God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 23:5
5Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby.
Ezekiel 23:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
- New International Version (NIV)“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Oholah played the harlot even though she was Mine; And she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians,
Context of Ezekiel 23:5
3They 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. Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby. 6They were governors and commanders clothed in purple. They were all handsome young men who rode on horses. 7She became a prostitute for all the important men in Assyria. She dishonored herself with the idols of all those with whom she fell in love.
Read all of Ezekiel 23Ezekiel 23:5 word by word
וַתִּ֥זֶן אָהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתַּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Aholahאׇהֳלָה'ohŏlâh 'ohŏlâhh · OholahH170
- played the harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
- when she was mineתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
- and she dotedעָגַב‛âgab · to lustH5689
- on her loversאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
- on the Assyriansאַשּׁוּר'ashshûr 'ashshûr · AssyriaH804
- neighboursקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
Cross-references for Ezekiel 23:5
- 1 Kings 14:9You have done more evil things than everyone before you. You made other gods, metal idols, for yourself. You made me furious and turned your back to me.
- 1 Kings 15:26He did what the Lord considered evil, living as his father did, leading Israel into the same sins.
- 1 Kings 16:31It wasn’t enough that he committed the same sins as Jeroboam (Nebat’s son). He also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Ahab then served and worshiped Baal.
- 1 Kings 21:26He did many disgusting things as a result of worshiping idols as the Amorites had done. (The Lord confiscated their land for Israel.)
- 2 Kings 17:7The Israelites sinned against the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt ⌞and rescued them⌟ from the power of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). They worshiped other gods
- Ezekiel 23:7She became a prostitute for all the important men in Assyria. She dishonored herself with the idols of all those with whom she fell in love.
- Ezekiel 16:37That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked.
- Jeremiah 50:38A drought will diminish their water supply, and it will dry up. Babylon is a land of idols, statues that will go crazy with fear.
- Ezekiel 16:28“ ‘You had sex with the Assyrians because you weren’t satisfied. You still weren’t satisfied.
- 2 Kings 15:19King Pul of Assyria came to ⌞attack⌟ the country. So Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds of silver to gain his support and help strengthen his hold on the kingdom.
- 2 Kings 16:7Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria to say, “I’m your servant, your son. Come and save me from the kings of Aram and Israel who are attacking me.”
- 2 Kings 17:3King Shalmaneser of Assyria defeated Hoshea, who became his servant and was required to make annual payments to him.
- Hosea 5:13“When Ephraim saw that he was sick and when Judah saw his own wounds, Ephraim went to Assyria to ask the great king for help. But the king couldn’t cure them or heal their wounds.
- Hosea 8:9“The people of Israel went to Assyria. They were like wild donkeys wandering off alone. The people of Ephraim sold themselves to their lovers.
- Hosea 10:6The thing itself will be carried to Assyria as a present to the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced. Israel will be ashamed because of its plans.
- Hosea 12:1The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind and try to chase the east wind all day. They are very violent and destructive. They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 23:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5And Aholah played the harlot - Without entering into detail here, or following the figures, they both became idolatrous, and received the impure rites of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, of which connection the prophet speaks here as he did in chap. 16, which see. In this chapter there are many of what we would call indelicate expressions, because a parallel is run between idolatry and prostitution, and the circumstances of the latter illustrate…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-8Oholah: The northern kingdom did not embrace God's covenant of grace. Instead, it was drawn to Assyria's power and prestige. Israel formed alliances with Assyria as part of its political strategy starting in the 800s BC. However, these alliances did not protect Israel in the end.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. when ... mine--literally, "under Me," that is, subject to Me as her lawful husband. neighbours--On the northeast the kingdom of Israel bordered on that of Assyria; for the latter had occupied much of Syria. Their neighborhood in locality was emblematical of their being near in corruption of morals and worship. The alliances of Israel with Assyria, which are the chief subject of reprobation here, tended to this (2Ki 15:19; 16:7, 9; 17:3; Ho 8:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 23:5
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
Commentaries