Ezekiel 23 9

Ezekiel 23:9 kjv

Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.

Ezekiel 23:9 nkjv

"Therefore I have delivered her Into the hand of her lovers, Into the hand of the Assyrians, For whom she lusted.

Ezekiel 23:9 niv

"Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.

Ezekiel 23:9 esv

Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted.

Ezekiel 23:9 nlt

"And so I handed her over to her Assyrian lovers, whom she desired so much.

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 9 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:9 proclaims God's decisive judgment upon Oholibah, representing Jerusalem and Judah, for her spiritual unfaithfulness. It declares that the Lord will deliver her into the hands of her former political and spiritual "lovers"—specifically identifying the Assyrians—whom she had passionately pursued and idolized. This act signifies God's sovereign hand in using the very nations Judah sought alliances with and emulated, as instruments of divine punishment for her idolatry and betrayal of the covenant.

Ezekiel 23 9 Context

Ezekiel Chapter 23 describes God's judgment upon two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, representing the southern kingdom of Judah). They are portrayed as wives of the Lord who became prostitutes, engaging in spiritual harlotry through idolatry and forming illicit political alliances with pagan nations, especially Assyria and later Babylon, rather than trusting in God.

Verse 9 specifically addresses Oholibah's (Judah's) past transgressions with Assyria. Historically, Judah, particularly under King Ahaz (2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28), made a covenant with Assyria for protection against the rising threats of Aram and Israel. This alliance involved adopting Assyrian customs and deities, profoundly compromising Judah's covenant relationship with God. Despite witnessing Israel's (Oholah's) downfall at the hands of Assyria, Judah (Oholibah) did not learn her lesson, eventually turning to Babylon for new alliances. This verse, therefore, recounts an earlier phase of Oholibah's unfaithfulness, where her lust for power and security led her to 'dote' on Assyria, an act for which God now decrees a precise and ironic punishment: being delivered into the hands of these very 'lovers'.

Ezekiel 23 9 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This connective word signifies a direct consequence. It links the judgment described to Oholibah's preceding actions of spiritual harlotry and seeking illicit alliances detailed in the earlier verses of the chapter, particularly verses 2-8, where her early 'whoring' with Assyrians is described. It establishes the causal relationship between sin and judgment.

• I will deliver (נָתַתִּי, natatti): This is the first-person singular perfect tense of the verb "to give" or "to place." In this context, though perfect tense, it conveys a firm divine decree, expressing God's resolute and certain future action of judgment. It highlights God's sovereignty and active role in orchestrating punishment. It emphasizes that this is not an accident but a direct result of His will.

• her (אותהּ, otah): Refers to Oholibah, the symbolic representation of Jerusalem and Judah. The judgment is personal and directed at the entity responsible for the unfaithfulness.

• into the hand (בְּיַד, b'yad): A common Hebrew idiom signifying power, authority, and complete control or subjugation. To be delivered "into the hand of" means to be fully under the power and disposal of another. It speaks of military defeat and absolute subservience.

• of her lovers (מְאַהֲבֶיהָ, m'aheveha): Literally "her paramours" or "those who love her." In this context, it is a deeply sarcastic and condemnatory metaphor for the pagan nations (political allies) with whom Judah engaged in political and spiritual harlotry, exchanging devotion to God for their alliances and gods. These 'lovers' offered only false security.

• into the hand of the Assyrians (בְּיַד־אַשּׁוּר, b'yad-Ashur): Specifically identifies one primary group of "lovers" who will execute the divine judgment. This is a crucial detail, demonstrating God's precise targeting. Historically, Judah allied with Assyria for protection but paid tribute and adopted Assyrian idolatry, making Assyria both an unholy ally and the instrument of its punishment.

• upon whom she doted (אֲשֶׁר עָגְבָה עֲלֵיהֶם, 'asher 'agbah 'alehem): The verb 'agav (עָגַב) signifies passionate, lustful desire, a strong yearning. It carries connotations of sexual craving and illicit passion. Applying this strong term to Judah's pursuit of Assyria underscores the depth of her spiritual infidelity. It implies not merely a political necessity but an idolatrous, almost infatuated, attraction to their ways and perceived strength.

• "I will deliver her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians": This phrase reveals the ironic nature of divine judgment. The very objects of Judah's unholy desires and illicit alliances—the nations she idolized and depended on—would become the instruments of her downfall and suffering. This poetic justice highlights the futility and destructive consequences of spiritual harlotry.

Ezekiel 23 9 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the theme of divine irony and reciprocity of judgment. The very power (Assyria) Judah 'lusted after' and put her trust in becomes the agent of her chastisement. This pattern is often seen in prophetic literature where the sin itself is woven into the fabric of the punishment. Judah believed that Assyria would bring them security, but in God's judgment, this misplaced trust brought insecurity and destruction. This verse, occurring after the description of Israel's (Oholah's) fall to Assyria, also highlights Judah's culpable negligence. Judah should have learned from her sister's fate, but instead, she repeated the same mistakes, showing an unwillingness to turn back to God despite clear warnings. While the immediate historical context involves Assyria, the broader pattern for Judah later involved Babylon, demonstrating a cyclical unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 23 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:9 articulates a severe and ironic divine judgment against Judah. God declares that because Jerusalem (Oholibah) abandoned her covenant relationship to chase after pagan nations, seeking security and embracing their idols, He will orchestrate her downfall by delivering her into the hands of those very 'lovers,' specifically the Assyrians, upon whom she bestowed her passionate, adulterous affections. This is not simply a historical event but a profound theological statement. It underscores God's justice, where sin—particularly spiritual unfaithfulness—bears its own fruit, and the chosen instruments of judgment are often those entities inappropriately relied upon or desired more than God. It exemplifies the principle that abandoning God for worldly powers ultimately leads to destruction by those same powers. The verse is a powerful warning against idolatry, illicit alliances, and forsaking divine faithfulness for human expediency, emphasizing God's sovereign control over nations and His use of them to correct His people.