Ezekiel 23:4

2 “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,

3 and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.

The 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.

5 Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors

6 clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The 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.
KJV
And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
WEB
Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
ASV
And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
DARBY
And their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister; and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
BLB
And their names [were] Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. And they were unto Me, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And their names—Samaria [is] Oholah, and Jerusalem [is] Oholibah.
ÅB
Deres navn var: Ohola, den eldste, og Oholiba, hennes søster, og de ble mine og fødte sønner og døtre; og om deres navn er å si: Ohola er Samaria og Oholiba[^1] Jerusalem.
OTB
Den eldste het Ohola, og hennes søster het Oholiba. De tilhørte meg og fødte sønner og døtre. Ohola representerer Samaria, og Oholiba representerer Jerusalem.
B1930
Deres navn var: Ohola, den eldste, og Oholiba, hennes søster, og de blev mine og fødte sønner og døtre; og om deres navn er å si: Ohola er Samaria og Oholiba Jerusalem. / < Ohola d.e. hennes eget telt; så kalles Samaria fordi de ti stammer hadde sin egen selvvalgte gudstjeneste. Oholiba d.e. mitt (Herrens) telt er i det; så kalles Jerusalem fordi Herrens tempel var der.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 2:2–3

    “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 12:20

    When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:20

    You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?

    Read in context
  • Psalms 76:2

    His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.

    Read in context
  • Romans 7:4

    Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 12:26–33

    Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 45:11–16

    and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.

    Read in context