God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 23:3
3They became prostitutes in Egypt when they were young. There men fondled and caressed their breasts.
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 Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, there were once two women, daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt when they were young. There men fondled and caressed their breasts. 4“The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. 5Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby.
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 20:8“ ‘But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. Not one of them got rid of the detestable idols that they looked to for help. They didn’t abandon the disgusting idols of Egypt. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in Egypt.
- Leviticus 17:7The people must stop sacrificing to goat idols and chasing after them as though they were prostitutes. This is a permanent law for the people and for future generations.
- Deuteronomy 29:16You know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through other countries on our way here.
- Joshua 24:14“Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord.
- Ezekiel 23:8She continued the prostitution that she started in Egypt. When she was young, men went to bed with her, caressed her breasts, and treated her like a prostitute.
- Ezekiel 16:22With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.
- Hosea 2:15I will give her vineyards there. I will make the valley of Achor [Disaster] a door of hope. Then she will respond as she did when she was young, as she did when she came out 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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