Ezekiel 23:11

¶ 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.

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}.

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

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

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

Ezekiel 23:11 is part of a vivid and challenging prophetic allegory in which God, through the prophet Ezekiel, condemns the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah. This verse specifically highlights the intensified sin of Judah (represented by "Aholibah") compared to her sister, Israel (represented by "Aholah").

Context

The entire chapter of Ezekiel 23 employs the metaphor of two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, to depict the idolatry and political alliances of Samaria (capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Jerusalem (capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah), respectively. Aholah and Aholibah are introduced in Ezekiel 23:4. Aholah, representing Israel, was already condemned for her "whoredoms" (idolatry and seeking foreign alliances instead of God). Her judgment, the fall of Samaria to Assyria, served as a stark warning. However, Ezekiel 23:11 reveals that Aholibah, Judah, not only failed to learn from her sister's downfall but became even more corrupt in her spiritual infidelity, pursuing idolatrous practices and alliances with even greater zeal.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The central theme is the unfaithfulness of God's people. The graphic imagery of "inordinate love" and "whoredoms" powerfully illustrates Israel and Judah's abandonment of their covenant relationship with the Lord for the worship of false gods and reliance on pagan nations. This was a profound betrayal of the first commandment to have no other gods.
  • Escalating Sin: Aholibah's sin is presented as more egregious than Aholah's. Judah had the benefit of witnessing Israel's judgment firsthand, yet she chose to plunge deeper into the very sins that brought about her sister's ruin. This highlights a greater culpability and a hardening of heart.
  • Divine Justice and Warning: The verse foreshadows the severe judgment awaiting Judah, emphasizing that God's justice is proportionate to the depth of unfaithfulness. It serves as a somber warning against ignoring past lessons and persisting in rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "inordinate love" and "whoredoms." The Hebrew word behind "inordinate love" is zanah (זָנָה), which primarily means "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot." In prophetic literature, it is consistently used metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly idolatry. The term "whoredoms" (taznut, תַּזְנוּת) stems from the same root, reinforcing the idea of spiritual prostitution. These terms are not merely descriptive but carry the weight of betrayal and illicit devotion, portraying the covenant relationship with God as a sacred marriage that was consistently broken by Israel and Judah's pursuit of other deities and worldly powers.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 23:11 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Vigilance Against Idolatry: While overt idol worship may be less common in many societies, modern idolatry can take many forms: placing ultimate trust or affection in wealth, power, fame, comfort, technology, or even self. This verse challenges us to examine where our true devotion lies and to ensure God remains supreme in our lives, as warned in 1 John 5:21.
  • Learning from History: Just as Judah failed to learn from Israel's mistakes, we are called to learn from the errors and judgments of the past, both in biblical history and in our personal lives. Ignoring lessons from others' failures can lead to even greater spiritual pitfalls.
  • The Danger of Spiritual Complacency: Aholibah's sin was aggravated by her knowledge of Aholah's fate. This warns against spiritual complacency or presumption, reminding us that greater knowledge often brings greater responsibility. We are called to active and consistent faithfulness to God.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 3:8 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Ezekiel 16:47 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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.