New International Version
Ezekiel 23:3
3They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.
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.
- 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.
- 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, daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still 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 20:8“ ‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.
- Leviticus 17:7They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.’
- Deuteronomy 29:16You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here.
- Joshua 24:14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
- Ezekiel 23:8She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.
- Ezekiel 16:22In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood.
- Hosea 2:15There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up 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
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