Ezekiel 23:40

And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger [was] sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,

And furthermore {H637}, that ye have sent {H7971} for men {H582} to come {H935} from far {H4801}, unto whom a messenger {H4397} was sent {H7971}; and, lo, they came {H935}: for whom thou didst wash {H7364} thyself, paintedst {H3583} thy eyes {H5869}, and deckedst {H5710} thyself with ornaments {H5716},

"Worse still, you sent a messenger summoning men to come from a distance; and they came. For them you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decked yourself with your finery,

Furthermore, you sisters sent messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.

And furthermore ye have sent for men that come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent, and, lo, they came; for whom thou didst wash thyself, paint thine eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments,

Ezekiel 23:40 is part of a lengthy and vivid allegory in which God, through the prophet Ezekiel, condemns the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah. In this chapter, the two kingdoms are personified as two sisters, Aholah (Samaria, representing the northern kingdom of Israel) and Aholibah (Jerusalem, representing the southern kingdom of Judah). Both sisters are depicted as engaging in spiritual harlotry by forming illicit alliances with pagan nations and adopting their idolatrous practices.

Context

The entire chapter of Ezekiel 23 serves as a graphic indictment of God's people for their betrayal of their covenant relationship with Him. After the fall of the northern kingdom (Aholah/Israel), Judah (Aholibah) failed to learn from her sister's mistakes and continued in even greater apostasy. Verse 40 specifically focuses on Aholibah (Judah/Jerusalem) and her deliberate preparation for these unholy alliances. The imagery of "washing herself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments" vividly portrays Judah's eager and intentional pursuit of foreign powers like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, rather than trusting in the Lord. This was not a passive slide into sin, but an active, alluring posture towards worldly powers and their false gods, mirroring the behavior of a prostitute preparing for clients.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery: The central theme is Judah's profound unfaithfulness to God, her divine "husband." This spiritual harlotry is a common prophetic metaphor for idolatry and covenant breaking, as seen in other prophets like Jeremiah 3:6.
  • Idolatry and Foreign Alliances: The verse highlights how Judah sought security and prosperity not from God, but from pagan nations and their deities. Such alliances inevitably led to the adoption of foreign religious practices, directly violating God's commands against idolatry.
  • Deliberate Rebellion: The detailed description of Aholibah's beautification underscores the intentional and eager nature of Judah's sin. It was a conscious choice to abandon God's ways and pursue worldly enticements.
  • God's Indignation and Judgment: This verse is part of a larger passage detailing God's righteous anger and the severe judgment that would consequently fall upon Judah for her persistent rebellion.

Linguistic Insights & Imagery

The KJV phrase "paintedst thy eyes" reflects the Hebrew word *pāḥaṯ* (פָּחַת), which refers to the application of kohl or antimony to darken the eyelids. This was a common cosmetic practice in the ancient Near East, often associated with beautification for attraction, and in this context, with the seductive practices of a harlot. The act of "decking herself with ornaments" further emphasizes the elaborate effort made to appear desirable to these foreign "lovers." This vivid imagery serves to underscore the depth of Judah's spiritual depravity, transforming her from a pure bride of God into a brazen prostitute, actively seeking out unholy relationships. It highlights the stark contrast between God's expectation of exclusive devotion and Judah's blatant pursuit of other allegiances, turning away from her covenant relationship with God.

Practical Application

While this passage describes ancient Israel's specific sins, its message resonates powerfully today. The temptation to seek security, identity, or fulfillment from worldly sources rather than from God remains constant. Modern "idolatry" may not involve physical statues, but it can manifest as an excessive devotion to wealth, power, status, pleasure, or even political ideologies that supersede one's commitment to Christ. This verse calls believers to examine where their ultimate trust lies. Are we "decking ourselves" for worldly approval, or are we striving for purity and exclusive devotion to God? It reminds us that true security and blessing come from a faithful reliance on the Lord, not from seeking alliances with human powers or worldly systems that are contrary to His will.

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.

  • 2 Kings 9:30

    ¶ And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard [of it]; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

  • Jeremiah 4:30

    And [when] thou [art] spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

  • Ezekiel 16:13

    Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

  • Ezekiel 16:16

    And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].

  • Isaiah 3:18

    In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and [their] round tires like the moon,

  • Isaiah 3:23

    The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

  • Isaiah 57:9

    And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell.

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