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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezekiel/23-42.htm" title="Ezekiel 23:42">◄</a> Ezekiel 23:43 <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm" title="Ezekiel 23:44">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, &#8216Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then I said, ‘If they really want to have sex with old worn-out prostitutes like these, let them!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Then I said of her who was worn out by adultery, ‘Now they will continue to use her for a whore, even her!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then said I unto <i>her that was</i> old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she <i>with them</i>?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then I said concerning <i>her who had grown</i> old in adulteries, ‘Will they commit harlotry with her now, and she <i>with them?</i>’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is <i>like this?</i>’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, &#8216Will they now commit adultery with her when she is thus?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is <i>thus?</i>’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit harlotry with her when she is <i>thus</i>?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Then I said concerning the one (Oholah) worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is like this?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said concerning this woman worn out by adultery: Will they now have illicit sex with her, even her?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said concerning this woman worn out by adultery: Will they now have illicit sex with her, even her? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then said I of her that was old in adulteries, Now will they play the harlot with her, and she with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and I noticed that the men were eager to have sex with these women, though they were exhausted from being prostitutes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then said I of her that was old in adulteries, Now will they commit whoredoms with her, and she with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then I said, 'She is worn out from her acts of adultery.' Yet, men continued to have sex with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />And I said to myself that they were using as a prostitute a woman worn out by adultery. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"After she had worn herself out by her adulterous behavior, I asked her, 'Will they continue with their sexual immorality and with their prostitution?' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ?Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, 'Now they will commit immoral acts with her.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, 'Now will they play the prostitute with her, and she with them.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then said I to her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit lewd deeds with her, and she with them?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, ‘Now they will play the prostitute with her, and she with 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 I say of the worn-out one in adulteries, "" Now they commit her whoredoms—she also!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And I say of the worn-out one in adulteries, Now they commit her whoredoms -- she also!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And saying to her worn out with adulteries, Will she now commit her fornications, she also?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And I said to her that was worn out in her adulteries: Now will this woman still continue in her fornication. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And I said about her, as she was being worn away by her adulteries, ‘Even now, she continues in her fornication!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I said: “That worn-out one still has adulteries in her! Now they engage her as a prostitute and she. . .”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then I said, Ah, she is worn out with adulteries, but they carry on their sexual acts with her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then I said. With these men have they played the harlot and committed the acts of harlots.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And I said: “They have committed adultery with these, and in the acts of harlots they committed fornication<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then said I of her that was worn out by adulteries: Still they commit harlotries with her, even her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Therefore I said, Do they not commit adultery with these? and has she also gone a-whoring <i>after</i> the manner of a harlot?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/23-43.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=6813" 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">Judgment on Both Sisters</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">42</span>accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkards were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head. <span class="reftext">43</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wā·’ō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then I said</a> <a href="/hebrew/1087.htm" title="1087: lab·bā·lāh (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-fs) -- Worn-out. From balah; worn out.">of her who had grown old</a> <a href="/hebrew/5004.htm" title="5004: ni·’ū·p̄îm (N-mp) -- Adultery. From na'aph; adultery.">in adulteries:</a> <a href="/hebrew/6256.htm" title="6256: ʿa·tå̄ (Adv) -- Time. From ad; time, especially now, when, etc.">‘Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/2181.htm" title="2181: yiz·nuh (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To commit fornication, be a harlot. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry.">let them use her as a prostitute,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8457.htm" title="8457: ṯaz·nū·ṯe·hā (N-fpc:: 3fs) -- Fornication. Or taznuth; from zanah; harlotry, i.e. idolatry."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wā·hî (Conj-w:: Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">for that is all she is!’</a> </span><span class="reftext">44</span>And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.…<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/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1-3</a></span><br />“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD. / “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. / Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/2-5.htm">Hosea 2:5-7</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/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/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 57:3-8</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="/james/4-4.htm">James 4:4</a></span><br />You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.<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="/1_corinthians/6-15.htm">1 Corinthians 6:15-20</a></span><br />Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! / Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” / But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. ...<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/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="/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="/matthew/12-39.htm">Matthew 12:39</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-7.htm">Jeremiah 5:7-9</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. / Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then said I to her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit prostitutions with her, and she with them?</p><p class="hdg">old</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/9-7.htm">Ezra 9:7</a></b></br> Since the days of our fathers <i>have</i> we <i>been</i> in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, <i>and</i> our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as <i>it is</i> this day.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/106-6.htm">Psalm 106:6</a></b></br> We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/13-23.htm">Jeremiah 13:23</a></b></br> Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? <i>then</i> may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/13-27.htm">Adulteries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-37.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-24.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-36.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Fornications</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-30.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Harlotries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Lewd</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-30.htm">Play</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-29.htm">Practice</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-30.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-28.htm">Use</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-29.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Whoredoms</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-5.htm">Worn</a> <a href="/jeremiah/38-12.htm">Worn-Out</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Adulteries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-45.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-14.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/matthew/15-19.htm">Fornications</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Harlotries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-9.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Lewd</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-32.htm">Play</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-31.htm">Practice</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-3.htm">Use</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-49.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">Whoredoms</a> <a href="/ezekiel/29-18.htm">Worn</a> <a href="/joshua/9-4.htm">Worn-Out</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 I said of her who had grown old in adulteries:</b><br>This phrase refers to the nation of Israel, personified as a woman who has persistently engaged in spiritual adultery by worshiping other gods. The imagery of adultery is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God (e.g., <a href="/hosea/1.htm">Hosea 1-3</a>). The idea of "growing old" in adulteries suggests a long history of infidelity, indicating that Israel's idolatry was not a recent development but a persistent pattern. This reflects the historical context of Israel's repeated alliances with pagan nations and their gods, which led to moral and spiritual decay.<p><b>‘Now let them use her as a prostitute,</b><br>This part of the verse indicates a judgment from God, allowing Israel to face the consequences of her actions. The metaphor of prostitution is used to describe Israel's alliances with foreign nations and their gods, which were often politically and religiously motivated. In the ancient Near Eastern context, prostitution was not only a moral failing but also a symbol of degradation and loss of status. This judgment implies that Israel will be treated with contempt by the very nations she sought after, highlighting the futility and shame of her idolatry.<p><b>for that is all she is!’</b><br>This concluding phrase underscores the totality of Israel's spiritual degradation. It suggests that Israel's identity has become synonymous with her unfaithfulness, as she has fully embraced the role of a spiritual harlot. This reflects the prophetic theme of identity and consequence, where persistent sin leads to a redefined identity in the eyes of God. Theologically, it serves as a warning about the dangers of persistent sin and the loss of one's intended purpose and calling. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to remain faithful to Christ, avoiding spiritual adultery (<a href="/james/4-4.htm">James 4:4</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet of God who ministered to the exiles in Babylon. He is known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/o/oholah_and_oholibah.htm">Oholah and Oholibah</a></b><br>Symbolic names for Samaria and Jerusalem, representing the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel, respectively. They are depicted as sisters who engage in spiritual adultery.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_exile.htm">Babylonian Exile</a></b><br>The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/adultery.htm">Adultery</a></b><br>Used metaphorically to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with pagan nations.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/prostitution.htm">Prostitution</a></b><br>A metaphor for Israel's spiritual infidelity and pursuit of foreign gods and alliances.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_adultery.htm">Spiritual Adultery</a></b><br>Just as Israel was unfaithful to God, believers today must guard against idolatry and spiritual compromise.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_sin.htm">Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>The passage highlights the inevitable consequences of persistent sin and rebellion against God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_righteous_judgment.htm">God's Righteous Judgment</a></b><br>God's judgment is just and serves as a warning to turn back to Him in repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_holiness.htm">Call to Holiness</a></b><br>Believers are called to live lives set apart for God, avoiding the spiritual pitfalls that led to Israel's downfall.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Despite the harsh imagery, God's desire is for His people to return to Him and be restored.<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/what_does_spiritual_adultery_mean.htm">What does spiritual adultery mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_are_oholah_and_oholibah.htm">Who were Oholah and Oholibah in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><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><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_ezekiel_23's_imagery_reconciled.htm">How can the graphic sexual imagery in Ezekiel 23:3 and 20 be reconciled with the holiness and purity usually attributed to Scripture?</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>(43) <span class= "bld">Will they now commit?</span>--This should not be made a question, nor should the opening of <a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm" title="Yet they went in to her, as they go in to a woman that plays the harlot: so went they in to Aholah and to Aholibah, the lewd women.">Ezekiel 23:44</a> be made adversative. The thought is that, after all means of reclamation had failed, God gave her up to her sins. Translate, <span class= "ital">Now shall her whoredom be committed, even this. And they went in, &c.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 43.</span> - The whole verse is obscure, and has been very differently rendered. <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> The Authorized Version may be paraphrased, "Then said I to her that was worn out with her whoredoms, passed her prime and enfeebled, Will they (the foreign nations) commit whoredoms (enter into alliances) with her? sc. What is there to attract now? And yet the habit is inveterate. She has grown old in her vice, and cannot cease from it." <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> The Revised Version takes it not as a question, but as a statement: <span class="accented">Now said I of her that was old in adulteries, Now will they commit</span>, etc. So, in the main, Keil. The text is probably corrupt, and resists conjectural emendation. In any case the general meaning is clear. The sin is of too long standing to be cured. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/23-43.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 I said</span><br /><span class="heb">וָאֹמַ֕ר</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ō·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of [her] [who] [had] [grown] old</span><br /><span class="heb">לַבָּלָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(lab·bā·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1087.htm">Strong's 1087: </a> </span><span class="str2">Worn out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in adulteries:</span><br /><span class="heb">נִֽאוּפִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(ni·’ū·p̄îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5004.htm">Strong's 5004: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adultery</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Now</span><br /><span class="heb">עַתָּ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">let them use her as a prostitute,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִזְנ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yiz·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2181.htm">Strong's 2181: </a> </span><span class="str2">To commit adultery, to commit idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for that is all she is!’</span><br /><span class="heb">וָהִֽיא׃</span> <span class="translit">(wā·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/23-43.htm">Ezekiel 23:43 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/23-43.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:43 Then said I of her who was (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/23-42.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:42"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:42" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/23-44.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 23:44"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 23:44" /></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>