Ezekiel 23

1 Again the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [was given, appeared] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 2 “Son [descendant, male child] of man [the human, Adam], there were two [a pair, dual] women [females, wives], daughters [female children, women] of the same [one, united] mother [female parent, maternal figure], word study 3 and they played [committed whoredoms, acted as harlots] in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], prostituting [fornicating, being unfaithful] themselves from their [early, youthful] youth [a state of being young]. Their breasts [swollen, nursing breasts] were fondled [bruised, pressed] there [in that place, at that time], and their virgin [pure, untouched] bosoms [breasts, seats of emotions] caressed [handled, squeezed]. word study 4 The older [elder, greater] was named Oholah [he tent, a woman unfaithful to God], and her sister [close relative, half-sister] was named Oholibah [woman of the tent]. They became Mine [my wives, belonging to me] and gave birth to sons [male children, descendants] and daughters [female children, women]. As for their identities [names, characters], Oholah [he tent, a woman unfaithful to God] is Samaria [watch mountain, the capital of Israel], and Oholibah [woman of the tent] is Jerusalem [city of peace, the capital of Judah]. word study 5 Oholah prostituted [committed fornication, was unfaithful] herself while she was still Mine [under my care, as my wife]. She lusted [doted, had a strong sensual desire] after her lovers [those she loved, desired], the Assyrians [her neighbors, from Asshur]—warriors [soldiers, mighty men] word study 6 clothed in blue [violet, a royal color], governors [leaders, officials] and commanders [rulers, princes], all desirable [pleasant, highly valued] young men [youths, chosen ones], horsemen [cavalry soldiers, charioteers] mounted on steeds [horses, riding animals]. word study 7 She offered [gave herself to, bestowed] sexual favors [her unclean love, whoredoms] to all [every one of] the elite [choicest men, noblest] of Assyria [Asshur, the ancestor of the Assyrians]. She defiled [made herself unclean, became foul] herself with all [every one of] the idols [images, logs] of those for whom she lusted [had a strong sensual desire, doted]. word study 8 She did not give up the prostitution [fornication, harlotry] she began in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], when men slept with her in her youth [young age, adolescence], caressed her virgin [pure, untouched] bosom, and poured out their lust [unclean desire, whoredom] upon her. word study 9 Therefore [so, thus] I delivered [to give, put, or set] her into the hands [power, direction, or strength] of her lovers [those she desired, had affection for], the Assyrians [sons of Asshur, descendants of the ancestor of the Assyrians] for whom [upon whom] she lusted [had a strong sensual desire, doted]. word study 10 They [the nations, her lovers] exposed her nakedness [shame, indecency], seized her sons [children, descendants] and daughters [female children, women], and put her to the sword [killed, executed]. Thus she became a byword [object of scorn, infamous] among women [females, wives], and they executed judgment [punishment, justice] against her. word study 11 Her sister [biological sibling, close relative] Oholibah saw [perceived, looked after] this, yet in her lust [excessive love, selfish desire] and prostitution [fornication, idolatry] she was more depraved [corrupt, ruined] than her sister [in her sinful ways, by comparison]. word study 12 She too lusted after [doted upon, was deeply infatuated with] the Assyrians—governors [leaders, rulers] and commanders [princes, high officials], warriors [soldiers, fighting men] dressed in [clothed with, adorned in] splendor [perfection, great beauty], horsemen [cavalry, charioteers] riding on steeds [horses, mounts], all [every one of them, the entire group] desirable [pleasant, highly valued] young men [youths, chosen ones]. word study 13 And I saw [beheld, perceived] that she too had defiled [made herself foul, contaminated] herself; both of them had taken [followed, walked in] the same [one, united] path [way, journey, manner of life]. word study 14 But Oholibah carried her [further increased, added to] prostitution [fornication, spiritual unfaithfulness] even further. She saw [looked, gazed upon, perceived] the men [individuals, males] portrayed [painted, engraved, depicted] on the wall [barrier, divider], images [likenesses, pictures] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, wise men], engraved [carved, etched] in [with, using] vermilion [bright red], word study 15 wearing [leather or cloth] belts [girdles, sashes] on their waists [loins, hips] and flowing [dyed, colored] turbans [head-dresses, attire] on their heads [the topmost part of the body]; all of them looked like [resembled, had the appearance of] officers [princes, rulers] of the Babylonians [sons of Babylon] in Chaldea [the land of their ancestors], the land [region, territory] of their birth [nativity, origin]. word study 16 At the sight [appearance, beautiful vision] of them, she lusted [to have a strong sensual desire] for them and sent [dispatched, caused to depart] messengers [representatives] to them in Chaldea [a region in Mesopotamia, land of the Chaldeans]. word study 17 Then the Babylonians [sons of Babylon, from the city of confusion] came to her, to the bed [place of intimacy] of love [beloved, dodim], and in their lust [fornication] they defiled [made unclean, contaminated] her. But after she had been defiled [polluted, tainted] by them, she turned away [dislocated, torn away] in disgust [her soul was alienated, her mind was turned away]. word study 18 When Oholibah openly [blatantly, shamelessly] prostituted herself [practiced fornication, spiritual unfaithfulness] and exposed her nakedness [shame, indecency], I turned away from her in disgust [with aversion, alienation], just as I had turned away from her sister [biological sibling, close relative]. word study 19 Yet she multiplied [increased, grew] her promiscuity [fornication, idolatry], remembering [calling to mind, recalling] the days [periods of time, seasons] of her youth [early years, young age], when she had prostituted [played the harlot, committed adultery] herself in the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] word study 20 and lusted [to have a strong sensual desire] after their lovers [paramours, concubines], whose genitals [flesh, body] were like those of donkeys [asses] and whose emission [discharge, seminal fluid] was like that of stallions [horses]. word study 21 So you revisited [called to remembrance, recalled] the indecency [lewdness, wickedness] of your youth [young age], when the Egyptians [the people of Egypt] caressed [handled, bruised] your bosom [breast] and pressed [fondled, squeezed] your young breasts [the breasts of your youth]. word study 22 Therefore, Oholibah [woman of the tent], this is what the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘I will incite [stir up, rouse] your lovers [those who have affection for you] against you, those from whom you turned away [became alienated, felt aversion] in disgust [with a strong sense of displeasure]. And I will bring them against you from every side [around, surrounding you, on all sides]— word study 23 the Babylonians [sons of Babylon, inhabitants of Babel] and all the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in Mesopotamia], the men of Pekod [a people in the Babylonian army], Shoa [a tribe of nomads from Mesopotamia], and Koa [a region in Babylon, east of the Tigris River], and all the Assyrians [descendants of Asshur, the second son of Shem] with them—all [every one of them] desirable [pleasant, highly valued] young men [youth, chosen or select individuals], governors [leaders, officials] and commanders [rulers, princes], officers [high-ranking officers, captains] and men of renown [renowned, famous, proclaimed ones], mounted on horses [riding on horseback, chariot horses]. word study 24 They will come against you with a host [multitude, large assembly] of peoples [nations, Gentiles], with weapons [arms, instruments of war], chariots [vehicles, cavalry], and wagons [carriages, carts]. They will array themselves against you on every side [around, surrounding you] with buckler [shield, protective device] and shield [defense, protection] and helmet [head covering, armor]. I will delegate [commit, entrust] judgment [justice, verdict] to them, and they will punish [judge, condemn] you according to their own standards [judgments, laws]. word study 25 And I will set My jealous rage [intense anger, fervent passion] against you, and they will deal with you in fury [with fierce anger, violently]. They will cut off your noses and ears [ability to hear], and your survivors will fall by the sword [be killed, defeated]. They will seize your sons [male descendants, children] and daughters [female children, offspring], and your remnant [what remains, the rest] will be consumed by fire [devoured, destroyed]. word study 26 They will strip [tear off, remove] off your clothes [garments, covering] and take [get, seize] your fine [beautiful, lovely] jewelry [fair jewels, ornaments]. word study 27 So I will put an end [bring to cessation, cause to stop] to your indecency [lewdness, wickedness] and prostitution [fornication, whoredom], which began [originated, started] in the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], and you will not lift [raise] your eyes [sight, vision] to them or remember [recall, think of] Egypt anymore [still, again].’ word study 28 For [because of this reason] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the reverenced Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Surely [indeed, certainly] I will deliver [hand over, give into the power of] you into the hands [power, control] of those you hate [detest, have aversion to], from whom [which ones] you turned away [were alienated, felt disgust] in disgust [repulsion, strong dislike]. word study 29 They will treat you with hatred [in a hateful manner, with hostility], take all [everything, the entirety] for which you have worked [labored, toiled], and leave you naked [exposed, bare] and bare [uncovered, vulnerable], so that the shame [disgrace, humiliation] of your prostitution [fornication, idolatry] will be exposed [revealed, uncovered]. Your indecency [lewdness, wickedness] and promiscuity [fornication, harlotry] word study 30 have brought these things [such actions, these consequences] upon you, because you have prostituted [gone a whoring, acted as an immoral prostitute] yourself with the nations [Gentiles, heathen] and defiled [polluted, become unclean] yourself with their idols [false gods, objects of worship]. word study 31 Because you have followed [walked in, gone the way of] the path [way of life, manner of action] of your sister [close relative, biological sibling], I will put [give, set] her cup [divine wrath] into your hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share].’ word study 32 This is what the Lord [Adonay, the majestic Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘You will drink [consume, be filled with] your sister’s [close relative, kin] cup [divine wrath], a cup [vessel of God’s anger] deep [profound, abundant] and wide [broad, extensive]. It will bring [result in, lead to] scorn [ridicule, mockery] and derision [contempt, scoffing], for it holds [contains, is filled with] so much [an abundance, a large quantity]. word study 33 You will be filled [to the brim, completely satisfied] with drunkenness [intoxication, staggering] and grief [sorrow, anguish], with a cup [of judgment, devastation] of devastation [horror, astonishment] and desolation [waste, ruin], the cup [of God’s wrath] of your sister [close relative, neighboring nation] Samaria. word study 34 You will drink [to the dregs, completely] it and drain [suck out, exhaust] it; you will dash [smash, shatter] it to pieces, and tear [pluck off, rend] your breasts [the seat of emotion, passion]. For I [the Lord, Adonay] have spoken [declared, uttered],’ declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. word study 35 Therefore this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Because you have forgotten [ignored, neglected, or overlooked] Me and have cast [thrown away, rejected] Me behind your back [in a place of disregard or contempt], you must bear [carry, endure, or suffer] the consequences [the punishment or penalty] of your indecency [lewdness, wickedness, or immoral behavior] and prostitution [fornication, harlotry, or spiritual unfaithfulness].’” word study 36 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to me: “Son of man [a human, a descendant of Adam], will you pass judgment [to govern, to vindicate] against Oholah [he tent, a woman unfaithful to God] and Oholibah [woman of the tent]? Then declare [to tell, to stand boldly] to them their abominations [detestable things, idolatry or unclean practices]. word study 37 For they have committed adultery [been unfaithful, played the whore], and blood [the liquid that flows through the body] is on their hands [a sign of responsibility, power]. They have committed adultery [idolatry, spiritual unfaithfulness] with their idols [false gods, objects of worship]. They have even sacrificed [offered, given over] their children [sons, descendants], whom they bore to Me [as an act of worship, in My name], in the fire as food [a means of sustenance, devotion] for their idols [false deities, objects of devotion]. word study 38 They have also done this [committed this evil] to Me: On that very same day [at the same time], they defiled [made unclean, polluted] My sanctuary [holy place, temple] and profaned [desecrated, treated as common] My Sabbaths [days of rest, holy days]. word study 39 On the very day [the same day, at that time] they slaughtered [killed, sacrificed] their children [sons, descendants] for their idols [images, false gods], they entered [came, went] My sanctuary [holy place, temple] to profane [desecrate, defile] it. Yes, they did this [thus, in this manner] inside [within, in the midst of] My house [dwelling place, temple]. word study 40 Furthermore, you sisters sent messengers [to summon, to invite] for men [from afar, from distant lands] who came from afar; and behold [look, see], when they arrived, you bathed [washed, purified] for them, painted [adorned, decorated] your eyes [with cosmetic paint, with stibium], and adorned [decorated, beautified] yourself with jewelry [ornaments, fine clothing]. word study 41 You sat [dwelt, remained] on a couch [stately bed, luxurious sofa] of luxury [wealth, magnificence] with a table [place of communion] spread before it, on which you had set [appointed, placed] My incense [sweet smoke, pleasing aroma] and My oil [olive oil], word study 42 accompanied by the sound of a [multitude being at ease, carefree] carefree crowd [in a state of turmoil or having a lot of noise]. Drunkards [to be drunk, or a drunkard, one who overindulges] were brought in from the [desert or open field, wilderness] desert along with men from the rabble [common sort], who put bracelets [arm-clasps] on your wrists and beautiful [glorious] crowns on your head. word study 43 Then I said [spoke, declared] of her who had grown old [worn out, exhausted] in adulteries [unfaithfulness, spiritual whoredom]: ‘Now [at this time, in this moment] let them use her as a prostitute [treat her as a harlot, commit fornication with her], for that is all she is [her true nature, her identity]!’ word study 44 And they slept [had intimate relations, went in unto] with her as with a prostitute [a woman who plays the harlot, a loose woman]; they slept [had sex, went in unto] with Oholah [the tent of her, Samaria] and Oholibah [the tent of my father, Judah], those lewd [wicked, immoral] women [females, wives]. word study 45 But righteous [just, upright] men will sentence them to the punishment [judgment, verdict] of those who commit adultery [are unfaithful, idolatrous] and bloodshed [murder, violence], because they are adulteresses [unfaithful women, idolaters] with blood [the life force] on their hands [in their power, under their control]. word study 46 This is what the Lord [Adonay, God of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Bring [gather, assemble] a mob [assembly, company] against them and consign [give, deliver] them to terror [horror, great fear] and plunder [spoiling, robbery]. word study 47 The mob [assembly, crowd, company] will stone [with stones, pelt with rocks] them and cut them down [dispatch, slaughter] with their swords [cutting instruments, knives]. They will kill [slay, destroy] their sons [children, descendants] and daughters [female children, women] and burn down [set on fire, kindle flames] their houses [homes, dwellings, families]. word study 48 So I will put an end [cause to cease, bring to a stop] to indecency [lewdness, wickedness] in the land [country, territory], and all [every, entire] the women [females, wives] will be admonished [disciplined, taught] not to imitate [follow, do after] your behavior [lewdness, wickedness]. word study 49 They will repay you for your [immorality, wickedness] indecency, and you will bear the consequences of your [idolatrous] sins of idolatry [worshipping false gods]. Then you will know that I am the [supreme] Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah].’” word study