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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 23:4 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/23-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/26_Ezk_23_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 23:4 - The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. 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They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters. I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem. <a href="/esv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. <a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/23.htm">New King James Version</a> Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; They were Mine, And they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah. <a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah. <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah. <a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah. <a href="/lsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah. <a href="/amp/ezekiel/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister, and they became Mine and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for [the identity of] their names, Oholah is Samaria (capital city of Israel) and Oholibah is Jerusalem (capital city of Judah). <a href="/csb/ezekiel/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The older one was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They became mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. <a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The older one was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.&#8221 <a href="/asv/ezekiel/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/ezekiel/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The older one was named Oholah, which stands for Samaria; the younger one was Oholibah, which stands for Jerusalem. They became my wives and gave birth to my children. <a href="/erv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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. <a href="/gwt/ezekiel/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. <a href="/gnt/ezekiel/23.htm">Good News Translation</a> The older one was named Oholah (she represents Samaria), and the younger one was named Oholibah (she represents Jerusalem). I married both of them, and they bore me children. <a href="/isv/ezekiel/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> The older one was named Oholah and her sister was named Oholibah. They belonged to me and gave birth to sons and daughters. Now as to their real identities, Oholah refers to Samaria and Oholibah to Jerusalem." <a href="/msb/ezekiel/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/net/ezekiel/23.htm">NET Bible</a> Oholah was the name of the older and Oholibah the name of her younger sister. They became mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem. <a href="/nheb/ezekiel/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah. <a href="/wbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. <a href="/web/ezekiel/23.htm">World English Bible</a> 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. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And their names [are] Aholah the older, "" And Aholibah her sister, "" And they are Mine, and bear sons and daughters. As for their names—Samaria [is] Aholah, "" And Jerusalem [is] Aholibah. <a href="/ylt/ezekiel/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And their names are Aholah the elder, And Aholibah her sister, And they are Mine, and bear sons and daughters. As to their names -- Samaria is Aholah, And Jerusalem is Aholibah. <a href="/slt/ezekiel/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And their names Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and they will be to me, and they will bring forth sons and daughters, and their names Shomeron-Aholah and Jerusalem Aholibah.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ezekiel/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And their names were Oolla the elder, and Ooliba her younger sister: and I took them, and they bore sons and daughters. Now for their names, Samaria is Oolla, and Jerusalem is Ooliba. <a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Now their names were Oholah, the elder, and Oholibah, her younger sister. And I held them, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. <a href="/nabre/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Bible</a> Oholah was the name of the elder, and the name of her sister was Oholibah. They became mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names: Samaria was Oholah and Jerusalem, Oholibah. <a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the name of the elder was Ahlah, and the name of the younger was Ahlibah; and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names: Samaria is Ahlah and Jerusalem is Ahlibah. <a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> The name of the elder was Ahlah and the name of the other, Ahlyabah, and they were mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters, the name of Samaria is Ahlah, and of Jerusalem Ahlyabah<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/ezekiel/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister; and they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah. <a href="/sep/ezekiel/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And their names were Oola the elder, and Ooliba her sister: and they were mine, and bore sons and daughters: and as for their names, Samaria was Oola, and Jerusalem was Ooliba. <a href="/parallel/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=6357" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm">The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah</a> …3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4<a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">The older</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3fp) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">was named</a> <a href="/hebrew/170.htm" title="170: ’ā·ho·lāh (N-proper-fs) -- In form a feminine of 'ohel, but in fact for.Oholahh; from 'ohel; her tent; Oholah, a symbol. Name for Samaria.">Oholah,</a> <a href="/hebrew/269.htm" title="269: ’ă·ḥō·w·ṯāh (N-fsc:: 3fs) -- Sister. Irregular feminine of 'ach; a sister (like 'Ezrachiy), literally and figuratively).">and her sister</a> <a href="/hebrew/172.htm" title="172: wə·’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh (Conj-w:: N-proper-fs) -- (similarly with 'Oholah) for hoholiybahh; from 'ohel; my tent (is) in her; Oholibah, a symbolic name for Judah.">was named Oholibah.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wat·tih·ye·nāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">They became</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">Mine</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: wat·tê·laḏ·nāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">and gave birth to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nîm (N-mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ū·ḇā·nō·wṯ (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">and daughters.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3fp) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">As for their identities,</a> <a href="/hebrew/170.htm" title="170: ’ā·ho·lāh (N-proper-fs) -- In form a feminine of 'ohel, but in fact for.Oholahh; from 'ohel; her tent; Oholah, a symbol. Name for Samaria.">Oholah</a> <a href="/hebrew/8111.htm" title="8111: šō·mə·rō·wn (N-proper-fs) -- Capital of N. kingdom of Isr. From the active participle of shamar; watch-station; Shomeron, a place in Palestine.">is Samaria,</a> <a href="/hebrew/172.htm" title="172: ’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh (N-proper-fs) -- (similarly with 'Oholah) for hoholiybahh; from 'ohel; my tent (is) in her; Oholibah, a symbolic name for Judah.">and Oholibah</a> <a href="/hebrew/3389.htm" title="3389: wî·rū·šā·lim (Conj-w:: N-proper-fs) -- Probably foundation of peace, capital city of all Isr. ">is Jerusalem.</a> 5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-10</a> 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. ... <a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Hosea 2:2-5</a> Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. / Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst. / I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery. ... <a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm">Isaiah 1:21</a> See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers! <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a> “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. <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">Hosea 1:2</a> When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.” <a href="/2_kings/17-18.htm">2 Kings 17:18-23</a> So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained, / and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced. / So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence. ... <a href="/2_kings/23-27.htm">2 Kings 23:27</a> For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’” <a href="/jeremiah/13-27.htm">Jeremiah 13:27</a> 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?” <a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3-9</a> “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? ... <a href="/jeremiah/31-31.htm">Jeremiah 31:31-32</a> Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-5</a> 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. ... <a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">Revelation 18:2-3</a> And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / 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.” <a href="/galatians/4-25.htm">Galatians 4:25-26</a> Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. / But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. <a href="/john/4-22.htm">John 4:22</a> You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. <a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a> O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.the names the elder<a href="/ezekiel/16-40.htm">Ezekiel 16:40</a> They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.<a href="/1_kings/12-20.htm">1 Kings 12:20</a> And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.they were<a href="/ezekiel/16-8.htm">Ezekiel 16:8,20</a> Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine… <a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5,6</a> Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: … <a href="/psalms/45-11.htm">Psalm 45:11-16</a> So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him… Aholah.<a href="/1_kings/12-26.htm">1 Kings 12:26-33</a> And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: … <a href="/john/4-22.htm">John 4:22</a> Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.Aholibah.<a href="/1_kings/8-29.htm">1 Kings 8:29</a> That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.<a href="/psalms/76-2.htm">Psalm 76:2</a> In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.<a href="/psalms/132-13.htm">Psalm 132:13,14</a> For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Aholah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Aholibah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-11.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-11.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-30.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-11.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-2.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-61.htm">Elder</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-19.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-26.htm">Names</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Oholah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Oho'lah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Oholibah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Ohol'ibah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-61.htm">Older</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-55.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-55.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-11.htm">Sister</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/23-5.htm">Aholah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-11.htm">Aholibah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-29.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-15.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-37.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-10.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">Elder</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-2.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-1.htm">Names</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-5.htm">Oholah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-5.htm">Oho'lah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-11.htm">Oholibah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-11.htm">Ohol'ibah</a> <a href="/luke/3-1.htm">Older</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-33.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-33.htm">Sama'ria</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-11.htm">Sister</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 23</div>1. <a href="/ezekiel/23-1.htm">The unfaithfulness of Aholah and Aholibah</a> 23. <a href="/ezekiel/23-23.htm">Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers</a> 36. <a href="/ezekiel/23-36.htm">The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both</a> 45. <a href="/ezekiel/23-45.htm">and shows their judgments</a> </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'; 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Oholah and Oholibah are symbolic names given to represent the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, respectively. In Hebrew, "Oholah" means "her tent," suggesting a place of worship or dwelling that is separate from God, while "Oholibah" means "my tent is in her," indicating God's presence or dwelling. This distinction highlights the spiritual infidelity of both cities, with Samaria representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Jerusalem the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The use of sister imagery underscores their shared heritage and covenant relationship with God, yet also their shared guilt in idolatry and unfaithfulness.They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. This phrase reflects the covenant relationship between God and the people of Israel. "They became Mine" signifies God's choosing of Israel as His people, akin to a marriage covenant. The "sons and daughters" symbolize the generations of Israelites who were born into this covenant relationship. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where God is depicted as a husband to Israel (e.g., <a href="/hosea/2-19.htm">Hosea 2:19-20</a>). The birth of sons and daughters also implies the continuation of the covenant promises made to the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. This clarifies the allegorical representation of the two cities. Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, was known for its idolatry and alliances with foreign nations, which led to its downfall in 722 BC by the Assyrians. Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom, despite having the temple and being the center of worship, also fell into idolatry and was eventually conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The distinction between the two cities serves as a warning of the consequences of unfaithfulness to God. The prophetic message here is a call to repentance and a reminder of the judgment that comes from turning away from God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/o/oholah.htm">Oholah</a> Represents Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The name "Oholah" means "her tent," symbolizing a place of worship or dwelling that is separate from God’s designated place. 2. <a href="/topical/o/oholibah.htm">Oholibah</a> Represents Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The name "Oholibah" means "my tent is in her," indicating God's presence and chosen dwelling place among His people. 3. <a href="/topical/s/samaria.htm">Samaria</a> The capital city of the Northern Kingdom, often associated with idolatry and turning away from God. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The capital city of the Southern Kingdom, known for its temple and being the center of Jewish worship, yet also guilty of spiritual unfaithfulness. 5. <a href="/topical/s/sons_and_daughters.htm">Sons and Daughters</a> Symbolic of the people and offspring of these two cities, representing the inhabitants and their spiritual legacy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_adultery.htm">Spiritual Adultery</a> Just as Oholah and Oholibah were unfaithful, believers must guard against idolatry and spiritual infidelity in their own lives. <a href="/topical/g/god's_ownership.htm">God's Ownership</a> The phrase "They were Mine" emphasizes God's claim over His people. Believers are reminded of their identity and belonging to God. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a> The history of Samaria and Jerusalem serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God. <a href="/topical/g/god's_presence.htm">God's Presence</a> Oholibah's name signifies God's presence. Believers should cherish and maintain their relationship with God, recognizing His dwelling within them. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> Despite the unfaithfulness depicted, God's desire for repentance and restoration is a recurring theme throughout Scripture.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 23</a> <a href="/q/why_are_samaria_and_jerusalem_immoral.htm">Why does Ezekiel 23:4 personify Samaria and Jerusalem as immoral sisters, and is there historical or archeological evidence to support these specific accusations? </a> <a href="/q/who_are_oholah_and_oholibah.htm">Who were Oholah and Oholibah in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_ezekiel_23_align_with_history.htm">How can the events described in Ezekiel 23 align with scientific and historical records, given the seemingly exaggerated depictions of judgment and punishment? </a> <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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.--Samaria, as the capital, is put for the northern kingdom, and is called Aholah = her own tabernacle, because she set up her own worship instead of resorting to the Temple; while the southern kingdom, represented by Jerusalem, is called Aholibah = my tabernacle is in her, because she still contained the sanctuary of the Lord. The word "elder" should be translated greater, as in <a href="/ezekiel/16-46.htm" title="And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at your left hand: and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.">Ezekiel 16:46</a>. (See Note there.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 4. - The occurrence of proper names is almost unique in the parables of the Bible, the Lazarus of <a href="/luke/16-20.htm">Luke 16:20</a> being the only other instance. Their meaning is sufficiently clear. Aholah (but both names should begin with O rather than A) means "Her tent;" Aholibah, "My tent is in her." A parallel, which may have suggested the names, is found in the Aholibamah (equivalent to "My tent is in the high place") of <a href="/genesis/36-2.htm">Genesis 36:2</a>, and another in the use of Ohel as a proper name in <a href="/1_chronicles/3-20.htm">1 Chronicles 3:20</a>. The common element of the two names is the word that is commonly used for the sacred tent or tabernacle in the Pentateuch and elsewhere. The distinctive element of each points to the fact that the worship in Samaria was unauthorized. Her "tent" was hers, not Jehovah's. Of Jerusalem with its temple Jehovah could say, "My tent is in her," and this, as magnifying her privilege, also aggravated her guilt. Keil and others take the adjective here, as in <a href="/ezekiel/16-46.htm">Ezekiel 16:46</a>, as meaning "greater" rather than "older." The former adjective is, of course, applicable to the greater power of the kingdom of the Ten Tribes, and, even if we retain the renderings of the Authorized Version, is probably the explanation of Samaria being named as the elder of the two. <a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The older הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ (hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> Great, older, insolent was named וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן (ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> A name Oholah, אָהֳלָ֤ה (’ā·ho·lāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_170.htm">Strong's 170: </a> Oholah -- 'she who has a tent', a symbolic name for Samaria and her sister אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ (’ă·ḥō·w·ṯāh) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_269.htm">Strong's 269: </a> Sister -- a sister was Oholibah. וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה (wə·’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_172.htm">Strong's 172: </a> Oholibah -- 'tent in her', a symbolic name for Jerusalem They became וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה (wat·tih·ye·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be Mine לִ֔י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> and gave birth to וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה (wat·tê·laḏ·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage sons בָּנִ֣ים (bā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son and daughters. וּבָנ֑וֹת (ū·ḇā·nō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> A daughter [As] [for] their identities, וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן (ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> A name Oholah אָהֳלָ֔ה (’ā·ho·lāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_170.htm">Strong's 170: </a> Oholah -- 'she who has a tent', a symbolic name for Samaria [is] Samaria, שֹׁמְר֣וֹן (šō·mə·rō·wn) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8111.htm">Strong's 8111: </a> Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel and Oholibah אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃ (’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_172.htm">Strong's 172: </a> Oholibah -- 'tent in her', a symbolic name for Jerusalem is Jerusalem. וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (wî·rū·šā·lim) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3389.htm">Strong's 3389: </a> Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-4.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:4 The names of them were Oholah (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/23-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/23-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:5" /></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>