King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them [that were] the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
Complete Jewish Bible:
She gave herself as a whore to them, all of them the elite of Ashur; and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.
Berean Standard Bible:
She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.
American Standard Version:
And she bestowed her whoredoms upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Thus she committed{H5414} her whoredoms{H8457} with them, with all them that were the chosen{H4005} men{H1121} of Assyria{H804}, and with all on whom she doted{H5689}: with all their idols{H1544} she defiled{H2930} herself.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hosea 6:10
- I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there [is] the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
Hosea 5:3
- I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, [and] Israel is defiled.
Ezekiel 20:7
- Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.
Ezekiel 22:3
- Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
Ezekiel 22:4
- Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come [even] unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
Genesis 10:22
- The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
Ezekiel 23:30
- I will do these [things] unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, [and] because thou art polluted with their idols.
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Commentary for Ezekiel 23:7
Ezekiel 23:7 is a part of a larger allegory in the Book of Ezekiel, which uses the metaphor of two sisters to represent the kingdoms of Israel (the Northern Kingdom, also called Samaria or Ephraim) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom). The verse specifically addresses the actions of Samaria, the elder sister, who is depicted as engaging in sexual immorality with the "chosen men of Assyria." This reflects the historical context of the time when the Northern Kingdom had formed political and military alliances with Assyria, which was a dominant power in the region.
The verse condemns Samaria's idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, symbolized by her lusting after and committing "whoredoms" with Assyrian men, which is a metaphor for spiritual adultery through the worship of foreign gods. The reference to "all their idols" indicates that along with political alliances, Samaria also adopted Assyrian religious practices, further defiling herself in the eyes of the Lord. This theme of spiritual infidelity is a recurring motif in the prophetic books of the Bible, where the prophets often use vivid and sometimes shocking imagery to convey the gravity of the covenant people's betrayal of their relationship with God.
In the broader context of the chapter, Ezekiel is emphasizing the consequences of apostasy and warning Judah, the younger sister, against following in the footsteps of her older sibling. The message is clear: just as Samaria suffered destruction and exile due to her unfaithfulness, so too would Judah if she did not repent and return to the worship of the one true God. Ezekiel's prophecy is both a historical reflection and a dire warning, intended to provoke a spiritual awakening and a return to covenant faithfulness among the people of Judah.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H8457
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּזְנוּת
Transliteration: taznûwth
Pronunciation: taz-nooth'
Description: or תַּזְנֻת; from זָנָה; harlotry, i.e. (figuratively) idolatry; fornication, whoredom. - Strong's Number: H4005
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִבְחָר
Transliteration: mibchâr
Pronunciation: mib-khawr'
Description: from בָּחַר; select, i.e. best; choice(-st), chosen. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H804
There are 340 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשּׁוּר
Transliteration: ʼAshshûwr
Pronunciation: ash-shoor'
Description: or אַשֻּׁר; apparently from אָשַׁר (in the sense of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empire; Asshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians. See אָשֻׁר. - Strong's Number: H5689
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲגַב
Transliteration: ʻăgab
Pronunciation: aw-gab'
Description: a primitive root; to breathe after, i.e. to love (sensually); dote, lover. - Strong's Number: H1544
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּלּוּל
Transliteration: gillûwl
Pronunciation: ghil-lool'
Description: or (shortened) גִּלֻּל; from גָּלַל; properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol; idol. - Strong's Number: H2930
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָמֵא
Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
Pronunciation: taw-may'
Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly.