Ezekiel 23:36 kjv
The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
Ezekiel 23:36 nkjv
The LORD also said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.
Ezekiel 23:36 niv
The LORD said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices,
Ezekiel 23:36 esv
The LORD said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Declare to them their abominations.
Ezekiel 23:36 nlt
The LORD said to me, "Son of man, you must accuse Oholah and Oholibah of all their detestable sins.
Ezekiel 23 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 23 | Yahweh will deliver you into the hands of those you hate,... | Idolatry and its consequences |
| Jeremiah 2 | You have rejected me, declared Yahweh... and turned your back on me. | Judah's spiritual unfaithfulness |
| Hosea 2 | For their mother has been shameful... for she conceived them in shame. | Israel's adultery and consequences |
| Isaiah 30 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares Yahweh, "who carry out plans... | Relying on Egypt brings no help |
| Psalm 73 | Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire... | True security is in God alone |
| Deuteronomy 31 | For I know that after my death you will surely become corrupt... | Moses' warning to Israel about the future |
| Joshua 24 | Choose this day whom you will serve... | Joshua's challenge to faithfulness |
| 1 Kings 11 | For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods. | Consequences of turning from God |
| 2 Kings 17 | For they did not obey the voice of Yahweh their God but transgressed... | Israel's disobedience leads to exile |
| Lamentations 1 | How lonely sits the city that was full of people! | Jerusalem's desolation |
| Nahum 3 | Woe to the bloody city, entirely full of lies and plunder— | Judgment on Nineveh, parallels with idolatry |
| Zechariah 11 | I said, "If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, give it up." | The shepherd's wages, rejection of Christ |
| Matthew 23 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets... | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| Luke 19 | "If you, even you, had only understood on this day what would bring you peace..." | Jesus' sorrow over Jerusalem's rejection |
| Romans 1 | ...they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served... | The consequences of rejecting God |
| Galatians 5 | For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore... | Living by the Spirit, not by works |
| 1 John 5 | We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding... | The antidote to idolatry and sin |
| Revelation 17 | And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold... | Babylon, a symbol of apostate systems |
| Ezekiel 5 | And you shall eat your own flesh... | Punishment for disobedience |
| Ezekiel 16 | You multiplied your whoredoms more than all of them... | Jerusalem's deep unfaithfulness |
Ezekiel 23 verses
Ezekiel 23 36 Meaning
This verse describes the judgment on Jerusalem for her spiritual adultery, specifically her reliance on Egypt. God declares He will abandon Jerusalem and deliver her into the hands of those she hated and from whom she turned away, symbolizing her former enemies or those she trusted for false security.
Ezekiel 23 36 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy directed at Jerusalem and Samaria, which he uses the allegorical names Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem). Chapter 23 details the spiritual adultery and idolatry of both sister nations, primarily focusing on Jerusalem (Oholibah) in the latter half. Ezekiel is prophesying during the Babylonian exile, speaking to the exiles in Babylon. The primary historical context is the impending or ongoing destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The people of Judah had repeatedly turned to Egypt for military and political alliances, seeking security in a foreign power rather than trusting in Yahweh. This verse speaks to the severe consequences of that misplaced trust and spiritual defection.
Ezekiel 23 36 Word Analysis
- And Yahweh (וַֽיהוָ֔ה - wa'ădōnāy): "Yahweh" (יהוה) is the covenantal name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness. The conjunction "and" (ו) links this declaration to the preceding narrative.
- will give (נָתַן - nāṯan): Means "to give," "to deliver," "to hand over."
- you (אָתָּ֛ךְ - 'ōṯāḵ): Feminine singular pronoun, directly addressing Jerusalem (Oholibah).
- into the hand (יַ֣ד - yad): Signifies power, control, or possession.
- of (מִיַּ֣ד - miyyāḏ): From the hand.
- those (אֹיְבֶ֔יהָ - 'ŏyḇêhā): "Her enemies." This refers to the Chaldeans (Babylonians), but the language carries the weight of divine judgment through those whom she rejected or abhorred in her perceived strength.
- who (אֲשֶׁ֣ר - 'ăšer): Relative pronoun.
- hate (שָׂנְאָ֤ה - śānə’āh): "Hate," "detest," "abhor." The verse suggests these are the ones Jerusalem ultimately detested in her sin or the ones who will oppress her.
- you (שָׂנְאָ֤ה - śānə’āh): Feminine singular pronoun again.
- from whom (אֲשֶׁר־ - 'ăšer): Relative pronoun.
- your mind (לִבֵּ֔ךְ - libbēḵ): Literally "your heart" (לֵב - lēḇ), symbolizing the core of one's being, will, affections, and mind. Here it signifies where her loyalty and affections were directed in her pursuit of alliances.
- turns away (יָֽצְאָהּ - yāṣĕ’āh): "Goes out," "comes forth." Refers to where her true inclination or desire, her "mind," directed her affections and trust, turning away from God.
Word Group Analysis
- "into the hand of those who hate you, from whom your mind turns away": This phrase encapsulates the divine judgment of reversal. Those whom Jerusalem despised or who were historically opposed to her (implied from her turning away to Egypt), or perhaps even the stark reality of her abandonment of God that her "mind" (true inclination) now turned from, will become her masters. It highlights the consequence of rejecting God: being delivered to the very powers or situations she sought to avoid through her unfaithfulness. The "hate" might also refer to the natural aversion against such betrayal or the consequence of judgment itself.
Ezekiel 23 36 Bonus Section
The allegorical naming of Samaria as Oholah ("her tent") and Jerusalem as Oholibah ("my tent in her") emphasizes their original calling as belonging to God's dwelling place. Their harlotry signifies not just sexual infidelity but a deep betrayal of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, preferring the allure of worldly power and alliances (like Egypt) over the faithfulness and protection of their divine spouse. The repeated emphasis on the "heart" or "mind" turning away highlights that this was a matter of internal disposition and choice, leading to external actions and devastating consequences. This prophetic denunciation serves as a severe warning against seeking security in anything other than the Lord.
Ezekiel 23 36 Commentary
God's judgment on Jerusalem is presented as a consequence of her spiritual prostitution, epitomized by her reliance on Egypt rather than Him. This verse vividly illustrates the principle of reaping what one sows. Jerusalem's rejection of God, turning her "heart" (mind and will) towards foreign alliances like Egypt, results in her being handed over to the very entities she would come to detest, or perhaps those who detested her covenant status. The enemies who would conquer her are the instrument of God's justice for her covenant betrayal. This reflects a universal spiritual law: those who forsake divine protection find themselves vulnerable to powers they cannot control, experiencing a reversal of fortune that stems from their own choices to distance themselves from God.