusalem knowingly adopted and intensified Samaria's pattern of idolatry, illicit alliances, and covenant betrayal. This shows a hardened heart that rejected the object lesson provided by Samaria's fall, increasing its guilt before God.
  • "therefore I will give her cup into your hand": This powerfully links cause and effect with divine certainty. "Therefore" confirms divine justice in action. God's "giving" emphasizes His sovereignty and active role in judgment. "Her cup" ensures that Jerusalem's punishment will be specifically tailored to, and reflect the severity of, Samaria's desolation, as a direct consequence of following the same wicked path. The "into your hand" signifies a personal and inescapable reception of the full measure of judgment.

Ezekiel 23 31 Bonus section

• The escalating nature of sin: This chapter, particularly Oholibah's behavior, illustrates how witnessing divine judgment on others does not automatically lead to repentance. Instead, the failure to heed such warnings can lead to an even deeper entanglement in sin, rendering the subsequent judgment more severe.
• Proportionality of Divine Justice: While Jerusalem receives "her cup" (Samaria's cup), the surrounding verses (e.g., v.32) imply that Jerusalem's cup is actually deeper and larger due to her more heinous abominations. God's justice ensures that punishment is not just exacted but also proportioned to the degree of sin and the knowledge of prior warnings.
• Sovereignty in Judgment: The active voice "I will give" unequivocally attributes the impending catastrophe to God's deliberate will and execution. This refutes any notion that the Babylonian invasion was merely a geopolitical event unconnected to divine justice; it was a divinely orchestrated act of judgment.

Ezekiel 23 31 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:31 serves as a chilling divine decree, encapsulating the tragic trajectory of Jerusalem's spiritual declension and the resulting inevitable judgment. The extensive allegory of Oholah and Oholibah highlights the progressive nature of Israel's unfaithfulness. Jerusalem, having the distinct advantage of witnessing the severe consequences that befell Samaria for her idolatry and foreign entanglements, demonstrably failed to learn. Instead, Oholibah (Jerusalem) plunged into even deeper and more promiscuous spiritual harlotry, forming alliances with corrupt nations and embracing their detestable idol worship more fervently than her "sister." The phrase "You have walked in the way of your sister" emphasizes this deliberate imitation and intensification of sin.

The pronouncement "therefore I will give her cup into your hand" reveals God's consistent justice. The "cup" is an enduring prophetic metaphor for the full measure of divine wrath and suffering (Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15). God is not merely an observer but an active agent who ensures that the appropriate and just consequences are meted out. Jerusalem's fate will not be arbitrary but will directly parallel the bitter experiences of Samaria: conquest, desolation, humiliation, and exile. This is a severe warning against presumption upon God's patience and a stark reminder that prolonged rebellion, especially in the face of prior judgment and clear warnings, guarantees divine recompense. It underscores God's absolute commitment to righteousness and His ultimate control over the destiny of nations and individuals who forsake Him.