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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 23:17 Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/23-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/26_Ezk_23_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 23:17 - The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. 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After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So they came and committed adultery with her, defiling her in the bed of love. After being defiled, however, she rejected them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoring lust. And after she was defiled by them, she turned from them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love, And they defiled her with their immorality; So she was defiled by them, and alienated herself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their obscene practice. And when she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220The Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their harlotry. And when she had been defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And the Babylonians came to her to the bed of love, and they defiled her with their harlotry. And when she had been defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So the Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their harlotry. Then she became defiled by them, and her soul became disgusted with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and they defiled her with their evil desire; and when she had been defiled by them, she (Jerusalem) broke the relationship <i>and</i> pushed them away from her in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and defiled her with their lust. But after she was defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and defiled her with their lust. But after she was defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Men from Babylonia came and had sex with her so many times that she got disgusted with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love; and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So these men came from Babylon, went to bed with her, and dishonored her with their lust. After they had dishonored her, she turned away from them in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to have sex with her. They used her and defiled her so much that finally she became disgusted with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to her love nest and defiled her with their sexual immorality. As a result, she was defiled by them. Even so, she turned away from them in disgust. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Babylonians crawled into bed with her. They defiled her with their lust; after she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lewdness, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution. She was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And sons of Babylon come in to her, "" To the bed of loves, "" And they defile her with their whoredoms, "" And she is defiled with them, "" And her soul is alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And come in unto her do sons of Babylon, To the bed of loves, And they defile her with their whoredoms, And she is defiled with them, And her soul is alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the sons of Babel will come to her to the bed of loves, and defile her with their fornications, and she will be defiled with them, and her soul will be rent away from them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when the sons of Babylon were come to her to the bed of love, they defiled her with their fornications, and she was polluted by them, and her soul was glutted with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when the sons of Babylon had gone to her, to the bed of breasts, they defiled her with their fornications, and she was polluted by them, and her soul was gorged by them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The Babylonians came to her, to her love couch; they defiled her with their impurities. But as soon as they had defiled her, she recoiled from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lust; and after she defiled herself with them, she turned from them in disgust.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted by them; then her soul abhorred them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And sons of Babel came to her to lie with her, and they defiled her in their fornication, and she was defiled by them, and her soul was disgusted by them<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lust; and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the sons of Babylon came to her, into the bed of rest, and they defiled her in her fornication, and she was defiled by them, and her soul was alienated from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=6494" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm">The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">Then the Babylonians</a> <a href="/hebrew/894.htm" title="894: ḇā·ḇel (N-proper-fs) -- From balal; confusion; Babel, including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire."></a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- To, into, towards. ">to her,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4904.htm" title="4904: lə·miš·kaḇ (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- Place of lying, a couch, act of lying. From shakab; a bed; abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse.">to the bed</a> <a href="/hebrew/1730.htm" title="1730: dō·ḏîm (N-mp) -- Or dod; from an unused root meaning properly, to boil, i.e. to love; by implication, a love- token, lover, friend; specifically an uncle.">of love,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8457.htm" title="8457: bə·ṯaz·nū·ṯām (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3mp) -- Fornication. Or taznuth; from zanah; harlotry, i.e. idolatry.">and in their lust</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: way·ṭam·mə·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">they defiled</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯāh (DirObjM:: 3fs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">her.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: wat·tiṭ·mā- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">But after she had been defiled</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇām (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">by them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: nap̄·šāh (N-fsc:: 3fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">she</a> <a href="/hebrew/mê·hem (Prep-m:: Pro-3mp) -- ">turned away</a> <a href="/hebrew/3363.htm" title="3363: wat·tê·qa‘ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to sever oneself, i.e. to be dislocated; figuratively, to abandon; causatively, to impale.">in disgust.</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-10</a></span><br />Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/2-5.htm">Hosea 2:5-13</a></span><br />For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’ / Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way. / She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-5</a></span><br />Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20-25</a></span><br />“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. / I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine? / Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-1.htm">Hosea 9:1</a></span><br />Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-3.htm">Revelation 18:3</a></span><br />All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3-9</a></span><br />“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! / Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, / who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/13-27.htm">Jeremiah 13:27</a></span><br />Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12-14</a></span><br />My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. / I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-20.htm">Revelation 2:20-22</a></span><br />But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. / Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. / Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-7.htm">Jeremiah 5:7-8</a></span><br />“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes. / They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/5-3.htm">Hosea 5:3-4</a></span><br />I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled. / Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-8.htm">Revelation 14:8</a></span><br />Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm">Isaiah 1:21</a></span><br />See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-22.htm">Jeremiah 31:22</a></span><br />How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.</p><p class="hdg">Babylonians.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/10-10.htm">Genesis 10:10</a></b></br> And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-9.htm">Genesis 11:9</a></b></br> Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.</p><p class="hdg">and her</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/23-22.htm">Ezekiel 23:22,28</a></b></br> Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/16-37.htm">Ezekiel 16:37</a></b></br> Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all <i>them</i> that thou hast loved, with all <i>them</i> that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/13-15.htm">2 Samuel 13:15</a></b></br> Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her <i>was</i> greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.</p><p class="hdg">alienated [heb] loosed or disjointed </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/6-8.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-15.htm">Babylonians</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-10.htm">Bed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-15.htm">Children</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-3.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-13.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-16.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-45.htm">Disgust</a> <a href="/psalms/107-18.htm">Disgusted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-8.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-11.htm">Love</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-12.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-16.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/ezekiel/18-27.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-2.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-13.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-8.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-14.htm">Whoredoms</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-23.htm">Babylonians</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-41.htm">Bed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-39.htm">Children</a> <a href="/ezekiel/28-7.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-30.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-20.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Disgust</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Disgusted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-9.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-19.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-31.htm">Love</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-30.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-30.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-27.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Whoredoms</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/23-1.htm">The unfaithfulness of Aholah and Aholibah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/23-23.htm">Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/23-36.htm">The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both</a></span><br><span class="reftext">45. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/23-45.htm">and shows their judgments</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then the Babylonians came to her</b><br>This phrase refers to the historical context of the Babylonian Empire's influence over Judah. The Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar, were a dominant power in the ancient Near East during the 6th century BC. This period saw the Babylonian exile, a significant event in Jewish history. The "coming" of the Babylonians symbolizes political alliances and the subsequent subjugation of Judah, which is metaphorically depicted as a woman in this passage. The Babylonians are often seen as instruments of God's judgment against Israel for their idolatry and unfaithfulness.<p><b>to the bed of love</b><br>The "bed of love" is a metaphor for the alliances and treaties that Judah sought with foreign nations, including Babylon, instead of relying on God. In the prophetic literature, such alliances are often depicted as acts of spiritual adultery. This imagery is consistent with the prophetic tradition of using marriage as a metaphor for the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The "bed" signifies intimacy and covenant, which Judah misused by turning to pagan nations.<p><b>and in their lust they defiled her</b><br>The defilement here represents the spiritual and moral corruption that resulted from Judah's alliances with pagan nations. The "lust" of the Babylonians can be seen as their desire for power and control, which led to the exploitation and degradation of Judah. This defilement is not just physical but also spiritual, as it led Judah away from their covenant with God. The prophets often warned against such alliances, as they led to idolatry and the adoption of foreign customs.<p><b>But after she had been defiled by them</b><br>This phrase indicates a turning point where the consequences of Judah's actions become apparent. The defilement is complete, and the reality of their unfaithfulness is undeniable. Historically, this reflects the period after the initial Babylonian invasions, where the people of Judah experienced the repercussions of their political and spiritual decisions. The defilement also signifies the loss of purity and the breaking of the covenant relationship with God.<p><b>she turned away in disgust</b><br>The turning away in disgust suggests a realization and rejection of the consequences of their actions. This can be seen as a moment of repentance or at least an acknowledgment of the futility of their alliances. In the broader biblical narrative, this turning away can be linked to the prophetic calls for repentance and return to God. It highlights the theme of God's people recognizing their sin and the emptiness of relying on anything other than God. This moment of disgust can be seen as a precursor to the eventual restoration and renewal that God promises to His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonians.htm">Babylonians</a></b><br>A powerful empire known for its conquest of Judah and Jerusalem. In this context, they symbolize the foreign nations with whom Israel and Judah formed unholy alliances.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_bed_of_love.htm">The Bed of Love</a></b><br>A metaphorical expression representing the intimate and idolatrous relationships that Israel and Judah engaged in with foreign nations, contrary to their covenant with God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/defilement.htm">Defilement</a></b><br>This term signifies the spiritual and moral corruption that resulted from Israel and Judah's alliances and idolatries, leading them away from God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/turning_away_in_disgust.htm">Turning Away in Disgust</a></b><br>This reflects the eventual realization and rejection of the emptiness and shame of their idolatrous practices, though often too late to avoid consequences.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a></b><br>Just as Israel and Judah were led astray by foreign alliances, Christians today must guard against modern forms of idolatry that can lead us away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">The Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>Spiritual adultery has serious consequences, both in the immediate sense of separation from God and in the long-term impact on our spiritual lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Even when we turn away from God, He calls us back to Himself. True repentance involves recognizing our sin, turning away from it, and returning to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_illusion_of_worldly_alliances.htm">The Illusion of Worldly Alliances</a></b><br>Trusting in worldly powers or systems instead of God can lead to spiritual defilement and disappointment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful and continues to call His people back to a covenant relationship with Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_non-biblical_sources_support_ezekiel_23.htm">Do any ancient sources outside the Bible corroborate the nations' interventions described in Ezekiel 23, or is the account solely a theological narrative?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_ezekiel_21's_judgment_align_with_god's_mercy.htm">How can the severe judgment imagery in Ezekiel 21 be reconciled with teachings elsewhere in Scripture about God's mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_ezekiel_17_6_be_historically_verified.htm">How can Ezekiel 17:6's description of the vine thriving and then withering be verified historically or archaeologically, if at all?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_david's_eternal_throne_promised.htm">How can 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 speak of an eternal throne for David's line when the historical monarchy in Judah ended?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">Her mind was alienated.</span>--The original implies the disgust of satiety. Josiah had been the devoted friend of Babylon, and perished in his zeal on its behalf. Judah was then made a dependency of Egypt, and turned for aid to Babylon. Then receiving in turn the yoke of Babylon, she became impatient, and sought the aid of Egypt. This vacillating policy is described in <a href="/context/ezekiel/23-17.htm" title="And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.">Ezekiel 23:17-19</a>, and at either, turn was so entirely wanting in sole reliance upon God as to produce the effect of <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm" title="So she discovered her prostitutions, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.">Ezekiel 23:18</a> : "My mind was alienated from her."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - The words paint the intimate alliance, the political prostitution, as it were, involved in the alliance with Babylon. <span class="cmt_word">Her mind was alienated from them.</span> Interpreted by the history, the words point to the fact that Judah soon found out how hollow was the help gained by the alliance with Babylon, and turned, after Josiah's death, to Egypt as a counterpoise. As in the history of Amnon (<a href="/2_samuel/13-15.htm">2 Samuel 13:15</a>), lust, when it had wrought its will, passed into loathing and disgust. Jehoiakim and Zedekiah were examples of what we may well call this distracted policy. But, as it was, this alienation did but increase her guilt. As things were, it would have been better, as Jeremiah all along counseled, to accept the rule of the Chaldeans. The mind of Jehovah was alienated from Jerusalem as hers had been from the Chaldeans. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then the Babylonians</span><br /><span class="heb">בְנֵֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḇō·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to her,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלֶ֤יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·le·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the bed</span><br /><span class="heb">לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב</span> <span class="translit">(lə·miš·kaḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4904.htm">Strong's 4904: </a> </span><span class="str2">Place of lying, a couch, act of lying</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of love,</span><br /><span class="heb">דֹּדִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(dō·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1730.htm">Strong's 1730: </a> </span><span class="str2">To love, a love-token, lover, friend, an uncle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and in their lust</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯaz·nū·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8457.htm">Strong's 8457: </a> </span><span class="str2">Harlotry, idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they defiled</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ṭam·mə·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her.</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹתָ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·w·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">But after she had been defiled by them,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּ֨טְמָא־</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiṭ·mā-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she</span><br /><span class="heb">נַפְשָׁ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(nap̄·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">turned away</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in disgust.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֵּ֥קַע</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tê·qa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3363.htm">Strong's 3363: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sever oneself, to be dislocated, to abandon, to impale</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/23-17.htm">Ezekiel 23:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/23-17.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:17 The Babylonians came to her into (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/23-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>