English Standard Version
Ezekiel 23:3
3They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed men to fondle their breasts.
Context of Ezekiel 23:3
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2"Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled. 4Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5"Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors
Read all of Ezekiel 23Ezekiel 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. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. "Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
- Leviticus 17:7So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.
- Deuteronomy 29:16"You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.
- Joshua 24:14"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
- Ezekiel 23:8She did not give up her whoring that she had begun in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their whoring lust upon her.
- Ezekiel 16:22And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.
- Hosea 2:15And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries