The Sisters' Harlotry: Samaria and Jerusalem Condemned
Ezekiel 23:1-49
Eze.23.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Ezekiel 2:1 (verbal): Same prophetic introductory formula—'And the word of the LORD came to me'—opening a divine address to the prophet.
- Ezekiel 3:1 (verbal): Another immediate continuation in Ezekiel using the same phrasing to introduce God's spoken command to the prophet ('And he said unto me...').
- Jeremiah 1:4 (verbal): Uses the identical phrase 'The word of the LORD came to me' to introduce Jeremiah's prophetic call, paralleling the standard prophet's opening.
- Hosea 1:1 (structural): Serves the same book-opening function—introduces the oracle with 'The word of the LORD that came to Hosea'—a common structural formula for prophetic revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
- And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Eze.23.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- נשים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אם: CONJ
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:1-3 (verbal): Same prophetic address 'Son of man' and use of an extended feminine allegory to depict Jerusalem's origins and later sexual/ritual unfaithfulness — foundational template for the two‑sisters allegory.
- Hosea 2:2-13 (thematic): Uses marriage/harlotry imagery to portray Israel's covenant unfaithfulness and judgment, paralleling Ezekiel's depiction of the two 'daughters' as adulterous cities.
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (thematic): God speaks of Israel's adultery and divorce; the moral/imagery parallels Ezekiel's treatment of national apostasy and the figure of an unfaithful woman representing the people.
- 2 Kings 17:7-23 (allusion): Historical summary of Israel/Samaria's idolatry and exile — background to Oholah (Samaria) in Ezekiel's two‑sisters allegory.
- 2 Kings 24:18–25:21 (allusion): Narrates Judah/Jerusalem's fall and exile, providing the historical counterpart to Oholibah (Jerusalem) in Ezekiel's paired portrait of sisterly infidelity and judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
- Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
Eze.23.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותזנינה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- במצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בנעוריהן: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,f,pl
- זנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שמה: ADV
- מעכו: PREP+NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- שדיהן: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,f,pl
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דדי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,_,sg
- בתוליהן: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3,f,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Uses the same charge of prostituting with the Egyptians — language and motif parallel Ezek.23:3's allegation that they 'played the harlot' in Egypt.
- Ezekiel 23:5 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter continuing the account of the sisters' prostitution in Egypt and elaborating the same activity introduced in v.3.
- Hosea 9:1 (thematic): Portrays Israel as a harlot who loves the hire of a harlot; parallels the theme of national unfaithfulness and sexual imagery used to describe Israel's relations with foreign nations.
- Jeremiah 2:20 (allusion): Condemns Israel's unfaithfulness as prostitution after foreign lovers ('you have played the harlot'); echoes Ezek.23:3's motif of spiritual/sexual infidelity begun in Egypt.
Alternative generated candidates
- They played the harlot in Egypt in their youth; there they played the harlot — their breasts fondled and there they exposed the bosoms of their maidenhood.
- They prostituted themselves in Egypt in their youth; there they defiled themselves — their breasts were fondled, and there their virgin bosoms were handled.
Eze.23.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושמותן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3fpl
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגדולה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- ואהליבה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- אחותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3fs
- ותהיינה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ותלדנה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובנות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- ושמותן: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3fpl
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירושלם: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- אהליבה: NOUN,f,sg,prop
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:1-3 (structural): The immediate introduction to the allegory that names two sisters (Oholah and Oholibah); verse 4 continues and explicitly identifies them as Samaria and Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 16:15-32 (thematic): Ezekiel's extended allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife — charged with prostitution and punished — parallels the same motifs of sexual infidelity and judgment found in Ezekiel 23.
- Hosea 2:2-13 (thematic): Uses marriage/adultery imagery for Israel's idolatry and threat of judgment; thematically parallels Ezekiel's portrayal of the nations as adulterous women.
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (allusion): God's complaint about faithless Israel and treacherous Judah, including the motif of sending away/divorce for adulterous behavior, echoes the split-sister motif and moral indictment in Ezekiel 23.
- 2 Kings 17:7-23 (thematic): Historical summary of Israel's persistent idolatry and resulting exile — the real-world background for identifying Aholah with Samaria and her sins in Ezekiel's allegory.
Alternative generated candidates
- The names of them were Aholah the elder and Aholibah her sister; they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Aholah is Samaria, and Aholibah is Jerusalem.
- And their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Oholah the elder was Samaria, and Oholibah was Jerusalem.
Eze.23.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותזן: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחתי: PREP+PRON,1,c,sg
- ותעגב: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- מאהביה: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,f
- אל: NEG
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- קרובים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:25-30 (thematic): The same prostitute imagery applied to Jerusalem: description of whoring after foreign lovers and the horrors that follow—parallels Ezek.23’s depiction of seeking Assyrian lovers and spiritual adultery.
- Isaiah 1:21 (allusion): Isaiah’s lament that the 'faithful city' has become a harlot uses the same metaphor of the city’s unfaithfulness to Yahweh, echoing Ezekiel’s charge of prostitution with foreign powers.
- Hosea 2:5-7 (thematic): Hosea frames Israel’s idolatry as a wife pursuing paramours and forgetting her husband; the language of chasing lovers and divine judgment parallels Ezek.23’s portrayal of lust for foreign nations (e.g., Assyria).
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (verbal): Jeremiah recounts Israel’s 'playing the harlot' on high places and pursuing other lovers despite prophetic warnings—uses the same adultery/whoring motif to diagnose covenant unfaithfulness as in Ezek.23.
Alternative generated candidates
- Aholah prostituted herself to her lovers, to the Assyrians her neighbors:
- Oholah played the harlot against me and lusted after her paramours — officers of Assyria, nearby.
Eze.23.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לבשי: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- תכלת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פחות: ADV
- וסגנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בחורי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חמד: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- פרשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רכבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:10-13 (verbal): Ezekiel elsewhere depicts Jerusalem clothed in fine garments, purple and embroidered cloth and richly adorned—same imagery of dressing a city/woman in luxury that becomes sexualized and shameful.
- Isaiah 3:16-24 (thematic): Isaiah censures proud, ornamented women whose finery (gold, finery, headgear) precedes judgment—parallel theme of female adornment tied to pride and impending ruin.
- Revelation 17:4 (allusion): The apocalyptic woman is described as clothed in purple and scarlet and decked with gold—an image that echoes Ezekiel’s portrayal of a prostitute-city dressed in costly colors and ornaments.
- 2 Kings 9:30-31 (thematic): Jezebel’s painted eyes and adornment before her death echo the biblical motif of female ornamentation linked to sexual promiscuity and moral culpability found in Ezekiel’s taunt.
- Proverbs 7:10-12 (thematic): The seductress is pictured as ostentatiously dressed and alluring—paralleling Ezekiel’s use of lavish dress and attractive attendants to portray seductive, unfaithful cities.
Alternative generated candidates
- clad in blue and purple, governors and commanders, the choice young men, all horsemen and riders.
- She decked herself in blue and purple, and with embroidered cloths; she set governors and princes before her — choice young men, all horsemen, cavalry.
Eze.23.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותתן: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,prs,3,f
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- מבחר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- ובכל: CONJ+PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עגבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גלוליהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- נטמאה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:3-5 (structural): Immediate context: the two sisters (Oholah/Oholibah) are introduced and earlier verses describe their prostitution, setting up the specific charge in v.7 about relations with Assyrian youths and idolatrous defilement.
- Ezekiel 16:26-30 (thematic): Uses the same metaphor of Jerusalem as a harlot who prostitutes herself to foreign peoples and idols; parallels the imagery of sexual unfaithfulness and religious defilement in v.7.
- Hosea 2:5 (thematic): Hosea portrays Israel as a wife chasing after lovers and abandoning her covenant husband, a recurring prophetic motif for idolatry and unfaithfulness similar to Ezek.23:7’s depiction of illicit relations and idol worship.
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (allusion): Jeremiah uses the covenant-breach/harlotry trope to accuse both Israel and Judah of adultery with foreign nations and idols—echoing Ezekiel’s charge that Jerusalem defiled herself with foreign lovers and their gods.
- 2 Kings 16:7-9 (thematic): Narrative example of Judah seeking Assyrian aid (Ahaz appealing to Tiglath‑pileser), illustrating political/foreign entanglement with Assyria that prophetic texts often frame as moral/idolatrous unfaithfulness like Ezek.23:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- She gave her whorings to them — to the choice sons of Assyria, all of them — and in all their idol-services she defiled herself.
- She gave her whorings to them, to the choice sons of Assyria; all of them. In every object of her lust she was defiled with their idols.
Eze.23.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs,suff:3fs
- ממצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- עזבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אותה: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- שכבו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בנעוריה: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,suff:3fs
- והמה: PRON,3,m,pl
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דדי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- בתוליה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,suff:3fs
- וישפכו: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,pl
- תזנותם: NOUN,f,pl,abs,suff:3mp
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Explicitly accuses Jerusalem of playing the harlot with the Egyptians—same sexualized language of prostitution with Egypt as partners, paralleling the wording and charge in Ezek. 23:8.
- Ezekiel 23:6-7 (structural): Immediate chapter parallel: the preceding verses identify the sisters' foreign 'lovers' (Assyria, etc.), establishing the repeated motif of cities committing sexualized unfaithfulness that 23:8 continues with Egypt.
- Hosea 2:5 (thematic): Uses marital/prostitution imagery of Israel chasing foreign lovers and divine judgment for unfaithfulness—theme of covenantal adultery and pursuit of foreign powers parallels Ezek. 23:8's depiction of intercourse with Egypt.
- Jeremiah 3:8-9 (thematic): God speaks of giving faithless Israel a certificate of divorce for her adulteries; like Ezek. 23:8 this frames Israel/Judah's relations with foreign nations as covenantal prostitution leading to judicial action.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet she did not abandon her prostitution from Egypt; for in her youth men lay with her there, they handled the breasts of her maidenhood and poured their whorings upon her.
- Yet she did not abandon the whorings of Egypt — where she had lain in her youth; for they had handled her bosom, her virgin bosom, and poured out their whorings upon her.
Eze.23.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- נתתיה: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מאהביה: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3f
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עגבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:37 (verbal): Uses the same judicial/sexual metaphor — God declares He will give Jerusalem into the hand of her lovers as punishment for harlotry, language closely parallel to Ezek. 23:9.
- Ezekiel 23:11 (structural): Immediate continuation in the same chapter describing the Assyrians coming as the 'lovers' who take the city — a direct structural parallel and narrative development of v.9.
- 2 Kings 17:6,20-23 (thematic): Historical account of Israel's fall to Assyria because of covenant unfaithfulness; echoes the prophetic theme of divine judgment by handing the nation to Assyria for its spiritual adultery.
- Jeremiah 3:8 (allusion): Jeremiah uses legal/adulterous imagery (divorce and sending Israel away) to describe God's punishment for apostasy — a parallel theological motif of God 'giving' unfaithful Israel over because of spiritual adultery.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the sons of Assyria, on whom she lusted.
- Therefore I handed her over into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the sons of Assyria, who were passionate for her.
Eze.23.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- גלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- ערותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3f
- בניה: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3,m
- ובנותיה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ואותה: CONJ+PRON,dem,acc,3,f,sg
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שם: ADV
- לנשים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ושפוטים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:25-27 (verbal): Same chapter and prophetic context: God announces foreign invaders who will seize sons and daughters, kill by the sword, and make the city a spoil—close verbal and thematic repetition of v.10.
- Ezekiel 16:37-41 (thematic): Parallel Ezekiel judgment-scene: exposure, destruction by sword, loss of children, and transformation into a desolation/spoil as punishment for unfaithfulness.
- Isaiah 13:16 (verbal): Prophetic oracle against Babylon: imagery of children being dashed before their eyes, houses spoiled and women violated—language and motifs of slaughter and desolation echo v.10.
- Deuteronomy 28:30 (allusion): Part of the covenant curses: 'your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people'—captures the covenantal pattern behind the prophetic threat to have children taken or killed.
Alternative generated candidates
- They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and they executed judgments on her.
- They uncovered her nakedness; they carried off her sons and daughters and put them to the sword. She became a desolation and a byword among the nations.
Eze.23.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- אחותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3fs
- אהליבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,prop
- ותשחת: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עגבתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3fs
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3fs
- מזנוני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אחותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3fs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:4-5 (structural): Same episode introducing the two sisters (Oholah and Oholibah) and the prostitution imagery; provides the immediate narrative context and similar language about their harlotries.
- Ezekiel 23:12 (verbal): Direct continuation/parallel within the chapter that explicitly states Oholibah surpassed her sister in whoredoms—reiterates and amplifies the claim made in 23:11.
- Ezekiel 16:15-34 (thematic): Uses the same bride/whore imagery to accuse Jerusalem of prostitution and idolatry—shared motifs and vocabulary (adulterous wife, lovers, corrupting practices) and theological point about covenant unfaithfulness.
- Jeremiah 3:6-9 (allusion): God’s indictment contrasts two sisters (Israel and Judah), noting one’s greater faithlessness—parallels the theme of sibling city-figures where one ‘sees’ and becomes more corrupt, and the idea of comparative apostasy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Her sister Aholibah saw this and increased her harlotry beyond her sister, and her whorings were more than the whorings of Aholah.
- When her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and increased her whorings beyond her sister’s.
Eze.23.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עגבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פחות: ADV
- וסגנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- קרבים: VERB,qal,part,m,pl
- לבשי: VERB,qal,ptc,m,pl
- מכלול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רכבי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בחורי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חמד: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:6 (verbal): Immediate verbal/structural parallel within the same chapter: both verses describe the woman taking foreign 'lovers' and use similar language of lust and intimate relations in the allegory of Oholah/Oholibah.
- Ezekiel 16:25-26 (thematic): Ezekiel 16 uses the same prostitution imagery to accuse Jerusalem of unfaithfulness—decking herself, seeking foreign lovers and military/political entanglements—closely paralleling the moral and political critique of 23:12.
- Hosea 7:11 (thematic): Hosea condemns Israel for turning to foreign powers ('they go to Assyria') as a form of infidelity; thematically parallels Ezekiel's portrayal of political alliances with Assyria as sexual prostitution.
- 2 Kings 16:7-9 (thematic): The historical episode of King Ahaz appealing to Tiglath‑pileser (Assyria) for military aid exemplifies the real political dependence Ezekiel allegorizes as taking Assyrian 'lovers'—a concrete background to the prophet's accusation.
Alternative generated candidates
- She lusted after the sons of Assyria — governors and commanders, mounted horsemen, choice young men, all horsemen.
- She lusted after the sons of Assyria — governors and princes, clothed with all their equipment, horsemen, cavalry, choice young men, all of them.
Eze.23.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וארא: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- כי: CONJ
- נטמאה: VERB,nip,perf,3,f,sg
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לשתיהן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:2-4 (structural): Introduces the two sisters (Oholah and Oholibah) whose shared prostitution and mutual defilement are summarized in 23:13; verse 13 continues and applies the narrative framework set up here.
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Uses the same sexual/harlotry language of defilement and going after foreign lovers to describe Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness, echoing the imagery of a single path of prostitution for the city(s).
- Jeremiah 3:8-9 (thematic): Speaks of Israel’s unfaithfulness and a ‘divorce’ for faithless Israel while noting both Israel and Judah followed the same adulterous ways—parallel theme of both sisters taking one path of corruption.
- Hosea 4:12-13 (thematic): Describes a ‘spirit of prostitution’ leading Israel astray and defiling the nation through idolatry—similar metaphor of sexual unfaithfulness for religious apostasy reflected in Ezek. 23:13.
- Isaiah 1:21 (allusion): Declares the faithful city become a harlot—an accusation of communal defilement and moral decay that parallels Ezekiel’s charge that both sisters have defiled themselves in the same way.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I saw that both of them had committed the same kind of uncleanness.
- And I saw that they both had defiled themselves in the same way.
Eze.23.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותוסף: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אל: NEG
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,f
- ותרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- מחקה: VERB,piel,ptcp,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- הקיר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- צלמי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- כשדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חקקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בששר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:5-11 (verbal): Same allegory of the two sisters (Oholah/Oholibah): explicit narrative of harlotry with foreign men (here Assyrians) — a direct continuation/parallel within the same chapter and theme of prostitution with foreign powers.
- Ezekiel 16:26-28 (thematic): Jerusalem portrayed as a harlot who 'lusted after' foreign nations and took lovers; uses sexual/idolatrous imagery to describe political-religious unfaithfulness, closely paralleling the language and charge in 23:14.
- Ezekiel 8:10-12 (structural): Vision of idolatrous practices and images in the temple precincts (men bowing to images); parallels the motif of carved images/depictions and illicit worship within a sacred/semi-sacred space.
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (thematic): The prophet recounts Israel/Judah as an unfaithful wife who went after other lovers (nations); the marital-adultery metaphor for covenant infidelity and apostasy closely echoes the charge in Ezek 23:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- She added to her whorings; she saw depictions on the wall, engraved images of the Chaldeans.
- Oholibah added to her whorings; she set her eyes on images engraved on the wall — figures of the Chaldeans, carved in vermilion.
Eze.23.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חגורי: ADJ,m,pl,cons
- אזור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במתניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- סרוחי: ADJ,m,pl,cons
- טבולים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- בראשיהם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- מראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- דמות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בבל: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- כשדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מולדתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3mp
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:10-13 (thematic): God recounts how he clothed and adorned Jerusalem (girdle, embroidered garments, jewelry) — a contrast to the women’s later adoption of foreign (Babylonian) dress in 23:15.
- Ezekiel 23:20 (thematic): Close contextual parallel in the same chapter that describes the sisters’ lust for foreign lovers and their embrace of foreign customs and appearance (including associations with Chaldeans/Babylonians).
- Isaiah 3:16-24 (thematic): Condemns the daughters of Zion for proud finery (braids, jewelry, veils) and announces the removal of these adornments — thematically parallels the moral-religious critique of ornament and foreign fashion in Ezekiel 23:15.
- Jeremiah 2:32 (thematic): Uses bridal/ornamental imagery (‘Can a maiden forget her ornaments?’) to accuse Israel of abandoning fidelity to God — parallels the use of attire and adornment as signs of unfaithfulness in Ezekiel 23:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Girded with sashes at their waists and turbans upon their heads, all of a splendid appearance — the form of the people of Babylon, Chaldea, their native land.
- Girdles around their loins, turbans of varied color upon their heads, a showy appearance — the visage of the people of Babylon, the Chaldeans, the land of their nativity.
Eze.23.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותעגבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- למראה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עיניה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3fs
- ותשלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מלאכים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- כשדימה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:17 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same taunt: continues the language of sexual longing and the sending of messengers to foreign lovers — closely related wording and sequence to v.16.
- Ezekiel 23:7 (structural): Earlier summary of the same episode: identifies the foreign paramours (the sons of Asshur) and frames the political/sexual infidelity motif that v.16 exemplifies.
- Ezekiel 16:26 (thematic): Uses the same prostitute-city imagery to describe Jerusalem's lust after foreign nations and erotic/political betrayal — a broader Ezekiel motif behind v.16.
- Hosea 2:5 (thematic): Portrays Israel's pursuit of foreign lovers and futile seeking after them — a parallel prophetic metaphor of adultery and misplaced allegiance.
- Hosea 7:11 (allusion): Compares Ephraim to a naive dove that turns to Egypt and Assyria — echoes the theme of seeking foreign partners/alliances that Ezek.23:16 characterizes as sexual/political prostitution.
Alternative generated candidates
- And she set her desire on them at the sight of her eyes and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
- She lusted after them for the sight of her eyes, and she sent messengers to them to Chaldea.
Eze.23.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אליה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בבל: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- למשכב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דדים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ויטמאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אותה: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- בתזנותם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl+PRON,3,m,pl
- ותטמא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ותקע: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRONSUF,3,f,sg
- מהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Uses the same prostitute-city imagery and language of going after foreign lovers and being defiled — Jerusalem/Israel committing whoredom with nations and becoming polluted.
- Ezekiel 23:12 (verbal): Within the same allegory (the two sisters), this verse parallels the description of one sister's affairs with Assyrian lovers — similar phrasing about lovers entering her bed and polluting her.
- Isaiah 1:21 (thematic): Isaiah likewise portrays Zion as a once-faithful city turned harlot — a thematic parallel emphasizing urban/unfaithful Israel and moral/political corruption.
- Jeremiah 3:8 (allusion): Jeremiah depicts Israel's unfaithfulness as adultery/whoredom and describes divine judgment (sending her away) — echoing the motif of adultery with foreign nations and resulting punishment.
- Hosea 4:12-14 (thematic): Hosea condemns Israel's spiritual adultery (seeking other lovers/priests, idolatrous worship), a thematic parallel to Ezekiel's portrayal of prostitution as covenant unfaithfulness with foreign powers.
Alternative generated candidates
- The men of Babylon came to her for lustful intercourse, and defiled her by their whorings; she was defiled with them and her passion burned for them.
- The men of Babylon came to her to bed and defiled her with their whorings; she defiled herself with them and lusted after them.
Eze.23.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותגל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,suff
- ותגל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ערותה: NOUN,f,sg,suff
- ותקע: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- מעליה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- נקעה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- מעל: PREP
- אחותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3fs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:12 (verbal): Same chapter and parallel episode — the sister ‘uncovered her fornications’ and ‘discovered her nakedness’; closely related vocabulary and the prophet’s disgust (נקעה נפשי).
- Ezekiel 16:25–34 (thematic): Extended allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife/prostitute; uses similar imagery of whoredom, exposure, and Yahweh’s revulsion and judgment against illicit lovers and nakedness.
- Leviticus 18:6 (verbal): Uses the legal phrase ‘to uncover nakedness’ (גלה ערוה) to describe illicit sexual relations; Ezekiel adapts this technical sexual idiom for prophetic metaphor of prostitution.
- Hosea 2:5–7 (thematic): Israel depicted as an unfaithful wife who pursues lovers and is judged — a closely related prophetic motif of marital infidelity as national apostasy, echoing Ezekiel’s prostitute-sisters imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- She displayed her whorings and uncovered her nakedness; I was disgusted with her as I was disgusted with her sister.
- She exposed her whorings and uncovered her nakedness, and my soul loathed her just as it loathed her sister.
Eze.23.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותרבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- תזנותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לזכר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- נעוריה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- זנתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:5 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same chapter stating that the sisters 'committed whoredom in Egypt'—supports the reference to her youthful prostitution in Egypt.
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Ezekiel's larger Jerusalem parable similarly accuses Israel of lusting after the Egyptians and increasing her whoredom—echoes the imagery of sexual infidelity with Egypt.
- Jeremiah 2:2 (thematic): God recalls 'the devotion of your youth'—uses the motif of 'remembering youth' to contrast Israel's former fidelity with later unfaithfulness, a thematic counterpoint to Ezek. 23:19.
- Hosea 2:5 (thematic): Describes Israel pursuing lovers and later saying 'I will go and return to my first husband,' invoking nostalgia for an earlier (youthful) relationship—parallels the idea of recalling youthful illicit liaisons.
- Isaiah 1:21 (thematic): Isaiah charges the 'faithful city' with becoming a harlot; uses urban-harlotry imagery to portray Israel/Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, akin to Ezekiel's prostitution motifs.
Alternative generated candidates
- She multiplied her whorings to remember the days of her youth, when she prostituted herself in the land of Egypt.
- She multiplied her whorings to remember the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt.
Eze.23.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותעגבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- פלגשיהם: NOUN,f,pl,poss
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמורים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בשרם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- וזרמת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- זרמתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:19 (verbal): Immediate context in the same chapter; 23:19–20 form a unit describing the woman’s lust for foreign lovers, using the same explicit bestial/animal potency imagery.
- Ezekiel 16:26 (thematic): Earlier Ezekiel passage using the prostitute/unfaithful-wife metaphor for Israel’s sexual/political alliances with foreign powers—parallels the charge of lusting after foreign lovers.
- Hosea 2:5–7 (Hebrew 2:7–9) (thematic): Hosea portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife pursuing lovers and idols; thematically parallels the marital/adulterous imagery of sexual infidelity and pursuit of foreign partners.
- Deuteronomy 23:17–18 (allusion): Laws against cultic prostitution and paid sexual rites; provides legal/background frame for biblical condemnations of ritualized sexual infidelity that Ezekiel denounces.
- Romans 1:24–27 (thematic): Paul’s account of sexual disorder and exchange of natural relations for corrupt passions echoes the OT theme of sexual depravity as evidence of covenant unfaithfulness (theological parallel rather than verbal).
Alternative generated candidates
- She lusted after their paramours — the flesh of whose loins was like the flesh of donkeys, and whose emission was like that of stallions.
- She lusted after the paramours whose flesh was like donkey’s flesh and whose sexual vigor flowed like that of stallions.
Eze.23.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותפקדי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- זמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נעוריך: NOUN,m,pl,const,suff:2f
- בעשות: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- ממצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- דדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2ms
- למען: PREP
- שדי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נעוריך: NOUN,m,pl,const,suff:2f
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:20 (verbal): Immediate neighbor-verse in the same chapter using explicit sexual imagery to describe Israel/Judah's lust for foreign nations; continues the same metaphors of bodily desire and foreign lovers (Egypt).
- Ezekiel 16:26 (thematic): Ezekiel's earlier extended allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife who prostituted herself with the Egyptians; similar charge of sexualized political/religious infidelity with Egypt.
- Hosea 9:1 (thematic): Hosea accuses Ephraim/Israel of 'hiring lovers' and abandoning covenant fidelity; parallels the motif of Israel seeking foreign partners (including Egypt) and being unfaithful to Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 3:8 (allusion): Jeremiah speaks of God 'divorcing' Israel for her adulteries and foreign alliances; shares the prophetic legal/marital framework for condemning Israel's relations with foreign powers such as Egypt.
Alternative generated candidates
- You recalled the lewdness of your youth, when you were naked and bare-breasted in the land of Egypt, and you lavished the caresses of your youth upon them.
- You recalled the lewdness of your youth — the breasts of your youth — how you played the harlot in the land of Egypt to stir up your lust.
Eze.23.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- אהליבה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3f.suf
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- מעיר: PREP
- את: PRT,acc
- מאהביך: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נקעה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
- מהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- והבאתים: VERB,hiph,impf,1,m,sg+3m,pl.obj
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- מסביב: ADV,loc
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:37-39 (verbal): Uses parallel language and legal/forensic imagery—God vows to 'gather' the city's lovers and hand her over to them, exposing and humiliating Jerusalem for its prostitution, closely matching the threat in Ezekiel 23:22.
- Ezekiel 23:25 (structural): Immediate continuation in the same chapter: specifies the foreign nations ('strangers') who will come against Oholibah—develops the same promise to raise up lovers/enemies around her.
- Hosea 2:7-9 (thematic): Hosea depicts Israel's adultery and divine response in terms of lovers and loss—God strips away what she gained by harlotry and punishes her, thematically echoing the motif of lovers/foreign powers turned against unfaithful Israel.
- Jeremiah 3:8-9 (thematic): Jeremiah speaks of giving faithless Israel a 'certificate of divorce' for her adultery and portrays covenantal unfaithfulness leading to punitive measures—parallel theme of Israel/Judah as an unfaithful wife and God turning judgment upon her relationships (and so bringing calamity).
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, Aholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you — those whom you despised and whose soul you loathed — and I will bring them against you from all around.
- Therefore — Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers, those for whom your soul was sickened; I will bring them against you from every side.
Eze.23.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- בבל: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- כשדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- פקוד: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- ושוע: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- וקוע: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- בחורי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חמד: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- פחות: ADV
- וסגנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- וקרואים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רכבי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Jeremiah 50:21 (verbal): Uses the rare place-name Pekod (Pekod is named alongside other peoples), as does Ezekiel 23:23, linking Pekod with military activity and divine action against nations.
- Isaiah 10:5-6 (thematic): Portrays Assyria as the instrument/rod of God's judgment against nations (including Israel), paralleling Ezekiel's list of foreign powers—Babylon, Chaldeans, Assyrians—used to punish Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 24:10-16 (verbal): Records the historical action of Babylon/Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem (siege, deportation), paralleling Ezekiel's catalogue of Babylonian/Chaldean forces employed in judgment.
- Nahum 2:3-6 (thematic): Vivid military imagery of chariots, horsemen, and commanders storming a city (Nineveh/Assyria), thematically echoing Ezekiel's reference to mounted troops and commanders among the invading forces.
Alternative generated candidates
- The sons of Babylon and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, all the sons of Assyria — governors, commanders, all of them, and choice young men, all horsemen and riders.
- The men of Babylon and all the Chaldeans — Pekod, Shoa, and Koa — and all the house of Assyria, governors and princes, all of them, horsemen, cavalry.
Eze.23.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובאו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- הצן: NOUN,m,pl,def
- רכב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגלגל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובקהל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמים: NOUN,pl,m,abs
- צנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומגן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקובע: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישימו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- סביב: ADV
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לפניהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושפטוך: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl+OBJ,2,f,sg
- במשפטיהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:39 (verbal): Same prophetic context: God declares He will give Jerusalem/Israel into the hand of her lovers/enemies—language of handing over to foreign troops and their mistreatment echoes Ezek 23:24’s giving over to besieging forces.
- Isaiah 10:5-7 (thematic): God uses a foreign power (Assyria) as His instrument of judgment against Israel—parallels the motif of nations/warfare being sent to punish and judge Israel.
- Deuteronomy 28:49-52 (thematic): Part of the covenant curses: a foreign nation will come from afar to besiege and oppress Israel—echoes the imagery of enemies, siege-works and harsh rule in Ezek 23:24.
- Jeremiah 25:9 (thematic): God summons the peoples of the north to execute judgment on Judah—aligns with Ezekiel’s theme that God will hand the city over to foreign nations who will judge and punish it.
Alternative generated candidates
- They shall come against you with chariots and wagons and with a host of peoples; chariots and shields and helmets will be set against you round about. I will give you into their hand and they will deal with you according to their judgments.
- They shall come against you with chariots and wagons, and with a throng of peoples; they will set bucklers and shields and a covered battering-ram all around you, and I will give them charge against you; I will hand you over to their judgment.
Eze.23.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- קנאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ועשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- אותך: PRON,2,m,sg
- בחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אפך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואזניך: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+2m
- יסירו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ואחריתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+2m
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תפול: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- בניך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+POSS,2,m,sg
- ובנותיך: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- יקחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- ואחריתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+2m
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:37-41 (verbal): Uses the same judicial motif of Yahweh executing jealousy: enemies/’lovers’ are brought in as agents of punishment, the city/woman is stripped and shamed, children are taken/killed and houses/livelihoods are burned—close verbal and thematic overlap.
- Ezekiel 5:11-12 (thematic): Similar prophetic formula of judgment: Yahweh declares he will bring sword/famine/pestilence so that the remnant will fall by the sword and survivors will be consumed—same fate language applied to Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 6:11 (verbal): Contains parallel wording about the remnant falling by the sword and what remains being consumed; continues Ezekiel’s recurrent diction for destruction by sword and fire.
- Deuteronomy 28:32 (thematic): Part of the covenant curses: children given to another nation and the parents’ helpless watching—parallels the motif of offspring seized/removed as part of national judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will put my jealousy upon you; they will deal with you in anger; they will take away your nose and your ears; your end shall be by the sword. They will take your sons and your daughters, and your houses shall be burned with fire.
- I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal with you in furious wrath; they will strip you and your end shall come by the sword. They will take your sons and daughters, and they will burn up your houses with fire.
Eze.23.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והפשיטוך: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- בגדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ולקחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- תפארתך: NOUN,f,sg,suff-2fs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:37-39 (verbal): Same Ezekiel motif of exposing and stripping the unfaithful city/woman — God gathers her lovers, exposes her nakedness and brings shame/punishment.
- Isaiah 47:2-3 (verbal): Babylon is commanded to 'take off your robe... strip off your skirt' and have her nakedness uncovered as part of divine humiliation — close verbal and imagistic parallel.
- Isaiah 3:16-24 (thematic): God removes the finery and beauty of the women of Zion as punishment (ornaments exchanged for humiliation), a thematic parallel of stripping and loss of adornment.
- Nahum 3:5 (verbal): The oracle threatens to lift up skirts and make the city’s nakedness and shame visible to nations — uses the same public-exposure language of humiliation.
- Revelation 17:16 (thematic): The beast and horns make the prostitute 'desolate and naked' — New Testament recapitulation of the prophetic motif of divine judgment by stripping the harlot of her clothes and splendor.
Alternative generated candidates
- They will strip you of your clothes and take away your splendid ornaments.
- They will strip you of your clothes and take away your fine ornaments.
Eze.23.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והשבתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,n,sg
- זמתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2fs
- ממך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- זנותך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2f
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- תשאי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- עיניך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ומצרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תזכרי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:7-8 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same chapter describing the sisters' harlotry in Egypt; verse 27 resolves the earlier narrative by promising removal of that Egyptian lust.
- Ezekiel 16:37-43 (thematic): Ezekiel's extended metaphor of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife punished and stripped of her foreign lovers—God removes adulterous attachments and brings shame, similar to removing 'your whoring' from Egypt.
- Jeremiah 2:18 (thematic): God rebukes Israel for looking to Egypt (and Assyria) for help—echoes the injunction in Ezek. 23:27 that they shall not lift their eyes to Egypt or remember it.
- Isaiah 31:1 (thematic): A prophetic warning against relying on Egypt for military/political support; thematically parallels God’s rejection of Israel’s dependence on Egypt and the promise that they will no longer turn to it.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will put an end to your prostitution and your whorings from the land of Egypt; you shall not look on them again, and Egypt shall not be remembered any more.
- I will take away your prostitution from you and your adulteries from the land of Egypt; you shall not look again toward them, and Egypt shall not be remembered by you any more.
Eze.23.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- נתנך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+obj2ms
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שנאת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נקעה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
- מהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:24 (structural): Immediate context: an earlier verse in the same chapter declares God will deliver the city ‘into the hand of strangers’—same threat and legal-military action expressed in v.28.
- Ezekiel 23:25 (structural): Continues the chapter’s punitive sequence—enemy seizure of offspring and spoil, elaborating the consequences of being handed over to hated foes.
- Ezekiel 16:39 (verbal): Parallel language and imagery of Jerusalem as an unfaithful woman who will be ‘given into the hand’ of others as punishment—same metaphor of deliverance into hostile hands.
- Ezekiel 25:7 (thematic): Another prophetic formula in Ezekiel where God pronounces that a people/nation will be delivered into the hand of those who rise up against them—same motif of divine judgment by handing over to enemies.
Alternative generated candidates
- For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will deliver you into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those whose soul you loathe.
- For thus says the Lord GOD: I will give you into the hand of one you hate, into the hand of those whose soul you loathed.
Eze.23.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- אותך: PRON,2,m,sg
- בשנאה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולקחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- יגיעך: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- ועזבוך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עירם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- ועריה: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ונגלה: VERB,niphal,impf,3,_,sg
- ערות: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- זנוניך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+suf:2,f,sg
- וזמתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+suf:2,f,sg
- ותזנותיך: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+suf:2,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:25-28 (structural): Immediate context in the same pericope: describes giving Oholibah into the hand of her lovers/enemies, plundering her labor, and exposing her shame—directly parallel to v.29's language of hatred, loss of toil, and exposed prostitution.
- Ezekiel 16:37-43 (thematic): Earlier Ezekiel oracle using the same motif of Jerusalem/Oholah as a prostitute: lovers/enemies take her wealth/children, her lewdness is exposed and she is put to shame—parallels theme of humiliation and loss in 23:29.
- Isaiah 47:3 (verbal): Prophecy against Babylon: 'Your nakedness shall be uncovered, your shame shall be seen'—language and motif of exposed nakedness and public shame closely echo Ezek. 23:29's disclosure of harlotry and nakedness.
- Nahum 3:5 (verbal): Oracles against Nineveh: 'I will lift up your skirts over your face... I will make nations look at your nakedness'—uses the same explicit imagery of exposing prostitution and shame found in Ezek.23:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- They will deal with you with hatred and take away all that you have labored for; they will leave you desolate of your cities and your sanctuaries, and your harlotry, promiscuity and whorings will be revealed.
- They shall deal with you in hatred and take away all that you have labored for; they will leave you desolate — your cities and your dwellings — and your lewdness, your adulteries, and your prostitution shall be uncovered.
Eze.23.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- בזנותך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,prep,poss_2f
- אחרי: PREP
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נטמאת: VERB,niphal,perf,2,f,sg
- בגלוליהם: PREP,NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:26 (verbal): Same erotic/sexualized imagery of Israel 'playing the whore' and going after other nations/lovers and being defiled with their idols—close verbal and thematic overlap within Ezekiel's prostitute motif.
- Hosea 2:13 (thematic): Uses the marriage/adultery metaphor for Israel's idolatry—she 'went after her lovers' and burned incense to Baal—parallel theme of pursuing foreign gods and defilement.
- Jeremiah 3:6-9 (thematic): Jeremiah depicts Israel (and Judah) as an unfaithful wife who went after other lovers/gods and was defiled—closely parallels Ezekiel's charge of adultery/idolatry.
- 1 Kings 11:4 (verbal): Solomon's foreign wives 'turned away his heart after other gods'—language of turning to foreign deities echoes Ezekiel's 'after the nations' and defilement with their idols.
- Deuteronomy 32:17 (thematic): Israel 'sacrificed to demons, not to God' and worshiped gods they did not know—an early portrayal of apostasy/idolatry that underlies Ezekiel's accusation of defilement by foreign idols.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus I will do to you because you have played the harlot with the nations and have been defiled with their idols.
- Thus shall they do to you because of your whoring with the nations, because you were defiled with their idols.
Eze.23.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחותך: NOUN,f,sg,cs,2ms
- הלכת: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- כוסה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 25:15 (verbal): Jeremiah uses the same cup-of-wrath imagery with the command to 'take from my hand this cup'—a close verbal parallel to God handing a cup as judgment.
- Psalm 75:8 (verbal): The psalm declares 'in the hand of the LORD there is a cup,' using the same hand-and-cup motif to signify divine authority and judgment.
- Isaiah 51:17 (thematic): Isaiah speaks of drinking 'at the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath,' thematically parallel in portraying the cup as God's punitive judgment on Jerusalem.
- Revelation 14:10 (thematic): The New Testament echoes the cup-of-wrath theme—'the wine of God's wrath'—applying the same imagery of a cup as divine punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- You walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give you her cup.
- You followed the way of your sister; I will give you her cup.
Eze.23.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כוס: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- אחותך: NOUN,f,sg,cs,2ms
- תשתי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- העמקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והרחבה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- לצחק: INF,qal
- וללעג: CONJ+PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- מרבה: ADJ,m,sg
- להכיל: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Jeremiah 25:15-16 (verbal): Uses the 'cup' metaphor for divine judgment—God commands the prophet to make nations drink the cup of wrath, paralleling Ezekiel's image of drinking a sister's cup as punishment.
- Isaiah 51:17,22 (verbal): Speaks of Jerusalem having 'drunk the cup' of the LORD's wrath and God taking the cup from her hand—close verbal and thematic parallel to drinking a cup that brings staggering, shame, and derision.
- Psalm 75:8 (thematic): Declares that in the hand of the LORD is a cup (full of foaming wine) used to bring down the proud—shares the imagery of God's cup as an instrument of judgment and humiliation.
- Revelation 14:10 (allusion): The book of Revelation applies the 'wine/cup of God's wrath' motif to final judgment ('he also will drink the wine of God's wrath'), echoing the prophetic cup imagery found in Ezekiel.
- Ezekiel 23:33-34 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter repeats and expands the consequences of drinking the sister's cup—drunkenness, vomiting, shame and public mockery—making verse 32 part of a contiguous denunciation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the Lord GOD: You shall drink the cup of your sister; its rim is broad and its brim deep — a cup of scorn and derision, abundant to make you drunk.
- Thus says the Lord GOD: You shall drink your sister’s cup — a deep and broad cup, a cup of scorn and derision, full to overflowing.
Eze.23.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שכרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויגון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תמלאי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- כוס: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- שמה: ADV
- ושממה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כוס: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- אחותך: NOUN,f,sg,cs,2ms
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 25:15-16 (verbal): God commands Jeremiah to take the 'cup of the wine of wrath' and make nations drink—same cup imagery of divine punishment poured out on nations.
- Jeremiah 51:7 (verbal): Babylon is described as 'a golden cup in the LORD’s hand' that made the nations drunk—parallels the motif of a city (Samaria) associated with drunkenness and a cup of judgment.
- Isaiah 51:17-22 (thematic): Jerusalem is described as having 'drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath'—the cup as divine retribution echoes Ezekiel’s language about filling Samaria’s cup with drunkenness and anguish.
- Revelation 14:10 (thematic): The wicked are said to 'drink the wine of God's wrath'—a New Testament recapitulation of the cup-as-judgment motif found in Ezekiel 23:33.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow; the cup of your sister Samaria is a cup of shame and desolation.
- You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow by that cup; the cup of your sister Samaria is a cup of desolation.
Eze.23.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושתית: VERB,qal,imprf,2,f,sg
- אותה: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- ומצית: VERB,qal,imprf,2,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- חרשיה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3f
- תגרמי: VERB,qal,imprf,2,f,sg
- ושדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2f
- תנתקי: VERB,qal,imprf,2,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 25:15 (verbal): Jeremiah uses the cup-of-wrath motif—'Take from my hand the cup of the wine of wrath'—parallel to Ezekiel’s language of making a city drink judgment.
- Isaiah 51:17,22 (verbal): Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem drinking the LORD’s cup of wrath and reeling from it; the imagery of making a city drink calamity closely matches Ezekiel’s wording.
- Revelation 14:10 (allusion): The New Testament applies the 'cup of the wine of God's wrath' imagery to final divine judgment, echoing the prophetic cup motif found in Ezekiel.
- Ezekiel 23:25 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same unit—earlier verses in chapter 23 use the same threats (fire, devastation, removal of produce/pastures) and develop the same oracle of punishment against the two cities.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall drink it and be exposed; you shall tear off your ornament and uncover your breasts — I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.
- You shall drink of it and be disgraced; you shall be stripped and made desolate, your lewdness shall be repaid, and your breasts shall be torn — for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.
Eze.23.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יען: CONJ
- שכחת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אותי: PRON,1,sg,acc
- ותשליכי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- אותי: PRON,1,sg,acc
- אחרי: PREP
- גוך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m
- וגם: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- שאי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- זמתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2fs
- ואת: CONJ
- תזנותיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:15-34 (verbal): Uses the same extended metaphor of Jerusalem as an unfaithful woman/whore, accusing her of prostitution and covenantal unfaithfulness—language and motifs parallel to 23:35.
- Hosea 2:5-7; 3:1 (thematic): Describes Israel’s pursuit of other lovers and ‘forgetting’ the LORD, with the language of adultery and restoration matching the charge of casting God behind and prostituting herself.
- Jeremiah 3:6-10 (allusion): Portrays Israel and Judah as unfaithful wives who have committed harlotry and forgotten the LORD—same prophetic charge of spiritual prostitution and abandonment of God.
- Deuteronomy 32:15-18 (verbal): Speaks of Israel ‘forgetting the Rock who begot them’ and turning to idols/strange gods—parallels the motif of forgetting God and turning to other alliances/affections in Ezekiel 23:35.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you forgot me and cast me behind your back, you shall also bear the consequences of your lewdness and your whorings.
- Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, and have poured out your whorings and adulteries on everyone passing by,
Eze.23.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- התשפוט: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- אהליבה: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- והגד: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- להן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- תועבותיהן: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:36 (verbal): Same prophet and legal/judicial language addressing Jerusalem's unfaithfulness—God announces judgment and exposes her 'abominations' in marriage/sexual imagery.
- Ezekiel 23:2 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the same allegory: the opening identification of the two women (Oholah and Oholibah) and the framing 'son of man' address that sets up the judgment scene.
- Hosea 2:2–13 (thematic): Uses marriage/harlotry imagery to accuse Israel of prostitution and announces punishment and exposure of shame—theme of prophetic indictment of covenant unfaithfulness similar to Ezekiel 23:36.
- Jeremiah 3:6–8 (thematic): Describes Israel's adultery and God's legal action (putting her away/divorce) for unfaithfulness; parallels the motif of divine judgment for covenantal 'whoredom' and public denunciation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the LORD said to me, Son of man, will you judge Aholah and Aholibah? Make known to them their abominations,
- the LORD said to me, "Son of man, judge Oholah and Oholibah—declare to them their abominations."
Eze.23.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- נאפו: VERB,qal,perf,3,?,pl
- ודם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בידיהן: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- גלוליהן: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- נאפו: VERB,qal,perf,3,?,pl
- וגם: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- בניהן: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- העבירו: VERB,hiph,perf,3,?,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לאכלה: PREP
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:20-21 (verbal): Same prophet earlier accuses Jerusalem of handing over her children to idols and offering them up, using similar language of giving sons/daughters to be consumed and of blood on the city’s hands.
- Leviticus 18:21 (allusion): Explicit prohibition against giving one's offspring to Molech ('do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech'), the cultic practice condemned in Ezekiel 23:37.
- Leviticus 20:2-5 (thematic): Prescribes severe divine penalty for passing children through fire to Molech, linking the act with blood-guilt—echoing Ezekiel’s charge that blood is on their hands.
- Jeremiah 7:31 (allusion): Jeremiah condemns the construction of high places in Tophet to burn sons and daughters, connecting child sacrifice, idolatry, and divine judgment similar to Ezekiel 23:37.
- Psalm 106:37-38 (thematic): Describes Israelites sacrificing their sons and daughters and shedding innocent blood, defiling the land—paralleling Ezekiel’s depiction of child sacrifice and bloodguilt.
Alternative generated candidates
- for they have committed adultery and blood is in their hands; they have committed adultery with their idols and have slain their children, whom they gave to their idols to be consumed.
- For they committed whoredom and blood is on their hands; they defiled themselves with idols, and even by the blood of their sons whom they gave to their idols to devour them.
Eze.23.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עוד: ADV
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- טמאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- מקדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- שבתותי: NOUN,f,pl,abs+1,sg
- חללו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 20:13 (verbal): God recalls giving the sabbath as a sign and charges Israel with profaning My sabbaths—directly parallels the language and accusation of sabbath profanation.
- Ezekiel 5:11 (verbal): Pronounces judgment because the people 'defiled My sanctuary'—uses the same motif of sanctuary defilement as grounds for divine punishment.
- Leviticus 19:30 (quotation): Connects the twin injunctions to 'keep my sabbaths' and 'revere my sanctuary,' providing the legal/theological basis for Ezekiel's charge that both were profaned.
- Exodus 31:14-15 (structural): Emphasizes the holiness and legal severity of Sabbath observance—background for understanding why profaning the sabbath is treated as a grave offense against God.
- Jeremiah 17:27 (thematic): Warns that failure to keep and sanctify the sabbath will bring disaster on the city and temple—parallels Ezekiel's linkage of sabbath profanation with divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moreover, they have done these things to me: they defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths.
- Moreover they did these things to me: they defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths.
Eze.23.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובשחטם: PREP
- את: PRT,acc
- בניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,pl
- לגלוליהם: PREP
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- מקדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- לחללו: VERB,qal,inf,3,pl
- והנה: ADV
- כה: ADV
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בתוך: PREP
- ביתי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 12:31 (verbal): Forbids imitating the nations by causing children to pass through fire to Molech; language and prohibition parallel Ezekiel's charge of child sacrifice and profaning sacred space.
- Leviticus 20:2-5 (verbal): Prescribes punishment for offering children to Molech and treats the act as a defilement; legal background to Ezekiel's denunciation of Israel's sacrificial child-killing.
- Ezekiel 16:20-21 (verbal): Within the same prophetic corpus Ezekiel accuses Jerusalem of sacrificing sons and daughters to idols and polluting the land and house of God, using very similar imagery and charge.
- Jeremiah 7:31 (thematic): Condemns child sacrifice in Topheth as an abomination and links it to the nation's sin; thematically parallels Ezekiel's depiction of children killed and the resulting desecration of holy things.
- Jeremiah 32:35 (verbal): Explicitly condemns building Topheth and 'burning their sons and daughters' — language closely matching Ezekiel's description of children passed through fire and the profaning of sacred places.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had slain their children to their idols, they came into my sanctuary to profane it — yes, thus they did within my house.
- In slaughtering their sons for their idols and entering my sanctuary on the same day to profane it — behold, this they have done within my house.
Eze.23.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואף: CONJ+ADV
- כי: CONJ
- תשלחנה: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- לאנשים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- באים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- ממרחק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלוח: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- והנה: ADV
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לאשר: CONJ
- רחצת: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- כחלת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- עיניך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- ועדית: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- עדי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:25-26, 32-34 (verbal): Same prophetic imagery of Jerusalem as a harlot who adorns herself and turns to foreign lovers; language and motifs (adornment, prostitution with outsiders, impending judgment) closely parallel Ezek. 23:40.
- Hosea 2:5-13 (thematic): Portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife who seeks foreign lovers and is punished—shares the theme of marital/sexual infidelity with foreign nations and the resulting divine judgment.
- Jeremiah 3:6-8 (thematic): Describes Yahweh divorcing faithless Israel for her adulteries with other nations; the motif of sending Israel away for her unfaithfulness echoes the ‘sent to men from afar’ idea in Ezek. 23:40.
- Revelation 17:1-6 (allusion): The apocalyptic depiction of the great prostitute (a city-woman adorned, committing fornication with kings/nations) draws on the prophetic prostitute metaphor used in Ezekiel 23.
Alternative generated candidates
- Nor did you send to them only men from afar, men who were messengers sent to them; and behold, they came to the ones for whose love you longed and were assembled to them.
- And though you sent for men to come from afar — messengers sent to you — behold, they came to you as soon as you had washed and adorned yourself and painted your eyes.
Eze.23.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבודה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושלחן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ערוך: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לפניה: PREP,3,f,sg
- וקטרתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- ושמני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- שמת: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:9-14 (verbal): God anoints Jerusalem with oil and adorns her, setting her in splendor on a couch — similar language of anointing, oil, and luxurious display.
- Ezekiel 23:40 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter describing the sister seated on a splendid bed with a table before her and perfume/oil spread — a direct recapitulation of the motif.
- Amos 6:4-6 (thematic): Condemns the wealthy reclining on couches, feasting and using finest ointments — parallels the theme of luxury, complacency, and moral failure associated with opulent display.
- Proverbs 7:17-18 (verbal): The seductress ‘perfumes her bed’ with spices (myrrh, aloes, cinnamon) — closely parallels the image of perfumed/ oiled beds used to depict sexual seduction and infidelity.
- Isaiah 3:16-17 (thematic): Depicts the daughters of Zion proud in their adornment and foretells humiliation as judgment — thematically parallels beauty, ornamentation, and impending divine punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- You sat on a stately bed, and a table was spread before you; anointing oil and incense were placed upon it.
- You sat upon a bed of ivory; a table was set before you, and oil of fine fragrance was spread upon you.
Eze.23.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וקול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המון: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שלו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מרב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מובאים: VERB,pual,part,3,m,pl
- סבאים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ממדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- צמידים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- ידיהן: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
- ועטרת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,cs
- תפארת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ראשיהן: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:11-14 (verbal): Uses the same vocabulary of bracelets, chains, and a crown to describe how Jerusalem was adorned—language echoed in Ezek 23:42 as adornment given to a prostituted city.
- Isaiah 3:18-23 (thematic): Lists jewelry and ornaments (nose rings, bracelets, headbands, ankle chains) as marks of feminine adornment tied to pride and forthcoming judgment, paralleling the image of decorative accoutrements in Ezek 23:42.
- Song of Solomon 1:10-11 (verbal): Speaks of earrings, chains, and a crown of gold—similar vocabulary and imagery of personal jewelry and crowns that underlie the erotic/ornamental motif in Ezek 23:42.
- Revelation 17:4 (thematic): Describes the symbolic 'harlot' clothed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls—New Testament recapitulation of the image of a city/woman profligately adorned as part of her corruption, as in Ezek 23:42.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sound of a great multitude was with her; men of great numbers were brought from the wilderness, and they put bracelets on their hands and crowns of splendor on their heads.
- The sound of a throng was around you — men thronging from the wilderness. They brought bracelets for your hands and crowns of splendor for your heads.
Eze.23.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לבלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נאופים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עתה: ADV
- יזנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- תזנותה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיא: CONJ+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:32 (verbal): Ezekiel 16 and 23 use virtually the same erotic/harlot vocabulary to accuse Jerusalem of prostitution with foreign lovers; both passages portray the city as an adulterous woman and employ similar imagery and legal/accusatory language.
- Isaiah 1:21 (verbal): Isaiah calls Jerusalem a 'harlot' (זונה) and laments her fall from faithfulness—same metaphor of the city as an unfaithful woman as in Ezekiel 23.
- Hosea 2:2 (thematic): Hosea portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife and exhorts judgment/pleading; the theme of covenantal adultery with foreign nations parallels Ezekiel’s depiction of harlotry.
- Jeremiah 3:8 (thematic): Jeremiah speaks of putting away unfaithful Israel/Samaria for adultery with nations—like Ezekiel 23, it frames political/religious apostasy as sexual unfaithfulness and judicial rejection.
- Revelation 17:1-5 (allusion): The book of Revelation reworks the prophetic harlot motif (the 'great harlot'/'Babylon') to depict corrupt cities/powers; it echoes Ezekiel’s image of a city as a prostitute allied to foreign powers.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, 'Return, O harlots — now let your whorings be renewed' — and they reveled with her.
- And I said, "Since you are adulteresses, do your whorings now," and so you did.
Eze.23.44 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבוא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אליה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- כבוא: CONJ
- אל: NEG
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זונה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- אהלה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- אהליבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,cns
- הזמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 23:2-5 (structural): Immediate context: the chapter repeatedly depicts Aholah and Aholibah as prostitutes; verses just earlier and later employ the same harlotry imagery to describe their unfaithfulness.
- Ezekiel 16:25-26 (verbal): Ezekiel's extended allegory of Jerusalem uses prostitution language and describes nations/foreigners coming to her like lovers, paralleling the sexualized imagery of covenant unfaithfulness.
- Hosea 4:12-13 (thematic): Hosea portrays Israel's spiritual adultery as prostitution—an unfaithfulness that leads the people to seek other 'lovers' (idols/foreign nations), echoing Ezekiel's motif of a faithless wife.
- Jeremiah 3:6-8 (thematic): Jeremiah uses the divorce/adultery metaphor for Israel's infidelity, recounting how God 'divorced' faithless Israel for her adultery—paralleling Ezekiel's moral-political indictment framed as prostitution.
- Revelation 17:1-5 (allusion): The New Testament imagery of 'Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes' draws on the prophetic harlot motif (including Ezekiel) to depict a city/nation steeped in spiritual and political unfaithfulness.
Alternative generated candidates
- As one goes to a harlot so they came to Aholah and to Aholibah, the lewd women.
- As one comes to a harlot, so men came to Oholah and Oholibah—women of wantonness.
Eze.23.45 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנשים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- צדיקם: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- ישפטו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אותהם: PRON,3,pl,acc
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נאפות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ומשפט: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שפכות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- דם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- נאפת: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- הנה: PART
- ודם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בידיהן: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,pl,f
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:38-39 (verbal): Nearly identical legal formula: God pronounces judgment for adultery and for blood-guilt (‘blood in her hands’), condemning Jerusalem’s sexual unfaithfulness and violence—close verbal parallel to 23:45.
- Ezekiel 23:37 (verbal): Earlier verse in the same chapter that accuses the sisters of harlotry and bloodshed (their hands full of blood), providing immediate contextual and verbal parallel to the charge and judgment in 23:45.
- Hosea 4:2 (thematic): Lists sexual unfaithfulness alongside violence and murder (‘there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, committing adultery’), thematically linking adultery and bloodshed as communal sins meriting judgment.
- Revelation 17:2-6 (allusion): Apocalyptic reworking of the prostitute motif: a corrupt city/empire accused of fornication with the nations and of blood-guilt (persecution of the saints), echoing prophetic indictments that couple adultery and bloodshed.
Alternative generated candidates
- And righteous men will judge them — judgment for harlotry and for bloodshed; for they are guilty of harlotry and their hands are full of blood.
- Yet even their men of uprightness will pass judgment upon them — judgment for adultery and for bloodshed; for they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.
Eze.23.46 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- קהל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונתן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתהן: PART+PRON,3,f,pl
- לזעוה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולבז: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:39 (verbal): God declares he will deliver Jerusalem into the hands of those she hates who will deal with her in hatred and take away her property — language and idea closely parallel 'setting a force against them' and 'giving them to plunder/spoil.'
- Ezekiel 25:7 (thematic): Judgment oracle against Ammon: 'I will give the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the east'—a parallel motif of God handing a people over to others as spoil/possession.
- Deuteronomy 28:52 (structural): Part of the covenant curses describing siege, continual plundering, and children given to other peoples—a canonical antecedent for the theme of being delivered to plunder and spoil.
- 2 Kings 24:2 (thematic): Historical summation: because of Judah's sins the LORD strengthened the king of Babylon and delivered Judah into his hand—an historical example of God 'setting a force against' Israel and handing them over to plunder.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the Lord GOD: Assemble a host against them, bring up the peoples to execute judgment upon them, and give them for plunder and spoil.
- For thus says the Lord GOD: I will raise up a company against them and give them to plunder and spoil.
Eze.23.47 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ורגמו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- עליהן: PREP+PRON,3,pl,f
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קהל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וברא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אותהן: PRON,3,f,pl
- בחרבותם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- בניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,pl
- ובנותיהם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,m,pl
- יהרגו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ובתיהן: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,f,pl
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישרפו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 13:12-16 (verbal): Law concerning an idolatrous city: gather its inhabitants, stone them with stones and burn the city — closely parallels the stoning and burning language of Ezek. 23:47.
- Ezekiel 9:5-6 (verbal): Earlier Ezekiel oracle describing agents who go through the city to slay inhabitants (men, women, children) — similar imagery of execution and communal slaughter.
- 2 Kings 10:25-27 (thematic): Jehu’s purge of Baal worshippers: mass execution and destruction/ burning of the house of Baal — parallels punitive violence against idolatry and burning of houses.
- Jeremiah 19:7-9 (thematic): Jeremiah’s judgment oracle promising severe domestic devastation (including cannibalistic imagery and shortness of days) as punishment for idolatry — thematically akin to Ezekiel’s violent punishments.
- Psalm 137:9 (thematic): Imprecatory wish that Babylonian captors dash infants against the rock — echoes the brutal image of killing children as part of retributive justice found in Ezek. 23:47.
Alternative generated candidates
- They shall stone them with stones and slay them with their swords; their sons and daughters shall be slain, and their houses shall be plundered and laid waste.
- They shall pelt them with stones in the public ways, strike them down with swords; their sons and daughters shall be slain, and their houses shall be burned.
Eze.23.48 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והשבתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,n,sg
- זמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ונוסרו: CONJ+VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,pl
- כל: DET
- הנשים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- ולא: CONJ
- תעשינה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- כזמתכנה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,f,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:37-41 (verbal): Ezekiel 16 uses the same harlotry-marriage metaphor and contains closely parallel language about removing prostitution and punishing the city's sexual/idolatrous adultery (ending her harlotry).
- Hosea 2:7 (thematic): Hosea portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife whose 'lovers' are taken away so she will cease prostituting herself and return to her husband—a thematic parallel to God removing harlotry from the land.
- Jeremiah 3:8-14 (thematic): Jeremiah depicts Israel's adultery/divorce and then calls her to return; the passage treats national idolatry as sexual unfaithfulness and anticipates a turning from prostituting practices, echoing Ezekiel’s intent to end harlotry.
- Revelation 17:1-6 (allusion): The vision of 'Babylon the Great, mother of prostitutes' draws on the prophetic prostitute motif; Revelation announces judgment that ends the city's fornication—an apocalyptic echo of the prophetic promise to remove harlotry.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will put an end to your lewdness from the earth, and the women shall no more rule over you in lewdness.
- I will cleanse the lewdness from the land; all the women shall cease their lewdness and learn not to act as you did.
Eze.23.49 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתנו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- זמתכנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2,f,pl
- עליכן: PREP+PRON,2,f,pl
- וחטאי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- גלוליכן: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2,f,pl
- תשאינה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- וידעתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 16:63 (verbal): Concluding formula and context are parallel: after describing Jerusalem’s prostitution and God’s retribution God says she will remember/know that He is the LORD—same purpose-language as Ezek.23:49.
- Ezekiel 36:22-23 (thematic): God’s acts of judgment and restoration are enacted so that the nations and Israel 'may know that I am the LORD'—the same theological aim stated at the end of Ezek.23:49.
- Leviticus 26:27-39 (structural): Part of the covenant‑curse pattern: idolatry brings specified punishments and exile so that Israel bears the consequences of their sin—structurally analogous to 'they shall put your lewdness upon you and you shall bear' in Ezek.23:49.
- Jeremiah 2:19 (thematic): God warns that Israel’s own wickedness will correct and reprove them—theme of bearing the consequences of unfaithfulness/idolatry and being brought to recognition of God, paralleling Ezek.23:49.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will cause your lewdness to be upon you, and you shall bear the punishment for your idols; then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
- I will set your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the punishment of your idol sins, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
They prostituted themselves in Egypt in their youth; there they committed whoredom: at the breasts of their youth they handled one another, and there they defiled their virginity.
Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and bore sons and daughters. Oholah was called Samaria, and Oholibah was called Jerusalem. And Oholah played the harlot while she was mine; she lusted after her lovers—neighbors, the Assyrians.
She decked herself with blue and purple and embroidered garments, with governors and commanders and handsome young men, all captains and horsemen riding steeds.
She gave her whoredom to them—the choicest sons of Assyria all of them—and with all whom she lusted after she defiled herself.
She did not abandon the prostitution she had practiced in Egypt, for in her youth men lay with her there and they handled the breasts of her virginity; there she poured out her whoredom upon them.
Therefore I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, on account of whom she lusted.
They unveiled her nakedness, took her sons and daughters and struck them down with the sword; and she became a spoil to them—an object of shame—and they executed judgments upon her. And her sister Oholibah saw this, and she was more corrupt in her lust than she, and she saw her sister's whoredoms.
She lusted after the Assyrians more than she; governors and commanders were seen by her—clothed in blue, horsemen riding horses, all attractive young men, captains, all of them. So I observed that she had polluted herself; there was a single way for the two of them to be defiled.
Moreover she added to her whoredoms; she saw engraved images of the Chaldeans on the wall—figures cut in vermilion.
Girded with belts upon their loins, daggers at their hips, turbans on their heads—each one the appearance of young men—the likeness of the Babylonians, Chaldeans, the land of their nativity. And she lusted after them and sent messengers to them, after men who were pleasing to her.
The men came to her, to the couch of love; they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was defiled by them—her heart went after them.
She exposed her whoredoms and uncovered her nakedness; and I was disgusted with her as I had been disgusted with her sister.
She multiplied her whoredoms in order to remember the days of her youth, when she prostituted herself in the land of Egypt.
She lusted after their paramours whose flesh was like the flesh of donkeys and whose virility was like that of stallions. So she committed her whoredoms with them to inflame herself—to recall the breasts of her youth, the lewdness she practiced in Egypt.
Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: I will raise up your lovers against you, those whom you hated, and will bring them upon you from every side.
Babylon and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa—land of the Chaldeans—and all the sons of Assyria, governors and commanders, all of them, captains and charioteers and horsemen, all of them.
They shall come against you with shields, chariots and wagons, a host of peoples; they shall set against you buckler and shield and helmet and lance on every side, and I will give them your case and they shall judge you by their judgments.
I will fill you with my burning jealousy; my wrath will make you a fire; your fountains shall be despoiled and your spring shall be dried up; your end shall be by the sword—your sons and your daughters I will give to the sword, and your land shall be burned with fire.
They will strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful ornaments.
I will put an end to your whoredoms and your prostitution from the land of Egypt; you shall not look on them again and Egypt shall not be remembered by you any more.
For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deliver you into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those whose soul you loathe.
They shall deal with you in hatred; they shall take all that you worked for, and leave you desolate; they shall strip your cities and lay bare your nakedness—your harlotry and your abominations shall be uncovered. Thus I will do to you because you have gone the way of your sister.
I will set her cup in your hand. Thus says the Lord GOD: You shall drink your sister's cup—deep and wide will it be; you shall be a scoffing and a derision, full of shame and mocking.
You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow—this cup of staggering and desolation, Samaria's cup.
You shall drink it and drain it, and tear your breasts; and you shall be made sick with your lovers, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you forgot me and cast me behind your back, you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations. And the LORD said to me: Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Make known to them their abominations;
for they have committed adultery and blood is in their hands; with their idols they have committed adultery, and have even slain their children and given them to their idols to be devoured.
Moreover they have defiled my sanctuary in that day and have profaned my Sabbaths. And when they slaughtered their children to their idols, they came into my sanctuary to profane it—behold, this is what they did within my house.
They even sent for men to come from far away, and, lo, they came—men to whom they had been pleasing.
You decked yourself with fine ornaments and put oil on your head; you sat on a stately couch and a table was arranged before you; you had incense and oil on it.
The sound of a multitude was with her; men were brought to her from the multitudes—those arriving from the wilderness; they put bracelets on their hands and crowns of splendor on their heads. And he said to her, 'Go now, play the harlot!' So she played the harlot with them, and they committed whoredom together.
As men come to a harlot, so they came to Oholah and Oholibah—their lustful wives.
Yet these men, their own judges, were righteous—judging them according to the laws for adultery and for bloodshed; for they had committed adultery and there was blood on their hands. Thus says the Lord GOD: I will bring up a company against them, and will deliver them to plunder and to shame.
They shall stone them with stones, cut them down with their swords; their sons and daughters shall be slain, and their houses shall be burned.
I will put an end to their lewdness from the earth, that all women may be instructed and not act as your harlotries. And I will lay the recompense of your lewdness upon you, and will require your idols from you; and you shall know that I am the LORD.