Ezekiel 23 32

Ezekiel 23:32 kjv

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.

Ezekiel 23:32 nkjv

"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'You shall drink of your sister's cup, The deep and wide one; You shall be laughed to scorn And held in derision; It contains much.

Ezekiel 23:32 niv

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "You will drink your sister's cup, a cup large and deep; it will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much.

Ezekiel 23:32 esv

Thus says the Lord GOD: "You shall drink your sister's cup that is deep and large; you shall be laughed at and held in derision, for it contains much;

Ezekiel 23:32 nlt

"Yes, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "You will drink from your sister's cup of terror,
a cup that is large and deep.
It is filled to the brim
with scorn and derision.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 32 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:32 pronounces a severe judgment upon Oholibah (representing Jerusalem and Judah), stating that she will experience the same profound and extensive punishment as her sister, Oholah (representing Samaria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel). The "cup" serves as a powerful metaphor for the portion of divine wrath and suffering, signifying that Jerusalem's future is marked by overwhelming disgrace and the full measure of God's righteous anger due to her spiritual infidelity and political alliances. The descriptors "deep and wide" emphasize the magnitude and inescapable nature of this judgment, leading to public derision and scorn from surrounding nations.

Ezekiel 23 32 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 vividly portrays God's judgment against Israel and Judah through the allegory of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. Oholah represents Samaria (the Northern Kingdom of Israel), which was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC for her spiritual prostitution—worshipping other gods and making alliances with pagan nations. Oholibah represents Jerusalem (the Southern Kingdom of Judah), which witnessed Oholah's downfall but failed to learn from her sister's fate. Instead, Oholibah committed even greater spiritual harlotry, involving herself more deeply with Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, and introducing their idolatrous practices into the very temple of Yahweh. The entire chapter details Oholibah's promiscuous acts, symbolic of her treacherous abandonment of God. Verse 32, therefore, explicitly declares that Jerusalem will suffer the exact, severe, and humiliating judgment that Samaria already endured, emphasizing God's unwavering justice against covenant infidelity. This prophecy was given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, a time when Judah was experiencing the beginning of this promised judgment, reinforcing the reason for their suffering and warning against false hopes of immunity.

Ezekiel 23 32 Word analysis

• You will drink (תִּשְׁתִּי֙ - tish·tî): This is a prophetic future imperfect verb, specifically second feminine singular, addressing Aholibah (Jerusalem/Judah) directly. The act of "drinking" is a common biblical metaphor for experiencing or internalizing a specific fate, especially suffering or divine judgment. It implies full and inescapable reception of the consequence.
• your sister's cup (כּוֹס֙ אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ - kōs ’ăḥō·w·ṯēḵ):
  • cup (כּוֹס - kōs): Symbolizes a pre-appointed destiny or portion, frequently referring to divine wrath, punishment, or intense suffering (cf. Ps 11:6; Isa 51:17). The content of the cup determines one's experience.
  • sister's (אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ - ’ăḥō·w·ṯēḵ): Refers to Aholah, Samaria/Israel, who already received severe judgment. This draws a direct and deliberate parallel, indicating that Judah's destiny is linked to Israel's because their sins are identical, or even worse. It eliminates any claim to special exemption for Jerusalem.
• the deep and wide one (עֲמֻקָּ֤ה וּרְחַבָּה֙ - ‘ă·muq·qāh ū·rə·ḥab·bāh):
  • deep (עֲמֻקָּה - ‘ă·muq·qāh): Signifies profoundness, intensity, and thoroughness of the judgment. It's not a superficial experience but a deep, overwhelming plunge into suffering.
  • wide (וּרְחַבָּה - ū·rə·ḥab·bāh): Indicates the extensive, comprehensive, and all-encompassing nature of the punishment. There is no aspect of life untouched, no corner to hide from it.
• You will be held in derision and scorn (לְשָׂחֹ֤ק וְלִקְלָס֙ - lə·śā·ḥōq wə·liq·lās):
  • derision (לְשָׂחֹק - lə·śā·ḥōq): Means mocking laughter, ridicule, or public entertainment at someone's expense.
  • scorn (וְלִקְלָס - wə·liq·lās): Denotes contempt, disgust, and severe condemnation. This highlights the public and humiliating aspect of Judah's downfall, reflecting the view of surrounding nations who would witness their collapse and attribute it to their God's abandonment or their own failures.
• for it holds much (הַרְבֵּ֣ה תָּכִ֑יל - har·bēh tā·ḵîl):
  • holds (תָּכִיל - tā·ḵîl): From the root meaning to contain or be capable of holding.
  • much (הַרְבֵּ֣ה - har·bēh): An adverb of quantity meaning "a lot," "abundantly," or "greatly." This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the severity and fullness of the bitter judgment, stressing that Jerusalem's portion of suffering will be extensive and thoroughly experienced.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You will drink your sister's cup, the deep and wide one": This entire phrase functions as a prophecy of inescapable, identical, and overwhelming judgment. The "cup" metaphor, intensified by "deep and wide," indicates a divine verdict that must be fully consumed, linking Judah's fate to Israel's, signifying no favoritism or reprieve for accumulated spiritual adultery and treachery.
• "You will be held in derision and scorn, for it holds much": This part explains the consequence and reason for the "cup." The suffering will lead to public shame, mocking, and contempt, a humiliation that stems directly from the extensive and justified measure of divine judgment poured into the cup. It underscores the justice and complete nature of God's response to sin.

Ezekiel 23 32 Bonus section

The metaphor of the "cup of wrath" or suffering throughout Scripture, culminating in Jesus' plea in Gethsemane to "let this cup pass from me" (Matt 26:39), highlights a profound theological truth. While Ezekiel 23:32 refers to the temporal, national judgment upon Judah for their sins, Jesus willingly drank the ultimate cup of God's wrath against all sin on the cross, offering eternal salvation. This shows God's perfect justice and mercy perfectly intersecting: justice that requires payment for sin, and mercy that provides a substitute to drink the full, deep, and wide cup of divine indignation. The depth of Judah's suffering foreshadowed the far greater, all-encompassing suffering taken upon Himself by the Son of God, not for His own sin, but for humanity's.

Ezekiel 23 32 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:32 serves as a stark warning and declaration of God's unyielding justice. By stating that Judah (Oholibah) will "drink her sister's cup," the Lord makes it clear that He judges all His people fairly and consistently, irrespective of their privileged status. The vivid imagery of the "deep and wide" cup underscores the immense and inescapable nature of the impending judgment, a full portion of divine wrath reserved for prolonged spiritual idolatry and faithlessness. This isn't just about punishment; it's about a complete dismantling of Judah's false sense of security and a public humiliation—"derision and scorn"—designed to expose her treachery before all nations. The "much" it contains reflects the full weight of cumulative sins. This verse reminds believers that disobedience to God's covenant and seeking alliances with the world rather than trusting in Him leads inevitably to suffering, divine discipline, and often, public shame. It demonstrates God's consistent character: He cannot be mocked, and His word against sin will always be fulfilled.