Ezekiel 23 6

Ezekiel 23:6 kjv

Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

Ezekiel 23:6 nkjv

Who were clothed in purple, Captains and rulers, All of them desirable young men, Horsemen riding on horses.

Ezekiel 23:6 niv

clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.

Ezekiel 23:6 esv

clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Ezekiel 23:6 nlt

They were all attractive young men, captains and commanders dressed in handsome blue, charioteers driving their horses.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 6 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:6 describes in vivid detail the splendor, authority, and military prowess of the Assyrian elite with whom Oholibah (symbolizing Judah/Jerusalem) became infatuated and formed idolatrous alliances. The verse highlights their opulent clothing (blue and purple), prestigious official roles (governors and commanders), physical attractiveness (handsome young men), and formidable military presence (horsemen riding on horses). These descriptions serve to illustrate the worldly allure that drew Judah away from her covenant faithfulness to God, leading her into spiritual harlotry by seeking security and adopting pagan practices from these foreign powers.

Ezekiel 23 6 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 serves as an extended allegory, portraying God's relationship with Israel and Judah through the metaphor of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, representing the Northern Kingdom) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, representing the Southern Kingdom). Both sisters are depicted as unfaithful wives who engaged in spiritual prostitution by forming illicit alliances with pagan nations and adopting their idolatrous practices. Verse 6 specifically focuses on Oholibah's (Judah's) deeper level of sin and spiritual harlotry. It describes the captivating characteristics of the Assyrian forces whom Oholibah pursued as "lovers." Judah sought security and glory in alliances with mighty empires like Assyria, instead of faithfully trusting in Yahweh, her divine Husband. This historical context involved political maneuvers, military treaties, and the consequent syncretism where foreign gods and customs infiltrated Judah's religious life, defiling the covenant with God. The detailed description emphasizes the temptation presented by the perceived power and splendor of these foreign entities, ultimately highlighting Judah's profound betrayal and the coming judgment.

Ezekiel 23 6 Word analysis

• clothed in blue and purple: (`מְלֻבָּשֵׁ֥י תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֗ן`, mělūbbāšê tĕḵêleṯ wĕʾargāmān)
  • clothed in: (mělūbbāšê) Indicates a deliberate adornment and a public display of status. It implies identity and outward presentation designed to impress and signify importance.
  • blue: (`תְּכֵ֨לֶת`, tĕḵêleṯ) A costly, dark-blue or violet dye, symbolic of royalty, divinity, and high status in the ancient Near East. It was prominently used in the construction of the tabernacle and priestly vestments in Israel (Exo 26; Num 15:38-39), connecting it to sacred contexts. Here, its application to foreign military leaders highlights their worldly prestige and Judah's perversion of sacred values.
  • and purple: (`וְאַרְגָּמָ֗ן`, wĕʾargāmān) An extremely valuable reddish-purple dye, historically associated with kingship, great wealth, luxury, and authority across ancient civilizations (Judg 8:26; Dan 5:7, 16). Its presence accentuates the opulence, power, and prestige of the Assyrians, presenting them as incredibly desirable from a worldly perspective.
• governors and commanders: (`פַּחוֹת֙ וּסְגָנִ֔ים`, paḥōṯ ūsəgānîm)
  • governors: (`פַּחוֹת֙`, paḥōṯ) A foreign loanword (Akkadian paḫātu), referring to high-ranking administrative officials, or satraps, who oversaw provinces within vast empires. This term signifies extensive political power and influence.
  • and commanders: (`וּסְגָנִ֔ים`, ūsəgānîm) Another foreign loanword (Akkadian sagānu), denoting military chiefs, deputies, or magistrates. It emphasizes military leadership and the organized strength of their formidable forces. Together, these terms depict the high echelons of foreign administrative and military power.
• all of them handsome young men: (`כֻּלָּם֙ בַּח֣וּרֵי חֶ֔מֶד`, kullām baḥūrê ḥemed)
  • all of them: (`כֻּלָּם֙`, kullām) An emphatic descriptor, highlighting a universal standard of excellence and attractiveness among these figures, enhancing their allure.
  • handsome young men: (`בַּח֣וּרֵי חֶ֔מֶד`, baḥūrê ḥemed)
    • young men: (baḥūrê) Denotes youth, vigor, and strength—qualities often associated with eligibility, strength in battle, and desirability.
    • handsome: (`חֶ֔מֶד`, ḥemed) Literally "desirable," "delightful," "precious," or "beautiful." This crucial word underscores the physical attractiveness and alluring quality of these individuals, which profoundly influenced Oholibah’s lustful and idolatrous pursuits. It signifies that the seduction was not merely political but deeply carnal and aesthetic.
• horsemen riding on horses: (`פָּֽרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִֽים`, pārāšîm rōḵəḇê sûsîm)
  • horsemen: (`פָּֽרָשִׁ֖ים`, pārāšîm) Refers specifically to cavalry, which was often the elite, fast, and most powerful arm of ancient armies. This indicates sophisticated military might and strategic advantage.
  • riding on: (`רֹכְבֵ֥י`, rōḵəḇê) An active participle, vividly portraying the dynamic movement and formidable presence of these military units.
  • horses: (`סוּסִֽים`, sûsîm) Horses, especially when organized into cavalry, symbolized immense military strength, speed, and imperial power in the ancient world (Deu 20:1; Ps 33:17; Isa 31:1-3). The imagery reinforces the powerful military might of Assyria that Oholibah wrongly depended on.

Ezekiel 23 6 Bonus section

• The deliberate contrast in Ezekiel 23 is strong: what Israel rejected (God's simple commands, the true source of holiness and power) was traded for the ostentatious, yet ultimately empty, splendor of foreign nations.
• The usage of specific loanwords like `paḥōṯ` (governor) and `səgānîm` (commander) rather than generic Hebrew terms emphasizes the foreignness and distinct nature of the Assyrian officials. This reinforces that Judah was turning away from her own unique identity as God's people to emulate and align with foreign, pagan empires.
• The emphasis on "handsome young men" points not just to political alliances but a deeper, more sensual spiritual infidelity. This detail suggests that the attraction went beyond pragmatic considerations to a covetousness for the aesthetic and material values of the pagan world.
• The luxurious colors, blue and purple, although associated with sacred objects in Israel (tabernacle, priestly garments), are here shown stripped of their divine purpose and reappropriated to describe profane, worldly power, highlighting Judah's inversion of values.
• This verse acts as a literary foreshadowing, as the very "lovers" described here will later be instruments of God's judgment, revealing the fleeting and deceptive nature of their perceived power and beauty.

Ezekiel 23 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:6 is a potent articulation of Judah's deep-seated spiritual apostasy. The verse is not simply a historical description but a theological indictment. The lavish imagery of "blue and purple," "governors and commanders," and "handsome young men" underscores the overwhelming worldly appeal and perceived strength that drew Judah away from her divine covenant. These elements—wealth, political power, military might, and physical attractiveness—represent the seductive nature of worldly glory. For Oholibah (Judah), these external attractions masked spiritual emptiness and a treacherous departure from her true husband, God. By explicitly detailing the allure of the Assyrians, Ezekiel condemns Judah's lustful gaze and unfaithfulness, preparing the reader for the inevitable, divinely ordained judgment that will be brought upon her by these very "lovers." The verse implicitly challenges the reader to discern between deceptive worldly glory and genuine reliance on God alone.