Ezekiel 23 7

Ezekiel 23:7 kjv

Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.

Ezekiel 23:7 nkjv

Thus she committed her harlotry with them, All of them choice men of Assyria; And with all for whom she lusted, With all their idols, she defiled herself.

Ezekiel 23:7 niv

She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.

Ezekiel 23:7 esv

She bestowed her whoring upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them, and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone after whom she lusted.

Ezekiel 23:7 nlt

And so she prostituted herself with the most desirable men of Assyria, worshiping their idols and defiling herself.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 7 Meaning

This verse describes God’s judgment against Jerusalem, likening her to an unfaithful wife, Samaria, who had earlier committed adultery. Both cities, represented by the sisters Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem), had turned to foreign alliances and idolatry, provoking God’s anger.

Ezekiel 23 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 addresses the spiritual adultery of the two kingdoms of Israel: Samaria (represented by the elder sister Oholah) and Jerusalem (represented by the younger sister Oholibah). The prophet is detailing God's judgment against Judah for their persistent sins, especially their unfaithfulness to God and their reliance on foreign alliances, particularly Egypt and Assyria. This specific verse sets up the comparison, showing that Jerusalem, though initially presented as less corrupt than Samaria, ultimately followed her sister's path into severe apostasy and idolatry. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, during which the exiles were grappling with why such devastation had befallen them. Ezekiel's message assures them it was a direct consequence of their nation’s repeated disobedience and unfaithfulness to the covenant.

Ezekiel 23 7 Word analysis

• And - Conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding description.
• it - Refers back to "Oholibah" (Jerusalem).
• came - Action verb indicating commencement of further transgression.
• to - Preposition showing direction or movement.
• pass - Verb implying a course of action or development.
• for - Preposition indicating reason or cause.
• her - Possessive pronoun referring to Jerusalem (Oholibah).
• an - Indefinite article.
• harlot - Hebrew: (Hebrew: zona, זונָה) meaning a sexually immoral woman, but in prophetic context, signifies spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and forming alliances against God's will.
• in - Preposition indicating location or state.
• mine - Possessive pronoun indicating ownership by God.
• own - Emphasizes direct personal responsibility for her actions.
• eyes - Hebrew: (einayim, עֵינַיִם) The eyes are often symbolic of perception, understanding, and awareness; here, God’s awareness of her sin.
• yea - Adverb used for emphasis, meaning "indeed" or "yes."
• in - Preposition indicating state or manner.
• mine - Possessive pronoun indicating ownership by God.
• own - Emphasizes direct personal responsibility for her actions.
• eyes - Hebrew: (einayim, עֵינַיִם)

Words Group Analysis:

• "came to pass... in mine own eyes": This phrase emphasizes God's direct observation and knowledge of Jerusalem's actions. Her sins were not hidden from Him. It highlights His sovereignty and His unceasing watchfulness over His people, even in their disobedience.
• "an harlot": This stark metaphor denotes spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as a harlot betrays marital vows, Jerusalem betrayed her covenant with God by seeking alliances with foreign nations and adopting their idolatrous practices.
• "yea... in mine own eyes": The repetition of "mine own eyes" underscores the personal, direct nature of God's awareness and judgment. It wasn't just a general sin; it was something He witnessed directly and personally, intensifying the significance of the judgment.

Ezekiel 23 7 Bonus section

The allegory of the unfaithful wife or harlot is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, used to depict Israel's covenant-breaking relationship with God. This literary device powerfully conveys the depth of betrayal and the severity of God's sorrow and anger. While Oholah represents the northern kingdom of Israel which had already been destroyed, Oholibah, representing Judah and its capital Jerusalem, mirrored her sister's sins, leading to its own ultimate destruction and exile. The "eyes" mentioned are not just about seeing, but represent God's omniscience and His judicial gaze upon the sin, implying a judgment based on this direct awareness. This verse directly connects God’s awareness to the judicial consequence, setting the stage for the detailed accounts of the judgments to be executed upon Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 23 7 Commentary

Jerusalem, known by the prophetic name Oholibah, was deeply entrenched in spiritual prostitution. God declares that her sins were blatant and performed in His full view. This was not a matter of secret transgressions, but open rebellion and apostasy. Her dalliances with foreign powers, particularly Egypt and Assyria, and her adoption of their abominable idolatries were all observed by God. He explicitly states that Jerusalem "played the harlot" (Hebrew: zanah, זָנָה - to commit adultery, play the harlot, act like a harlot), a clear reference to her violation of the covenant. Her actions were a direct insult to God, akin to a wife flaunting her infidelity before her husband. The repeated phrase "in mine own eyes" emphasizes God's intimate knowledge and therefore His justifiable anger. This verse serves as a prelude to the detailed descriptions of judgment that follow, grounding the impending doom in God’s direct perception of Jerusalem's unfaithfulness. It highlights that no sin is hidden from God, and that His judgment is always based on His perfect knowledge.