Ezekiel 23:23

The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, [and] all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

The Babylonians {H1121}{H894}, and all the Chaldeans {H3778}, Pekod {H6489}, and Shoa {H7772}, and Koa {H6970}, and all the Assyrians {H1121}{H804} with them: all of them desirable {H2531} young men {H970}, captains {H6346} and rulers {H5461}, great lords {H7991} and renowned {H7121}, all of them riding {H7392} upon horses {H5483}.

the men of Bavel and all the Kasdim, P'kod, Shoa and Koa, and with them all the men of Ashur, good-looking young men, all of them governors and rulers, commanders and officers, all on horseback.

the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses.

the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and rulers all of them, princes and men of renown, all of them riding upon horses.

Commentary

Ezekiel 23:23 KJV is part of a vivid prophetic allegory in which the prophet Ezekiel denounces the spiritual harlotry of Samaria (Aholah) and Jerusalem (Aholibah), representing the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, respectively. This chapter graphically portrays Judah's deep-seated idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, drawing parallels to a woman who repeatedly engages in illicit affairs with foreign nations. The described "lovers" are the very nations God will use as instruments of judgment, emphasizing the consequences of their spiritual unfaithfulness.

Context

In Ezekiel 23, God uses the extended metaphor of two sisters, Aholah (Samaria) and Aholibah (Jerusalem), to illustrate the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah. Both sisters engaged in spiritual adultery by forming alliances with and adopting the idolatrous practices of foreign nations. While Aholah (Samaria) had already suffered judgment at the hands of the Assyrians, Aholibah (Jerusalem) continued in even greater apostasy. Verse 23 specifically identifies the formidable forces of the Babylonian empire, augmented by various allied groups, who would execute God's wrath upon Jerusalem. It details the specific components of the invading army that God would raise up against His unfaithful people, highlighting their strength and renown.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse vividly portrays God's sovereign use of powerful nations as instruments of His judgment against His disobedient people. The strength and renown of the invading forces underscore the severity and inevitability of the impending doom for Jerusalem, a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry and moral corruption.
  • Consequences of Idolatry: A central theme is that the very nations with whom Judah sought illicit alliances (spiritual harlotry) become the means of their downfall. This illustrates the principle that sin often carries its own inherent punishment and that turning away from God inevitably leads to destruction. This concept is a recurring warning throughout the prophets, emphasizing the danger of forsaking God for worldly attachments, as seen in Jeremiah 2:13.
  • Irresistible Force: The description of the invading army as "desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses" emphasizes their overwhelming power, leadership, and military might. This formidable force would be divinely orchestrated to ensure that there would be no escape from this judgment, signifying the total nature of the coming destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The names "Pekod, Shoa, and Koa" likely refer to specific tribal groups or regions within the broader Chaldean/Babylonian sphere of influence. While their exact geographical locations are debated, their inclusion emphasizes the comprehensive and diverse nature of the invading coalition. Their presence signifies a total mobilization of forces, highlighting the inescapable nature of God's judgment against Jerusalem. The term "Chaldeans" (Kasdim in Hebrew) often refers to the dominant ethnic group within the Neo-Babylonian Empire, renowned for their military prowess and strategic capabilities.

Related Scriptures

  • The historical account of Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians is extensively documented in other biblical books. For further reading on this devastating event, consider 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52.
  • Ezekiel's broader message of judgment and subsequent restoration is a significant prophetic theme. The promise of future hope and spiritual revival for Israel is powerfully depicted in the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37.
  • The concept of God raising up a nation to execute judgment is also seen in Habakkuk 1:6, where the prophet laments the Chaldeans' rise as an instrument of God's wrath.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 23:23 serves as a sobering reminder of God's justice and the inevitable consequences of spiritual rebellion and unfaithfulness. It underscores the danger of seeking alliances, comfort, or security in anything other than God, as these very sources can become instruments of distress and downfall. For believers today, this passage highlights the critical importance of spiritual faithfulness, avoiding compromise with worldly values, and maintaining a covenant relationship with God. Our true strength, protection, and security are found only in Him, not in external powers or pursuits. It calls us to examine where our loyalties lie and to remain steadfast in our devotion to the Lord.

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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 50:21

    ¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

  • 2 Kings 24:2

    And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

  • 2 Kings 20:14

    Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, [even] from Babylon.

  • 2 Kings 20:17

    Behold, the days come, that all that [is] in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

  • Job 1:17

    While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  • Isaiah 23:13

    Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin.

  • Ezekiel 23:12

    She doted upon the Assyrians [her] neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.
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