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

Ezekiel 23:7 describes the spiritual adultery of Oholah, representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), with the Assyrians. It vividly portrays her eager pursuit of alliances with foreign powers, symbolized by "chosen men," which inevitably led to the adoption and worship of their pagan idols, thereby deeply defiling herself and violating her covenant with God. The verse underscores Israel's passionate deviation from Yahweh to pursue foreign attachments and false gods.

Ezekiel 23 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 vividly portrays the spiritual harlotry of God's covenant people, Israel and Judah, using the allegory of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, the Northern Kingdom) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom). The chapter follows Ezekiel's previous allegories, intensifying the accusation of unfaithfulness. Verse 7 specifically focuses on Oholah, whose idolatry and alliances with Assyria are detailed in verses 5-10, setting the stage for God's judgment that led to her destruction. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) engaged in numerous political alliances, primarily with Assyria, seeking military protection or advantage. This often entailed adopting Assyrian deities and cultic practices, integrating them into Israelite worship, thus defiling the worship of Yahweh and violating the very foundation of the Mosaic covenant which commanded exclusive devotion to God.

Ezekiel 23 7 Word analysis

• So she committed her whoredoms:
  • She: Refers to Oholah (הָגַר - 'ahar), the older sister, allegorically representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel with its capital Samaria.
  • Committed: Hebrew tānattah (נָתְנָה), implying active participation, a deliberate choice to engage in the acts.
  • Whoredoms: Hebrew taznut (זְנוּת), a strong term for prostitution or harlotry. In this context, it unequivocally signifies spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and illegitimate political alliances with pagan nations. It’s a breach of the covenant, often compared to marriage, where Israel is the unfaithful wife.
    • Significance: Highlights the deep violation of the covenant relationship, transforming political dealings into an act of profound spiritual rebellion and infidelity against Yahweh, her divine 'husband.'
• with them, with all the chosen men of Assyria:
  • With them: Primarily referring to the Assyrians, specifying the 'lovers' of Oholah's spiritual harlotry.
  • Chosen men: Hebrew mibḥar (מִבְחַר), meaning "the choicest," "finest," or "picked men." This term likely denotes Assyrian military leaders, high-ranking officials, or powerful figures whose might and sophistication captivated Israel. It emphasizes Israel's active desire and attraction to the elite aspects of the foreign power.
  • Assyria: The powerful Mesopotamian empire that dominated the Near East from the 9th to 7th centuries BCE. Israel (Northern Kingdom) had a complex relationship with Assyria, alternating between tribute, alliance, and rebellion, always leading to spiritual compromise.
    • Original Context: Israel's kings often sought military alliances with Assyria (or against them) to secure their position, despite God's commands to trust Him alone (e.g., King Menahem, King Hoshea). This inevitably exposed them to, and often forced them into, adopting Assyrian religious practices to solidify diplomatic ties or as a sign of submission/respect.
    • Significance: Identifies the specific external temptation and alliance that drew Israel away from God. It points to reliance on human power over divine protection, a consistent theme in Israelite history.
• and with all upon whom she doted:
  • Doted: Hebrew ʿagabah (עֶגְבָה), meaning to be passionately infatuated with, to lust after, or to have a strong, sensual desire. It implies a deep emotional and physical attachment. This goes beyond mere political pragmatism; it suggests an active, almost perverse, delight in the forbidden relationships.
    • Significance: Emphasizes the intensity of Israel's spiritual depravity. It wasn't a passive surrender but an enthusiastic pursuit of foreign alliances and their associated paganism, indicating a heart strayed far from God.
• with all their idols she defiled herself.
  • Their idols: Hebrew gillulim (גִּלּוּלִים), a derogatory term used predominantly by Ezekiel for pagan idols, often translated as "dung-gods" or "filthy things," highlighting their abhorrent nature and worthlessness in contrast to Yahweh.
  • Defiled herself: Hebrew ṭāmeʾāh (טָמְאָה), meaning "to become ceremonially or morally unclean/impure." Idolatry was a primary source of spiritual defilement under the Mosaic Law. This signifies a profound religious pollution that separated Israel from the holy God.
    • Original Context: Under the Mosaic Covenant, worshipping foreign gods was the most severe form of defilement, requiring purification and leading to exclusion from the community and the presence of God. This polemic directly contrasts the vibrant, holy worship of Yahweh with the dead, defiling nature of pagan cults.
    • Significance: Directly links political and personal 'whoredom' to spiritual idolatry. It explicitly states the result: becoming polluted in God's eyes. It encapsulates the complete breaking of the first and second commandments (Exo 20:3-5).
• "with all the chosen men... and with all upon whom she doted" and "with all their idols she defiled herself."
  • This phrase grouping shows the progressive nature and escalating sin. The desire (doted) for foreign powers and their best (chosen men) directly led to participation in their pagan worship (idols) and the subsequent defilement. The political alliance was inextricably linked to spiritual apostasy, confirming the Deuteronomic warnings.

Ezekiel 23 7 Bonus section

• The term "whoredoms" (taznut) here encapsulates not just physical acts but a broader category of spiritual infidelity. It includes forbidden political alliances, adoption of pagan cults, and seeking foreign gods, all of which broke the marriage-like covenant between Yahweh and Israel.
• The progression described—from alliance with men to adoption of their idols—is typical for Ancient Near Eastern political theology. Treaties often involved recognizing and incorporating the deities of the dominant power. For Israel, this meant syncretism and outright apostasy.
• Ezekiel's use of graphic sexual imagery underscores the severity and repulsiveness of Israel's sin from God's perspective. It emphasizes that this spiritual idolatry was not merely a ceremonial infraction but a deep, emotional betrayal akin to adultery in marriage.

Ezekiel 23 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:7 cuts to the core of Israel's (Samaria's) sin: a profound breach of covenant, allegorically presented as harlotry. This was not a passive failing but an eager and lustful embrace of foreign powers—Assyria's "chosen men"—driven by a misplaced infatuation. This infatuation for human power and worldly alliances inevitably translated into adopting the "idols" of these nations. "Idols" here refers not only to physical statues but also the entire system of their beliefs, practices, and values that rejected Yahweh. The consequence of this zealous idolatry was "defilement," rendering Oholah spiritually impure and an abomination to God. Ezekiel graphically highlights how the pursuit of human glory and security outside of God leads directly to spiritual corruption, pollution, and alienation from the divine. It's a testament to the fact that turning from God to other sources of power and pleasure inevitably involves embracing their anti-God ideologies and practices, culminating in self-inflicted spiritual degradation.