Ezekiel 23:4

Ezekiel 23:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
• New International Version (NIV)The 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Oholah 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; They were Mine, And they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

Context of Ezekiel 23:4

2“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. 3They were harlots in Egypt; they were harlots in their youth; their bosoms were caressed there and their virgin breasts were fondled. Their names were Oholah, the older one, and Oholibah, her sister. They became Mine, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5“Oholah prostituted herself, though she was Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians, warriors, 6dressed in blue, governors and rulers, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Ezekiel 23:4 word by word

וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אָהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אָהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the namesשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• Aholahאׇהֳלָה'ohŏlâh 'ohŏlâhh · OholahH170
• the elderגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: oldH1419
• and Aholibahאׇהֳלִיבָה'ohŏlîybâh 'ohŏlîybâhh · OholibahH172
• her sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
• and they were mine, and they bareיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• and daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹןshômerôn · SamariaH8111
• and Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389

Cross-references for Ezekiel 23:4

• Ezekiel 16:40They will also incite an assembly against you, stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords.
• 1 Kings 12:20Now when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.
• Ezekiel 16:8“Again I passed by and saw you, and behold, you were truly at the time of love. I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I swore to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says Adonai. “So you became Mine.
• Exodus 19:5Now then, if you listen closely to My voice, and keep My covenant, then you will be My own treasure from among all people, for all the earth is Mine.
• Psalms 45:11“Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear. Forget your people and your father’s house.
• Jeremiah 2:2“Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says Adonai: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, and the way you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
• Romans 7:4Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were made dead to the Torah through the body of Messiah, so that you might be joined to another—the One who was raised from the dead—in order that we might bear fruit for God.
• 1 Kings 12:26But Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David.
• John 4:22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
• 1 Kings 8:29Let Your eyes be open toward this House night and day, toward the place of which You have said: ‘My Name shall be there;’ listening to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.
• Psalms 76:2In Judah God is known. In Israel His Name is great.
• Psalms 132:13For Adonai has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling:

Commentaries on Ezekiel 23:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Aholah … and Aholibah - More correctly “Oholah” (“her own tent or tabernacle”) and “Oholibah” (“My tent or tabernacle is in her”): names chosen to express that after the division Israel set up her own tabernacle in the place of the temple in which God dwelt 1 Kings 12:32, while with Judah the Temple of God still remained. The presence of God aggravated Judah‘s sins. In the times of the captivity it was customary among the Jews to give their children names…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (for example, Isaiah 54:1–8; Ephesians 5:22–33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (for example, Hosea 1–3). God makes his covenants even though his people are sinful. He does not choose them because of their good character (Romans 5:6–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Aholah--that is, "Her tent" (put for worship, as the first worship of God in Israel was in a tent or tabernacle), as contrasted with Aholibah, that is, "My tent in her." The Beth-el worship of Samaria was of her own devising, not of God's appointment; the temple-worship of Jerusalem was expressly appointed by Jehovah, who "dwelt" there, "setting up His tabernacle among the people as His" (Ex 25:8; Le 26:11, 12; Jos 22:19; Psa 76:2). the elder--Samaria…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 23:4

• Aholah
• Aholibah
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Samaria
• Adulterer
• Aholibah
• Desirable
• Dispatch
• Dote
• Hatefully
• Lewd
• Crime; Crimes

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