Ezekiel 23:2
Ezekiel 23:2 in Multiple Translations
“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother:
“Son of man, there were once two women. They were daughters of the same mother.
Sonne of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
Two women were daughters of one mother,
“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
“You human, listen to this parable about Jerusalem and Samaria. Once there were two women, daughters of the same mother.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 23:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 23:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בֶּן
אָדָ֑ם
שְׁתַּ֣יִם
נָשִׁ֔ים
בְּנ֥וֹת
אֵם
אַחַ֖ת
הָיֽוּ
בֶּן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
אָדָ֑ם
ʼâdâm
H120
the man (Adam)
N-ms
שְׁתַּ֣יִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Adj
נָשִׁ֔ים
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
N-fp
בְּנ֥וֹת
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fp
אֵם
ʼêm
H517
mother
N-fs
אַחַ֖ת
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
הָיֽוּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 23:2
בֶּן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
אָדָ֑ם
ʼâdâm
H120
"the man (Adam)"
N-ms
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being
Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.
שְׁתַּ֣יִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
נָשִׁ֔ים
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
N-fp
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
בְּנ֥וֹת
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fp
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
אֵם
ʼêm
H517
"mother"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Definition: 1) mother 1a) of humans 1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) 1c) of animals 2) point of departure or division
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: dam, mother, [idiom] parting. See also: Genesis 2:24; 2 Kings 4:19; Psalms 22:10.
אַחַ֖ת
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
הָיֽוּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 23:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 23:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 23:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 23:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 23:2
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 23:2
- Sermons on Ezekiel 23:2
Context — The Two Adulterous Sisters
1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 16:44–46 | Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 3:7–10 | I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD. |
Ezekiel 23:2 Summary
Ezekiel 23:2 introduces two women who represent the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, emphasizing their shared heritage and origin. Just like these women, we can be tempted to stray from our spiritual roots and pursue worldly desires, as seen in 1 John 2:15-17. However, as children of God, we are called to remain faithful to our spiritual heritage and avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and spiritual adultery, as warned against in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22. By remembering our identity as daughters and sons of God, we can stay grounded in our faith and avoid the temptations that led Oholah and Oholibah astray, and instead follow the example of the faithful in Hebrews 11:1-40.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the two women in Ezekiel 23:2?
The two women represent the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, as explained in Ezekiel 23:4, with Oholah symbolizing Samaria and Oholibah symbolizing Jerusalem, much like the two olive trees in Zechariah 4:3 symbolize the anointed ones.
Why does God address Ezekiel as 'Son of man' in this verse?
God addresses Ezekiel as 'Son of man' to emphasize his humanity and role as a messenger of God, similar to how Jesus is referred to as the 'Son of Man' in Matthew 16:13, highlighting His divine and human nature.
What is the relationship between the two women and their mother in Ezekiel 23:2?
The two women, Oholah and Oholibah, are daughters of the same mother, indicating a shared heritage and origin, much like the children of Israel who shared a common ancestry and covenant with God, as seen in Exodus 19:5-6.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Ezekiel's prophecy?
This verse sets the stage for Ezekiel's prophecy against Israel and Judah, highlighting their spiritual adultery and idolatry, which is a recurring theme throughout the book of Ezekiel, as seen in Ezekiel 16:1-63 and Ezekiel 20:1-49.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to be a daughter of God, and how should that identity shape my daily life?
- In what ways can I, like the two women in Ezekiel 23:2, be tempted to stray from my spiritual heritage and pursue worldly desires?
- How can I, as a child of God, remain faithful to my spiritual roots and avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and spiritual adultery, as warned against in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22?
- What lessons can I learn from the contrast between Oholah and Oholibah, and how can I apply those lessons to my own spiritual journey, in light of Romans 11:1-36?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 23:2
Son of man, there were two women,.... Or two nations and kingdoms, the kingdom of Israel or the ten tribes, and the kingdom of Judah or the two tribes.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 23:2
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: There were two women, the daughters of one mother - Israel and Judah, one nation by birth from the same ancestress, Sarah.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
Two women; Judah and Israel, the two kingdoms. Daughters of one mother; sprung from Sarah; or, as some, daughters of the synagogue. They rose from one family; these two were daughters, that is parts, and the mother is the whole posterity of the twelve tribes.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
Ezekiel 23:2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:Ver. 2. There were two women.] This is the same in effect with Ezekiel 16:1-63, but there more plainly, here parabolically expressed. Sermo est eraditus et elegans, simul tamen spurcas et obscaenus, to set forth the hatefulness of idolatry, creature confidence, and adultery. The daughters of one mother,] scil., Synagogae, vel Sarce. Some think the prophet alludeth to Jacob’ s two wives who were sisters. Lavat.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2
Verse 2. Son of man, there were two women] All the Hebrews were derived from one source, Abraham and Sarah; and, till the schism under Rehoboam, formed but one people: but as these ten tribes and a half separated from Judah and Benjamin, they became two distinct people under different kings; called the kingdom of Judah, and the kingdom of Israel. They are called here, because of their consanguinity, two sisters. The elder, Samaria, (for there was the seat of government for the kingdom of Israel,) was called אהלה aholah, "a tent." The younger, Judah, was called אהליבה aholibah, "my tent is in her," because the temple of God was in Jerusalem, the seat of the government of the kingdom of Judah.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 23:2
2. The two kingdoms are already called sisters, Jeremiah 3:7. Cf. Ezekiel 16:46.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 23:2
Of one mother - Israel and Judah were branches of the same stock.
Sermons on Ezekiel 23:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Our Children by Keith Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the importance of loving and respecting one's spouse, highlighting the sacrificial love husbands should have for their wives, the need for wives to submit to |
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Homily 67 on Matthew by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about Jesus cleansing the temple, highlighting the importance of maintaining a pure and reverent worship space, and the consequences of turning a sacred pl |