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

1This message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed men to fondle their breasts. 4The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters. I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5“Then Oholah lusted after other lovers instead of me, and she gave her love to the Assyrian officers.

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 20:8“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.
• Leviticus 17:7The people must no longer be unfaithful to the Lord by offering sacrifices to the goat idols. This is a permanent law for them, to be observed from generation to generation.
• Deuteronomy 29:16“You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left.
• Joshua 24:14“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.
• Ezekiel 23:8For when she left Egypt, she did not leave her spirit of prostitution behind. She was still as lewd as in her youth, when the Egyptians slept with her, fondled her breasts, and used her as a prostitute.
• Ezekiel 16:22In all your years of adultery and detestable sin, you have not once remembered the days long ago when you lay naked in a field, kicking about in your own blood.
• Hosea 2:15I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in 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
• Adulterer
• Desirable
• Dispatch
• Dote
• Hatefully
• Lewd
• Breast
• Crime; Crimes
• Ezekiel

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