Ezekiel 23:43 kjv
Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
Ezekiel 23:43 nkjv
Then I said concerning her who had grown old in adulteries, 'Will they commit harlotry with her now, and she with them?'
Ezekiel 23:43 niv
Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, 'Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.'
Ezekiel 23:43 esv
"Then I said of her who was worn out by adultery, 'Now they will continue to use her for a whore, even her!'
Ezekiel 23:43 nlt
Then I said, 'If they really want to have sex with old worn-out prostitutes like these, let them!'
Ezekiel 23 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 23:43 | Then I said, “She shall be defiled; I will inflict upon her all that she deserves. | Spiritual Adultery Judgment |
| Jeremiah 3:1-3 | …even the adulteress with a neighbor’s husband. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, | Idolatry as Adultery |
| Hosea 2:3-5 | …lest I strip her naked and expose her as on the day she was born, | God's judgment on Israel |
| Isaiah 3:17 | Therefore the Lord will strike with a plague the whole women’s quarter of Zion. | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Nahum 3:5 | “Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts… I will uncover your skirts over your face. | Judgment on Nineveh |
| Romans 1:18-32 | …God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature. | Condemnation of vice |
| Revelation 17:16 | And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to desolation and to nakedness, eat her flesh, and burn her up with fire. | Judgment on Babylon |
| Ezekiel 16:35-37 | “Hear the word of the Lord, O adulterous woman… I will muster them against you… I will expose them to her, | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Deuteronomy 28:30 | You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall enjoy her. You shall build a house, but you shall not inhabit it. | Curses for disobedience |
| Lamentations 4:21-22 | “…The punishment of your iniquity is completed, O daughter of Zion; he will not keep you in exile anymore, but he will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.” | Judgment on Edom/Zion |
| Hosea 1:2 | When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by departing from the Lord.” | Prophet as sign |
| Jeremiah 13:22-23 | “For if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ It is for the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted, and you are subjected to violence. Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.” | Unveiling of sin |
| Revelation 14:4 | It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. | Purity and faithfulness |
| Micah 1:11 | Pass on, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitants of Zaanan do not come out. The wailing of Beth-ezel shall take away its standing place. | Judgment on cities |
| Ezekiel 16:37-39 | Behold, I will gather all your lovers against you, all whom you have loved, and all whom you have hated. I will gather them from all around against you, and I will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. And I will judge you as adulteresses are judged, and as women who shed blood are judged, and I will bring upon you the blood of fury and jealousy. | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Leviticus 20:10 | If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. | Law against adultery |
| Proverbs 6:32-33 | He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. | Consequences of adultery |
| 2 Samuel 10:4-5 | So David sent his servants, and when they came to the hand of the Ammonites, he cut off their beards and cut off their clothing at the buttocks and took them to the halfway point of the Kidron Valley, and David returned to Jerusalem. | Humiliation by enemies |
| Psalm 78:58 | They provoked him to jealousy with their images, and provoked him to anger with their detestable things. | God's anger at idolatry |
| Isaiah 57:3-4 | But you, draw near here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore. Whom do you sport yourselves about? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and put out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of a lie? | Condemnation of sinners |
Ezekiel 23 verses
Ezekiel 23 43 Meaning
This verse describes a shocking act of judgment upon the unfaithful women of Samaria and Jerusalem, specifically by revealing their nakedness and subjugating them to their former lovers and even their enemies. It signifies complete shame, humiliation, and utter ruin for their spiritual and political adultery.
Ezekiel 23 43 Context
Chapter 23 of Ezekiel describes God's judgment on the two unfaithful sister nations, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem). Through vivid imagery of prostitution and adultery, the prophet illustrates their spiritual and political unfaithfulness to God, their covenant Partner. Verse 43 refers to the ultimate consequence of Oholibah's persistent spiritual harlotry with foreign nations and idolatrous practices. This judgment is described as complete exposure, shame, and subjugation, mirroring the fate of her sister Samaria. Historically, this speaks to the consequences of Judah's alliances with surrounding empires and their adoption of pagan customs, leading to the Babylonian exile.
Ezekiel 23 43 Word Analysis
- וְאָמַרְתִּי (vəʾāmarti): "and I said." The prophet, as God's messenger, declares God's pronouncement of judgment.
- אָז (ʾāz): "then." This signifies a consequence following their actions.
- תִּפְגַּל (tifgal): "she shall be utterly defiled." This is a Niphal conjugation of pāgal, meaning to be utterly polluted, defiled, or shamed. The Niphal passive indicates something done to her.
- מִבֶּעָבַר (mibbēʿābar): "because of/for past." This indicates the cause or reason for the defilement. It implies it is for the accumulated sins of the past.
- עֹבֶרְתָּהּ (ʿobretāh): "her passing/her transgression." This refers to her repeated actions of straying and sinning against God. It is derived from the root ʿābar (to pass over, transgress).
- אָזְנִיָּהּ (ʾazniyyāh): "her earring" or "her ear." While literally meaning "her ear," in this context it is understood metaphorically or synecdochically, possibly implying the instrument by which she listened to tempting whispers or covenants that led her astray. It could also allude to her being exposed ear to ear, signifying total exposure.
- מַלְכָּיו (malkêhā): "her kings." This refers to the rulers and leaders of Judah who led the nation into sin.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾăšer): "who" or "which."
- בְּחַרְבּוֹ (bəḥarbo): "in his sword" or "by his sword."
- נַעֲרֶיהָ (naʿăreyhā): "her young men" or "her youths."
- דֹּמוּ (dōmū): "they are humbled" or "they are made to be still/quiet." This verb implies complete subjugation and suppression, perhaps by the enemy's force.
- יַחַד (yaḥad): "together."
- תַּפְשִׂיחֵם (taphsiḥem): "she shall suffocate/annihilate them." This is a Hiphil conjugation of pāḥaṣ, a rare verb perhaps meaning to shatter or destroy. The overall sense is utter destruction and removal of her supporters.
- בְּכַנְעַן (bəḵənaʿan): "by Canaan." This is a unique and potentially symbolic reference. Canaan historically represented land dedicated to the Lord, but its inhabitants were associated with sin and corruption. Here, it might represent those who practice deceit and impurity, or it could signify those who had "Canaanitish" practices of idolatry.
- בַּקְעַת (baqʿaṯ): "the valley of."
- מִדָּה (mîddāh): "Middah." This is likely a proper noun, the name of a place.
- לֹא (lōʾ): "not."
- זִכְרָהּ (zikhrah): "her memory" or "her remembrance."
- כִּלְכָּלָה (kilkälāh): "she did uphold/sustain." This phrase is a bit complex in context; it likely refers to those she relied on, or the supporters she maintained in her sinful ways.
Groups of words analysis:
- "she shall be utterly defiled / because of her transgression": emphasizes the cause-and-effect of her persistent sin leading to ultimate shame.
- "her kings who by his sword her young men are made to be still together, they shall annihilate them by Canaan, the valley of Middah, not her memory": this part speaks of the comprehensive destruction of her power structure – her kings and her youth. The mention of "Canaan" and "valley of Middah" signifies their ruin being tied to impure alliances and judgment, so severe that even their existence and memory would be erased.
Ezekiel 23 43 Bonus Section
The mention of "her earring" (אָזְנִיָּהּ) could also be interpreted in light of Exod 32:1-4, where people took off their earrings to make the golden calf, symbolizing their offering to an idol. This parallel further emphasizes Jerusalem's spiritual idolatry. The valley of Middah (מִדָּה) has been speculated by scholars, with some suggesting it might be a location of execution or judgment, thus reinforcing the idea of utter ruin. The absolute nature of the judgment here underscores God's hatred for sin and His commitment to justice, even in His judgments upon His people. The totality of the depicted judgment—from the defilement of the individual to the annihilation of her leadership and the erasure of memory—serves as a severe warning against apostasy.
Ezekiel 23 43 Commentary
This verse describes a catastrophic judgment for Jerusalem (Oholibah) that extends beyond mere defeat. The defilement signifies utter shame and disgrace, an exposure of her sin. Her kings and young men are destroyed, signifying the collapse of her national and military strength. The reference to "Canaan" and the "valley of Middah" suggests that the destruction would be complete and total, leaving no remnant or positive memory. It’s a picture of total humiliation and divine retribution for spiritual whoredom and broken covenant. The language paints a grim picture of utter annihilation and shame for persistent, unrepentant sin.