Ezekiel 23:35

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because thou hast forgotten {H7911} me, and cast {H7993} me behind {H310} thy back {H1458}, therefore bear {H5375} thou also thy lewdness {H2154} and thy whoredoms {H8457}.

"Therefore this is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Because you forgot me and flung me behind your back, you will bear the guilt of your lewdness and whoring.'"

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

Commentary on Ezekiel 23:35 (KJV)

Ezekiel 23:35 delivers a stark declaration of divine judgment against Judah (represented by Oholibah) and previously, Israel (Oholah), for their profound spiritual unfaithfulness. This verse encapsulates the Lord God's response to their deliberate rejection of Him.

Context

Ezekiel chapter 23 employs a vivid and disturbing allegory of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, representing the southern kingdom of Judah). Both sisters are portrayed as wives to the Lord, but they engage in spiritual "whoredoms" by pursuing illicit alliances with foreign nations (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt) and adopting their idolatrous practices. The chapter details their escalating depravity, which is likened to prostitution, symbolizing their betrayal of the covenant relationship with God. The Lord's patience has run out, and this verse marks a climactic pronouncement of the inevitable consequences for their actions, echoing themes found throughout Ezekiel concerning Jerusalem's unfaithfulness, as seen in Ezekiel 16.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment for Spiritual Adultery: The core message is God's righteous judgment against Israel and Judah for their idolatry and reliance on foreign powers instead of Him. This "whoredom" is spiritual unfaithfulness, a breaking of the covenant vows.
  • Consequences of Forgetting God: The phrase "Because thou hast forgotten me" highlights the root cause of their sin. It implies a deliberate disregard for God's commands, His past provisions, and His very existence in their national life, leading to severe penalties. The Old Testament frequently warns against forgetting the Lord.
  • Bearing One's Own Sins: The command "therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms" signifies that the nations will face the full weight of the consequences of their own sinful choices. They will reap what they have sown, emphasizing individual and national accountability before God. This principle is also clear in Ezekiel 18:20.
  • God's Sovereignty and Justice: Despite the nations' rebellion, God remains in control, executing justice according to His holy character. His judgment is not arbitrary but a direct response to their actions.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Forgotten me" (shakach): More than a simple lapse of memory, this Hebrew term implies a deliberate disregard or neglect, a turning away from what one should remember and honor. It speaks to a profound spiritual amnesia and rejection of God's covenant.
  • "Cast me behind thy back": This idiomatic expression powerfully conveys contempt, disdain, and utter rejection. It means to treat God's laws, presence, and covenant as worthless and irrelevant.
  • "Lewdness" (zimmah): This word denotes wickedness, depravity, evil thoughts, or schemes, often associated with sexual immorality but here applied to spiritual perversion and idolatry. It speaks to the corrupt nature of their actions.
  • "Whoredoms" (zanah): This common biblical term for prostitution is used allegorically throughout the prophets to describe spiritual infidelity, idolatry, and breaking the covenant with God by seeking alliances with foreign gods and nations.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 23:35 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and compromise. For believers today, it underscores the critical importance of:

  1. Remembering God: Actively cultivating a relationship with God through prayer, study of His Word, and obedience, so as not to "forget" Him in the daily routines and challenges of life.
  2. Avoiding Spiritual Idolatry: Recognizing and rejecting anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts – whether it be materialism, career, relationships, or even self-reliance.
  3. Understanding Consequences: Acknowledging that sin has consequences. While believers are forgiven through Christ, actions still yield results, and a life of deliberate unfaithfulness can lead to divine discipline, a loss of blessing, and a separation from God's full presence and power.
  4. Living Accountably: Embracing personal responsibility for our choices and understanding that God is just and will hold us accountable for our actions, both individually and corporately.

This verse reminds us that God's justice is sure, and His call to faithfulness is unwavering. Our relationship with Him should be one of exclusive devotion, lest we too "bear our lewdness and our whoredoms."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Kings 14:9

    But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

  • Ezekiel 22:12

    In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Jeremiah 3:21

    A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, [and] they have forgotten the LORD their God.

  • Isaiah 17:10

    Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

  • Jeremiah 32:33

    And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them], yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

  • Numbers 14:34

    After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

  • Hosea 8:14

    For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

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