Ezekiel 23:5
3 and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.
4 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.
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.
7 She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.
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
- Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
- KJV
- And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
- WEB
- “Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,
- ASV
- And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbors,
- DARBY
- And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians [her] neighbours,
- BLB
- And Oholah prostituted herself under Me, and she lusted over her lovers, toward Assyria, warriors
- ÅB
- Ohola drev hor og var utro mot meg; hun ble opptent av elskov til sine elskere, til assyrerne, som hadde nærmet seg henne,
- OTB
- "Ohola drev hor mens hun fortsatt tilhørte meg; hun begjærte sine elskere, assyrerne, sine naboer,
- B1930
- Ohola drev hor og var utro mot mig; hun optendtes av elskov til sine elskere, til assyrerne, som hadde nærmet sig henne,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Kings 17:3
Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
Read in contextHosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
Read in context2 Kings 15:19
Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom.
Read in context2 Kings 16:7
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”
Read in context2 Kings 17:7–18
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods
Read in contextHosea 8:9–10
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.
Read in contextEzekiel 16:28
Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:38
A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.
Read in context