Ezekiel 23:44

KJV

Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yet they went in {H935} unto her, as they go in {H935} unto a woman {H802} that playeth the harlot {H2181}: so went they in {H935} unto Aholah {H170} and unto Aholibah {H172}, the lewd {H2154} women {H802}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For every one went in to her; just as men go in to a prostitute, so they went in to Oholah and Oholivah, those debauched women.

Berean Standard Bible

And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.

American Standard Version

And they went in unto her, as they go in unto a harlot: so went they in unto Oholah and unto Oholibah, the lewd women.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 23:44 concludes a graphic and extended allegory in which the prophet Ezekiel vividly portrays the spiritual unfaithfulness of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Aholah/Samaria) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Aholibah/Jerusalem) as two sisters who engage in persistent and egregious spiritual prostitution. This verse specifically underscores the unrepentant and habitual nature of their idolatry and illicit political alliances, likening their actions to the most depraved forms of harlotry, thereby emphasizing the profound depth of their betrayal against their covenant God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 23 stands as a continuation of Ezekiel's prophetic indictment against Israel and Judah, building upon earlier allegories of unfaithfulness (e.g., the foundling in [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - The Allegory of the Foundling")). Chapter 23 specifically introduces two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, personifying Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah), respectively. The narrative meticulously details their escalating spiritual harlotry from their youth in Egypt through their alliances with Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, illustrating their repeated abandonment of Yahweh for foreign gods and political expediency. Verse 44 serves as a concluding summary of their pervasive and unceasing depravity, reinforcing the idea that despite repeated warnings and judgments, their sinful patterns persisted, leading directly into the pronouncement of severe divine judgment that follows in the subsequent verses and chapters (e.g., the siege of Jerusalem in [Ezekiel 24](/ezekiel/24 "Ezekiel 24 - The Boiling Pot and the Death of Ezekiel's Wife")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the tumultuous period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. Both Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) had a long history of vacillating between loyalty to Yahweh and adopting the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. The "harlotry" metaphor was deeply resonant in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where covenant relationships (like marriage) were often used to describe treaties between nations and a deity's relationship with a people. For Israel, the covenant at Sinai (see [Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - The Covenant at Sinai")) was explicitly a marriage covenant with Yahweh, making any worship of other gods or reliance on foreign powers a direct act of spiritual adultery. The alliances with Assyria (Aholah's sin) and later Egypt and Babylon (Aholibah's sin) were not merely political missteps but theological betrayals, as they involved adopting the gods and customs of those nations, thus polluting the exclusive worship of Yahweh. The graphic nature of the language reflects the severity of this covenant breach in the eyes of a holy God.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme explored in Ezekiel 23, and powerfully encapsulated in verse 44, is **Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry**. The persistent turning away from God to foreign deities and alliances is consistently depicted as a betrayal of the divine covenant, akin to a wife's infidelity. This highlights God's demand for exclusive devotion and His profound jealousy for His people (as seen in [Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy")). Another significant theme is **Persistent Sin and Unrepentance**. Despite divine warnings, prophetic messages, and even prior judgments (like the fall of Samaria in [2 Kings 17](/2_kings/17 "2 Kings 17 - The Fall of Samaria")), both kingdoms continued in their destructive patterns. This verse emphasizes the ingrained nature of their rebellion. Finally, the chapter underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Justice**. The graphic descriptions of their "harlotry" serve to justify the severe judgments God brings upon them, demonstrating that His actions are righteous responses to their profound and unceasing wickedness. The ultimate consequence of this spiritual harlotry is the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile, as prophesied throughout Ezekiel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **went in (Hebrew, _bôwʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies "to go or come" in a wide variety of applications, including entering, abiding, or even engaging in sexual intercourse. In this context, particularly when paired with "unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot," it carries the strong connotation of intimate, illicit engagement. It suggests a deliberate and repeated act of entering into a relationship or activity, here specifically referring to the people's active participation in idolatry and foreign alliances.
* **harlot (Hebrew, _zânâh'_):** This primitive root refers to committing adultery or fornication, typically of the female. Crucially, in a prophetic context, it is used figuratively to describe committing idolatry, where the Jewish people are seen as the spouse of Yahweh. The term emphasizes the grave breach of covenant faithfulness, likening the worship of other gods to sexual promiscuity and betrayal within a sacred marriage. Its repetition underscores the pervasive and habitual nature of Israel and Judah's spiritual infidelity.
* **lewd (Hebrew, _zimmâh'_):** This word denotes a plan, especially a bad one, or a heinous crime. It signifies depravity, mischief, and wicked thought or purpose. When applied to Aholah and Aholibah, it intensifies the condemnation, indicating that their actions were not merely accidental lapses but deliberate, calculated acts of moral and spiritual corruption, driven by a wicked mind and purpose. It highlights the intentionality and deep-seated nature of their sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yet they went in unto her":** This phrase refers to the persistent and active engagement of the people (implied, the men of Israel and Judah) with the personified nations/sisters, Aholah and Aholibah. The "going in" denotes intimate and illicit involvement, signifying their participation in the spiritual harlotry that these sisters represent.
* **"as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot":** This is a powerful simile that explicitly defines the nature of their "going in." It clarifies that their engagement with Aholah and Aholibah was not merely political or cultural interaction but a profound and morally debased act, equivalent to seeking out and engaging with a prostitute. This comparison emphasizes the degrading and unholy nature of their spiritual infidelity.
* **"so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah":** This restates and confirms the application of the simile directly to the two allegorical sisters, Samaria (Aholah) and Jerusalem (Aholibah). It reiterates that the people of both kingdoms, represented by these sisters, consistently and habitually engaged in spiritual harlotry, pursuing idolatry and illicit alliances with foreign nations.
* **"the lewd women":** This final descriptive phrase serves as a definitive moral judgment on Aholah and Aholibah. The term "lewd" (zimmâh) signifies a wicked plan or heinous crime, cementing the idea that their actions were not just misguided but deeply depraved, intentional, and morally corrupt. It encapsulates the full extent of their spiritual degradation and the severity of their offense against God.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 23:44 is rich in literary devices, primarily employing **Allegory** and **Personification**. The entire chapter is an extended allegory where two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, personify the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem). This allows the prophet to convey complex theological truths about national unfaithfulness through a relatable, albeit shocking, human narrative. **Personification** is evident in attributing human actions and moral character (specifically, harlotry and lewdness) to these abstract political entities. The verse also prominently features **Simile**, comparing the people's "going in" to Aholah and Aholibah to the act of "going in unto a woman that playeth the harlot." This comparison is intentionally graphic and provocative, designed to evoke disgust and highlight the extreme offense of their spiritual infidelity. Furthermore, there is a degree of **Repetition** in the phrase "went in unto her" and "went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah," which emphasizes the persistent and habitual nature of their sin, underscoring their unrepentant rebellion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 23:44 powerfully articulates the severity of spiritual idolatry and unfaithfulness, portraying it as the ultimate betrayal of a covenant relationship with God. This concept of Israel as God's unfaithful bride is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing God's exclusive claim on His people's devotion and the profound offense caused by their turning to other gods or earthly alliances. It highlights the sanctity of the covenant and the devastating consequences of its breach. The persistent nature of their sin, even after experiencing divine judgment, underscores humanity's deep-seated propensity for rebellion and the need for radical transformation.

* [Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - Hosea's Marriage to a Harlot")
* [Jeremiah 3:6-10](/jeremiah/3-6-10 "Jeremiah 3:6-10 - Judah's Greater Apostasy")
* [Revelation 17:1-6](/revelation/17-1-6 "Revelation 17:1-6 - Babylon the Great Harlot")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 23:44, though graphically depicting ancient Israel's spiritual harlotry, serves as a timeless and sobering warning for believers today. It challenges us to examine the purity of our devotion to God. In a world brimming with distractions, temptations, and competing allegiances, are we truly giving God our exclusive loyalty, or are we, like Aholah and Aholibah, "going in" to spiritual harlotry by pursuing worldly idols? These idols can manifest as an insatiable desire for wealth, power, approval, comfort, or even intellectual pursuits that subtly displace God from the center of our lives. The passage calls us to a radical self-assessment, urging us to identify and repent of any area where our affections or trust are placed in anything other than the Lord. It reminds us that true spiritual health lies in undivided devotion and that compromise with the world's values is a form of spiritual infidelity that grieves the heart of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign alliances" or worldly pursuits in my life might be drawing my devotion away from God?**
* **In what ways might I be engaging in "spiritual harlotry" by seeking satisfaction or security outside of my relationship with Christ?**
* **How can I cultivate a more exclusive and undivided devotion to God in my daily life?**
* **What specific idols, subtle or overt, do I need to identify and repent of in order to live a life of greater faithfulness?**

### FAQ
**Why does God use such graphic language to describe Israel's sin?**

Answer: The graphic language in Ezekiel, particularly the allegory of harlotry in [Ezekiel 23](/ezekiel/23 "Ezekiel 23 - The Allegory of Aholah and Aholibah"), is intentionally shocking and visceral. It serves to convey the extreme severity and offensive nature of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to God. Just as marital infidelity is a profound betrayal of a sacred covenant, so too was Israel's idolatry and reliance on foreign nations a deep betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh. The strong imagery underscores God's righteous anger and the gravity of their sin, aiming to provoke a sense of disgust and repentance in the audience. It highlights that their actions were not minor transgressions but heinous crimes against a holy God who had chosen them as His own.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 23:44 vividly portrays the depths of Israel's unfaithfulness, it also implicitly sets the stage for the ultimate faithfulness of God, perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's chosen bride, repeatedly played the harlot, demonstrating humanity's inability to maintain covenant fidelity. This persistent failure underscores the necessity of a new covenant, one not dependent on human obedience but on divine grace. Jesus Christ, the faithful Son, perfectly fulfilled the covenant requirements that Israel failed to keep. He did not "go in" to spiritual harlotry but remained perfectly devoted to the Father, even unto death on the cross (see [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Furthermore, Christ came to redeem and cleanse the "lewd women"—humanity steeped in spiritual adultery—making them His pure bride, the Church (as described in [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). Through His sacrifice, He takes away the sin of the world, transforming those who were spiritual harlots into a people zealous for good works (see [Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ Redeemed Us")). Thus, Ezekiel's lament over Israel's harlotry finds its ultimate resolution in Christ, who offers true cleansing, forgiveness, and the promise of an eternal, unbreakable covenant of faithfulness with His redeemed people.

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

Ezekiel 23:3

And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

Ezekiel 23:9

Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.

Ezekiel 23:13

Then I saw that she was defiled, [that] they [took] both one way,