Ezekiel 23:7

Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them [that were] the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.

Thus she committed {H5414} her whoredoms {H8457} with them, with all them that were the chosen {H4005} men {H1121} of Assyria {H804}, and with all on whom she doted {H5689}: with all their idols {H1544} she defiled {H2930} herself.

She gave herself as a whore to them, all of them the elite of Ashur; and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.

She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.

And she bestowed her whoredoms upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself.

Commentary on Ezekiel 23:7 (KJV)

Ezekiel 23:7 describes the spiritual unfaithfulness of God's people, particularly the northern kingdom of Israel (represented by Aholah in this chapter's allegory), through the vivid metaphor of prostitution. This verse highlights their deep entanglement with foreign powers and their gods, which was a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh.

Context

Chapter 23 of Ezekiel presents an extended allegory of two sisters, Aholah (Samaria, representing Israel) and Aholibah (Jerusalem, representing Judah). Both began their "whoredoms" in Egypt, but the chapter details their continued unfaithfulness with other nations. Verse 7 specifically focuses on Aholah's (Israel's) spiritual defilement through her alliances and adoration of Assyria. This narrative vividly portrays Israel's repeated failure to uphold their covenant relationship with God, which was often depicted as a marriage. Their political and military alliances with powerful nations like Assyria inevitably led to the adoption of their idolatrous practices.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The core message is Israel's betrayal of God by pursuing foreign gods and alliances. "Whoredoms" here is a strong metaphorical term for spiritual unfaithfulness, a breach of the exclusive covenant God made with His people. The passage emphasizes that this was not merely political but deeply religious and spiritual.
  • Defilement through Idols: The phrase "with all their idols she defiled herself" directly links the political alliances to religious impurity. Engaging with the worship of foreign gods was an act of defilement, making Israel ceremonially and morally unclean in God's sight. This spiritual adultery, where the people pursued alliances and worshipped the gods of foreign nations, was a direct violation of God's command for exclusive worship of Him.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: This verse foreshadows the severe judgment that would fall upon Israel due to their persistent rebellion and idolatry. God, as a jealous God, would not tolerate such blatant disregard for His covenant.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "whoredoms" is zanût (זָנוּת), which primarily refers to prostitution, but in prophetic contexts, it consistently denotes spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and covenant-breaking. It powerfully conveys the depth of betrayal involved.
  • "Defiled herself" comes from the Hebrew root ṭāma' (טָמֵא), meaning to be unclean or defiled. In the Old Testament, defilement often resulted from contact with ritually unclean things or from sinful acts, particularly idolatry. This highlights that their actions rendered them impure and separated from God's holiness.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 23:7 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual compromise and the dangers of allowing worldly influences to corrupt one's devotion to God. For ancient Israel, foreign alliances often led to adopting foreign gods and practices, breaking the first commandment. For believers today, the principle remains vital.

  • Undivided Devotion: This verse calls us to examine our own hearts and allegiances. Are there "idols" in our lives—anything that takes precedence over God, whether it be wealth, power, relationships, or personal ambition? The passage serves as a timeless warning against any form of spiritual idolatry in our lives, urging believers to maintain undivided devotion to God.
  • Beware of Worldly Influences: Just as Israel was tempted by the "chosen men of Assyria" and their attractive cultures, believers today must be discerning about the influences they allow into their lives. Cultural trends, media, or philosophies that contradict biblical truth can subtly lead to spiritual defilement.
  • The Nature of the Covenant: The passage underscores the seriousness of our relationship with God, which He views as a sacred covenant. Like a faithful spouse, God expects exclusive devotion. Our faithfulness to Him is paramount, reflecting our love and respect for His holiness and His commandments.
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.

  • Hosea 6:10

    I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there [is] the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

  • Hosea 5:3

    I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, [and] Israel is defiled.

  • Ezekiel 20:7

    Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Ezekiel 22:3

    Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.

  • Ezekiel 22:4

    Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come [even] unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.

  • Genesis 10:22

    The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

  • Ezekiel 23:30

    I will do these [things] unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, [and] because thou art polluted with their idols.

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