Ezekiel 23:11

KJV

¶ And when her sister Aholibah saw [this], she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in [her] whoredoms.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when her sister {H269} Aholibah {H172} saw {H7200} this, she was more corrupt {H7843} in her inordinate love {H5691} than she, and in her whoredoms {H8457} more than her sister {H269} in her whoredoms {H2183}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Her sister Oholivah saw this; nevertheless she was worse than her sister in lusting and likewise in whoring.

Berean Standard Bible

Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.

American Standard Version

And her sister Oholibah saw this, yet was she more corrupt in her doting than she, and in her whoredoms which were more than the whoredoms of her sister.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 23:11 delivers a scathing indictment of Judah, personified as Aholibah, intensifying the prophetic allegory of two sisters who represent the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Aholah) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This verse reveals Judah's profound spiritual depravity, asserting that despite witnessing the devastating judgment on her elder sister, Israel, for unfaithfulness, Aholibah not only replicated those sins but plunged even deeper into idolatry and illicit political alliances, exhibiting a more profound and corrupt "inordinate love" and "whoredoms" than her predecessor. It underscores Judah's heightened culpability and sets the stage for her impending, even more severe, divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 23 is a deeply symbolic and graphically explicit allegory that serves as a powerful indictment against both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria, personified as Aholah) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem, personified as Aholibah). The chapter depicts these two nations as sisters, chosen by Yahweh as His brides, who subsequently engaged in rampant spiritual harlotry through idolatry and reliance on foreign powers rather than on God. The preceding verses detail Aholah's egregious unfaithfulness with Assyria and Egypt, culminating in her violent judgment and destruction by her Assyrian lovers. Verse 11 marks a crucial pivot, revealing the tragic irony that Aholibah, having observed her sister's downfall, did not repent but instead surpassed Aholah in her spiritual infidelity. This intensification of sin highlights the escalating nature of rebellion against God, where greater knowledge and opportunity for repentance lead to increased culpability, a theme prevalent throughout Ezekiel's prophecies concerning Israel's covenant violations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Ezekiel's prophecy is the turbulent period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC). The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Aholah) had already fallen to the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC, a catastrophic event that led to the deportation of its people and the desolation of its land. This historical precedent should have served as a dire warning to Judah (Aholibah). However, Judah, particularly under kings like Manasseh, embraced pagan worship with fervent zeal, adopting abhorrent cultic practices, including child sacrifice, that were anathema to the Mosaic covenant. Furthermore, both kingdoms repeatedly sought political alliances with powerful nations like Egypt, Assyria, and later Babylon, rather than placing their trust in Yahweh for security and deliverance. This reliance on human power and foreign gods is vividly depicted as "whoredom," a direct violation of their sacred covenant with God. The imagery of harlotry would have been particularly shocking and shameful to the ancient Israelite audience, powerfully conveying the profound betrayal of their marital covenant with the holy God of Israel.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme in Ezekiel 23, powerfully articulated in verse 11, is **Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry**. The graphic imagery of "inordinate love" and "whoredoms" serves as a potent metaphor for Israel and Judah's abandonment of their exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh. This betrayal encompassed not only the worship of foreign gods but also the formation of illicit political alliances, which were seen as a rejection of God's sovereignty and protection, a direct violation of the [first commandment](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods Before Me"). Another crucial theme is **Escalating Sin and Greater Culpability**. Aholibah's sin is presented as more egregious because she had the benefit of witnessing Aholah's judgment firsthand. Her failure to learn from this divine discipline highlights a deeper spiritual blindness and a hardening of heart, leading to a more severe condemnation. Finally, the chapter, and verse 11 specifically, foreshadows **Divine Justice and Warning**. It emphasizes that God's justice is proportionate to the depth of unfaithfulness, serving as a somber warning against ignoring past lessons and persisting in rebellion against the Lord, a principle consistently demonstrated in God's dealings with His people throughout [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses") and [Judges](/judges/2 "Judges 2 - Israel's Disobedience and Oppression").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Aholibah (Hebrew, _ʼOhŏlîybâh'_):** This symbolic name for Judah, derived from the Hebrew word for "tent" (`אֹהֶל`), means "my tent (is) in her." The name is profoundly ironic and tragic. While it alludes to God's dwelling, His tabernacle or temple, being present in Jerusalem (Judah's capital), the very presence of His sanctuary did not deter Aholibah from engaging in profound spiritual harlotry. Instead, it magnified her guilt, as she defiled the very place where God's presence was meant to reside. The name subtly underscores the covenant relationship and the severe betrayal of that sacred intimacy.
* **corrupt (Hebrew, _shâchath'_):** A primitive root meaning "to decay," and causatively, "to ruin" or "destroy." In Ezekiel 23:11, it describes Aholibah as becoming "more corrupt," indicating an active and progressive process of moral and spiritual decay that led to utter ruin. It speaks to a deliberate act of spoiling or marring the covenant relationship, leading to spiritual destruction. This word emphasizes the active, destructive nature of Judah's unfaithfulness, not merely a passive falling away but an aggressive embrace of that which defiled.
* **inordinate love (Hebrew, _ʻăgâbâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to love" (in an amorous sense), this term refers to "love (abstractly), i.e., amorousness." In this context, it describes a passionate, illicit, and unrestrained desire for spiritual adultery. It highlights the intense, almost obsessive, nature of Judah's pursuit of idolatry and foreign alliances. This "inordinate love" was not merely a casual dalliance but a deep, consuming passion directed away from Yahweh and towards false gods and worldly powers, revealing a profound misdirection of affection and devotion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when her sister Aholibah saw [this]":** This initial clause establishes the critical element of Judah's heightened culpability. Aholibah, representing the Southern Kingdom of Judah, was a direct and undeniable witness to the devastating judgment that befell her sister, Aholah (the Northern Kingdom of Israel), including the destruction of Samaria and the exile of its people. The phrase "saw [this]" implies not just passive observation but a full awareness and understanding of the dire consequences of Aholah's spiritual harlotry. This crucial knowledge, however, did not lead to repentance or a change of course for Judah but rather, shockingly, to an even deeper plunge into sin.
* **"she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she":** This is the core accusation and the damning indictment against Aholibah. Despite the clear and recent warning of Israel's downfall, Judah's spiritual decay surpassed that of her sister. Her "inordinate love" refers to an excessive, illicit passion for idolatry and foreign alliances, indicating a greater zeal, fervor, and devotion to these forbidden practices than even Aholah had displayed. This suggests a more hardened heart, a more deliberate and defiant rebellion against God's covenant, and a profound misdirection of affection that should have been exclusively God's.
* **"and in her whoredoms more than her sister in [her] whoredoms":** This clause reiterates and powerfully reinforces the previous statement, emphasizing both the quantitative and qualitative increase in Judah's unfaithfulness. "Whoredoms" (Hebrew: *taznûwth* or *zânûwn*) refers to spiritual prostitution—the abandonment of Yahweh for other gods and political dependencies, a direct breaking of the covenant. The repetition of the term underscores the pervasive and intensified nature of Judah's idolatry and unfaithfulness, making her guilt undeniably greater than Israel's. She had the benefit of hindsight, a divine object lesson in judgment, and yet chose a path of even deeper spiritual depravity, sealing her own fate.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 23:11 is rich in **Allegory**, as the entire chapter employs the extended metaphor of two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, to represent the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel, respectively. This narrative framework allows for a vivid and emotionally charged portrayal of their spiritual unfaithfulness. The sisters are given **Personification**, endowed with human characteristics and actions (seeing, being corrupt, engaging in "inordinate love" and "whoredoms"), which makes their rebellion against God more tangible, relatable, and deeply offensive. The central device is **Metaphor**, specifically that of spiritual harlotry or prostitution, which graphically illustrates the covenant betrayal. God's relationship with Israel is likened to a sacred marriage, and their pursuit of other gods and foreign alliances is depicted as infidelity within this divine union. The phrase "more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister" employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme degree of Judah's sin, highlighting its intensified nature beyond that of Israel, underscoring the profound depth of their rebellion and the greater culpability that comes with ignoring divine warnings.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 23:11 serves as a stark and enduring reminder of the gravity of spiritual infidelity and the escalating nature of sin. Theologically, it underscores God's absolute demand for exclusive devotion from His covenant people, reflecting His holiness, righteous jealousy, and the exclusivity of His covenant. When His people turn their "inordinate love" and affections towards idols or worldly powers, they betray the sacred marriage covenant, incurring greater judgment, especially when they deliberately ignore the lessons of history and divine discipline. This verse powerfully highlights the principle that increased knowledge and divine revelation bring increased responsibility; Judah's sin was magnified by her awareness of Israel's downfall and the consequences thereof. It also foreshadows God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that persistent rebellion and unrepentant unfaithfulness will inevitably lead to severe consequences, not out of arbitrary wrath, but as a just and necessary response to profound covenant breaking.

* [Jeremiah 3:8-11](/jeremiah/3-8 "Jeremiah 3:8-11 - Israel's Faithlessness and Judah's Greater Guilt")
* [Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - God Commands Hosea to Marry a Harlot")
* [Revelation 17:1-6](/revelation/17-1 "Revelation 17:1-6 - Babylon the Great Harlot")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 23:11 serves as a timeless warning for believers today, reminding us that spiritual unfaithfulness is not merely a historical phenomenon confined to ancient Israel but a perennial temptation for humanity. While overt idol worship may be less common in contemporary society, modern "whoredoms" can manifest as placing ultimate trust, affection, or devotion in anything other than God—be it wealth, career, relationships, comfort, technology, self-image, or even religious works. This passage challenges us to honestly examine the objects of our "inordinate love" and to ensure that our primary allegiance and deepest affections belong solely to the Lord. Furthermore, Aholibah's tragic failure to learn from Aholah's judgment underscores the critical importance of learning from the past—both from biblical history and from the mistakes of others, and indeed, our own past failures. Ignoring such lessons, or presuming upon God's grace, can lead to a deeper spiral into sin and more severe consequences. We are called to vigilance against spiritual complacency, recognizing that greater light and understanding bring greater responsibility, and a true relationship with God demands consistent, unwavering faithfulness, not merely outward adherence but a profound inward devotion of heart and mind.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "idols" or "foreign alliances" in my life that compete for my ultimate devotion, distracting me from my covenant relationship with God?**
* **How have I, like Aholibah, failed to learn from past mistakes or the consequences experienced by others, leading to a deeper entanglement in sin?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be exhibiting "inordinate love" for worldly things rather than for God and His kingdom?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more exclusive and passionate devotion to God, ensuring He remains supreme in my heart and actions?**

### FAQ

**Why does God use such graphic and explicit language like "whoredoms" and "inordinate love" to describe His people's sin?**

Answer: The use of graphic language like "whoredoms" (Hebrew: *zânûwn*, *taznûwth*) and "inordinate love" (Hebrew: *ʻăgâbâh*) is not gratuitous but deeply symbolic and intentionally shocking. It serves to convey the profound betrayal inherent in Israel and Judah's spiritual unfaithfulness. God's covenant with His people was often likened to a marriage (e.g., [Jeremiah 3:1-14](/jeremiah/3-1 "Jeremiah 3:1-14 - Israel's Unfaithfulness and God's Call to Return"), [Hosea 2:19-20](/hosea/2-19 "Hosea 2:19-20 - God's Betrothal to Israel")). Therefore, their turning to other gods and foreign alliances was akin to a wife committing adultery—a profound act of infidelity and betrayal of the most intimate and sacred bond. The strong imagery emphasizes the emotional depth of God's hurt, the heinousness of their sin, and the utter degradation of their spiritual state. It was meant to jolt the audience into recognizing the severity of their actions and the breaking of their covenant vows, leaving no room for misunderstanding the nature of their rebellion.

**What is the significance of Aholah and Aholibah being sisters in this allegory?**

Answer: The portrayal of Aholah (Samaria/Israel) and Aholibah (Jerusalem/Judah) as sisters carries significant theological and historical weight within the allegory. First, it highlights their shared origin and identity as God's chosen people, both descended from Jacob, and both brought into a unique covenant relationship with Yahweh. Despite their political division into two kingdoms, they remained part of the same spiritual family. Second, their sisterhood emphasizes the concept of **shared history and mutual accountability**. Aholibah (Judah) had the distinct advantage of witnessing Aholah's (Israel's) downfall and exile at the hands of Assyria due to her idolatry and covenant breaking. This recent, devastating historical precedent should have served as a powerful warning and deterrent. The fact that Aholibah not only repeated but intensified Aholah's sins, as [Ezekiel 23:11](/ezekiel/23-11 "Ezekiel 23:11 - Aholibah's Greater Corruption") explicitly states, underscores Judah's greater culpability and the tragic failure to learn from the devastating consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. Their familial bond makes Judah's deeper corruption even more reprehensible in God's eyes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 23:11, with its raw and painful depiction of Israel and Judah's spiritual harlotry, profoundly underscores humanity's inherent unfaithfulness and our utter inability to maintain covenant with God through our own strength. The "inordinate love" and "whoredoms" of Aholibah reveal the depth of our collective propensity to turn from the one true God to idols of our own making, whether ancient pagan deities or modern pursuits of self-sufficiency, material wealth, or worldly security. In Christ, we see the perfect fulfillment of the covenant that humanity so miserably failed to uphold. Jesus, the true Israel, perfectly loved and obeyed the Father, never straying into spiritual adultery. He is the faithful Son who never pursued "inordinate love" for anything other than God's will, even to the point of death on the cross. His sacrifice on Calvary atones for our spiritual harlotry, taking upon Himself the full judgment due for our unfaithfulness and idolatry, as powerfully prophesied in passages like [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant"). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ cleanses His bride, the Church, from all "whoredoms," presenting her as pure and spotless before God ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). He transforms those who were once spiritually adulterous into a faithful people, enabling them to truly love God with an undivided heart, a love empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, leading ultimately to the joyous [marriage supper of the Lamb](/revelation/19-7 "Revelation 19:7 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb") where a perfectly faithful bride is united with her perfectly faithful Bridegroom for all eternity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 3:8

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Jeremiah 3:11

And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

Ezekiel 16:47

Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as [if that were] a very little [thing], thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.

Ezekiel 16:51

Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.

Ezekiel 23:4

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.