Ezekiel 23:3

Ezekiel 23:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
• New International Version (NIV)They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They committed harlotry in Egypt, They committed harlotry in their youth; Their breasts were there embraced, Their virgin bosom was there pressed.

Context of Ezekiel 23:3

1The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2“Son of man, there were two women (Israel and Judah), the daughters of one mother (the united kingdom); and they prostituted themselves in Egypt. From their youth they were grossly immoral; in that place their breasts were embraced and their virgin bosom was grasped. 4Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister, and they became Mine and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for [the identity of] their names, Oholah is Samaria (capital city of Israel) and Oholibah is Jerusalem (capital city of Judah). 5“Oholah played the prostitute while she was Mine; and she adored and lusted after her lovers (allies), the Assyrians, her neighbors,

Ezekiel 23:3 word by word

וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they committed whoredomsזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• in their youthנְעוּרִיםnâ‛ûr nâ‛ûr ne‛ûrâh · youthH5271
• there were their breastsשַׁדshad shôd · breastH7699
• pressedמָעַךְmâ‛ak · to bruiseH4600
• and there they bruisedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to pressH6213
• the teatsדַּדdad · breastH1717
• of their virginityבְּתוּלִיםbethûlîym · virginityH1331

Cross-references for Ezekiel 23:3

• Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not throw away the detestable things on which they feasted their eyes, nor did they give up the idols of Egypt. “Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them and finish My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
• Leviticus 17:7So they shall no longer offer their sacrifices to goat-idols or demons or field spirits with which they have played the prostitute. This shall be a permanent statute for them throughout their generations.” ’
• Deuteronomy 29:16(for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we passed through the nations along the way;
• Joshua 24:14“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; remove the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
• Ezekiel 23:8She did not give up the acts of prostitution that originated during her time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their depravity on her.
• Ezekiel 16:22And in all your repulsive acts and prostitutions (idolatrous immoralities) you did not [pause to] remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, squirming in your [newborn] blood.
• Hosea 2:15Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And make the Valley of Achor a door of hope and expectation [anticipating the time when I will restore My favor on her]. And she will sing there and respond as in the days of her youth As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 23:3

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3They became prostitutes by worshiping false gods.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Even so early in their history as their Egyptian sojourn, they committed idolatries (see on Eze 20:6-8; Joshua 24. 14). in their youth--an aggravation of their sin. It was at the very time of their receiving extraordinary favors from God (Eze 16:6, 22). they bruised--namely, the Egyptians.Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 23:3

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Adulterer
• Desirable
• Dispatch
• Dote
• Hatefully
• Lewd
• Breast
• Crime; Crimes

Commentaries on Ezekiel 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings