Ezekiel 23:7

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 23:7 powerfully depicts the northern kingdom of Israel's (Aholah's) profound spiritual unfaithfulness through the vivid metaphor of prostitution. This verse meticulously details her deep, passionate entanglement with foreign powers, specifically the elite of Assyria, and the subsequent adoption of their gods. It underscores the deliberate and eager nature of Israel's apostasy, revealing how political alliances driven by misplaced trust inevitably led to rampant idolatry and severe spiritual defilement, a direct betrayal of her exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 23:7 is intricately woven into an extended prophetic allegory in which two sisters, Aholah (representing Samaria/Israel) and Aholibah (representing Jerusalem/Judah), symbolize the spiritual history of God's people. The chapter commences by establishing their shared origins of "whoredoms" in Egypt, signifying their initial deviations from God. The narrative then meticulously traces Aholah's (Israel's) escalating unfaithfulness, particularly her infatuation with and alliances with Assyria. This specific verse marks a critical point, describing the culmination of her spiritual defilement through these foreign entanglements, which directly foreshadows the severe divine judgment pronounced against her later in the chapter and reflects the historical downfall of the northern kingdom in 722 BCE. The subsequent verses will pivot to highlight Aholibah's (Judah's) even greater spiritual depravity, building upon the precedent of Israel's sin and warning of impending judgment for Judah.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Ezekiel 23 is the tumultuous period preceding and during the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th century BCE). The northern kingdom of Israel (Aholah) had a long-standing pattern of seeking political and military security through alliances with dominant empires, rather than trusting in Yahweh. Assyria, a formidable Mesopotamian power from the 9th to 7th centuries BCE, was renowned for its military might and aggressive imperial expansion. Crucially, political treaties with such powers often mandated the vassal state to acknowledge and worship the gods of the dominant empire, making political allegiance synonymous with religious syncretism. Israel's pursuit of these alliances, particularly with the "chosen men of Assyria," thus involved a direct violation of the Mosaic Covenant's foundational command for exclusive worship of Yahweh, as articulated in passages like [Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment"). The "spiritual whoredom" in this verse directly reflects Israel's historical embrace of foreign deities and practices, which ultimately contributed to their destruction by Assyria.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. Foremost is the pervasive theme of **Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry**, where Israel's covenant relationship with God is consistently depicted as a marriage, and their pursuit of foreign gods and alliances is condemned as an act of "harlotry." This metaphor profoundly conveys the depth of betrayal, as God views Himself as a jealous husband who demands exclusive devotion, a concept reiterated in [Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy"). Another crucial theme is **Defilement and Impurity**. The phrase "with all their idols she defiled herself" highlights how engaging with pagan worship rendered Israel ceremonially, morally, and spiritually unclean in God's sight. This defilement was not merely external but corrupted the very essence of their identity as God's holy people. Finally, the verse clearly foreshadows the **Consequences of Unfaithfulness**, illustrating that persistent rebellion and idolatry would inevitably lead to divine judgment and desolation, a recurring motif throughout Ezekiel and the prophetic warnings to Israel, as seen in the blessings and curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Whoredoms (Hebrew, _taznûwth'_):** (H8457) Derived from the root _zanah_ meaning "to commit fornication," this term, while literally referring to prostitution, is consistently employed in prophetic literature to denote spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and covenant-breaking. Its use here powerfully conveys the depth of Israel's betrayal of their exclusive covenant with Yahweh, portraying their eager pursuit of foreign alliances and gods as a profound act of spiritual adultery against their divine husband.
* **Chosen (Hebrew, _mibchâr'_):** (H4005) From the root _bachar_ meaning "to choose" or "select," this word refers to the "best," "choicest," or most elite men of Assyria. It emphasizes the allure and perceived strength of these foreign powers, suggesting that Israel was drawn to what appeared to be the most powerful and desirable alliances for security and prestige, rather than trusting in God alone. This highlights Israel's misplaced reliance on human strength and worldly connections over divine faithfulness.
* **Idols (Hebrew, _gillûwl'_):** (H1544) Properly meaning "a log" (as something round or rolled) or, contemptuously, "dung," this term is a derogatory and contemptuous word for idols. It reflects the prophets' disdain for pagan deities, often portraying them as lifeless, worthless objects, akin to excrement. The use of this term underscores the utter foolishness, spiritual degradation, and moral impurity involved in Israel's worship of these false gods, which were nothing more than "dung-gods" in God's eyes, yet they were the instruments by which Israel "defiled herself."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus she committed her whoredoms with them,"**: This opening clause establishes the core accusation against Israel (Aholah): she engaged in profound spiritual unfaithfulness. The term "whoredoms" functions as a potent metaphor for their idolatry and covenant-breaking, indicating a deliberate, repeated, and passionate pattern of turning away from Yahweh, their divine husband, to pursue illicit spiritual relationships with other gods and nations.
* **"with all them [that were] the chosen men of Assyria,"**: This specifies the objects of Israel's spiritual harlotry – the elite, powerful, and seemingly most desirable figures of the Assyrian empire. This points directly to Israel's political alliances with Assyria, which were not merely diplomatic but were inextricably linked to the adoption of Assyrian religious practices and deities. The phrase "chosen men" suggests Israel's attraction to the perceived strength, prestige, and allure of this dominant world power, seeking security and prosperity from them rather than from God.
* **"and with all on whom she doted:"**: This phrase further emphasizes the passionate, intense, and infatuated nature of Israel's spiritual apostasy. The word "doted" (from H5689 _ʻăgab_) implies an intense, almost obsessive, desire or lust. It highlights that Israel's turning to Assyria and its gods was not a passive or accidental act but an active, eager, and deeply emotional pursuit, driven by a profound spiritual longing misplaced on foreign entities rather than on God.
* **"with all their idols she defiled herself."**: This conclusive clause reveals the ultimate consequence and nature of Israel's actions. Their political and passionate engagements with Assyria inevitably led to the embrace and worship of Assyrian idolatry. The term "idols" (H1544 _gillûwl_) is a derogatory reference to these false gods, emphasizing their worthlessness and despicable nature. The act of "defiled herself" (H2930 _ṭâmêʼ_) signifies that these actions rendered Israel ritually, morally, and spiritually unclean in the sight of a holy God, breaking their covenant purity, corrupting their identity, and separating them from His presence.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 23:7 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message and emotional impact. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel is vividly portrayed as "whoredom" or prostitution. This extended metaphor, prevalent throughout prophetic literature, powerfully conveys the depth of betrayal involved in breaking the covenant relationship with God, which is consistently likened to a sacred marriage. **Personification** is also central, as the nation of Israel (and Judah in the broader chapter) is personified as a woman, Aholah, who engages in these acts of spiritual adultery. This allows for a deeply personal, emotionally charged, and morally condemning depiction of the nation's sin. Furthermore, there is an element of **Irony** in Israel's actions: in seeking strength and security from the "chosen men of Assyria," they ultimately defiled themselves with "their idols," thereby undermining their true spiritual foundation and inviting divine judgment rather than protection. The prophet's deliberate use of the derogatory term "idols" (_gillûwl_) also employs **Dysphemism**, intentionally using a negative or offensive term to express profound contempt and disdain for the pagan deities.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 23:7 profoundly articulates the gravity of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, presenting it as a direct and passionate violation of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. The theological implication is unequivocally clear: God demands exclusive devotion from His people, viewing any form of idolatry or reliance on foreign powers as spiritual adultery. This betrayal not only breaks the sacred covenant but also results in profound defilement, rendering the people unclean and separated from God's holiness and presence. The verse underscores the active, eager, and passionate nature of Israel's apostasy, highlighting their ardent pursuit of worldly alliances and the false gods associated with them, rather than trusting in the one true God. This serves as a stark and enduring reminder that true security, blessing, and spiritual purity come only from unwavering faithfulness and singular devotion to God, and that compromise with the world inevitably leads to spiritual corruption and divine judgment.

* [Exodus 34:15](/exodus/34-15 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warnings Against Idolatrous Alliances")
* [Deuteronomy 31:16](/deuteronomy/31-16 "Deuteronomy 31:16 - Israel's Future Apostasy")
* [Jeremiah 3:8](/jeremiah/3-8 "Jeremiah 3:8-9 - Israel's Spiritual Harlotry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 23:7 offers a timeless and potent warning for believers today, challenging us to scrutinize the allegiances and affections of our own hearts. Just as ancient Israel sought security and allure in foreign powers and their gods, we too can be tempted to place our trust, affection, and devotion in worldly pursuits—whether wealth, power, relationships, success, comfort, or even cultural trends—that subtly displace God from His rightful place of supremacy. The "chosen men of Assyria" and their "idols" can be seen as anything that promises fulfillment, security, or identity apart from Christ, leading to spiritual defilement and a fractured relationship with God. This passage calls us to an uncompromising and undivided devotion, reminding us that our covenant with God demands exclusive loyalty and purity. It urges us to actively resist the pervasive influences of a world that often presents attractive alternatives to biblical truth, ensuring that our lives are characterized by unreserved purity and singular devotion to the Lord, who alone is worthy of our complete trust and worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "chosen men" or alluring influences in my life might be subtly drawing my devotion away from God?**
* **In what ways might I be "doting" on worldly things, rather than passionately pursuing God and His righteousness?**
* **How does my daily life reflect an undivided devotion to God, or are there "idols" (anything I prioritize over God) that defile my spiritual walk?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my alliances, pursuits, and affections are aligned with God's will and not leading to spiritual compromise?**

### FAQ
**What does "whoredoms" mean in the context of Ezekiel 23:7?**

Answer: In Ezekiel 23:7 and throughout prophetic literature, "whoredoms" (Hebrew: _taznûwth_) is a powerful and frequently used metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. It signifies Israel's betrayal of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, which was often depicted as a marriage between God and His people. Just as a wife's infidelity breaks the marriage covenant, Israel's pursuit of foreign gods and political alliances with pagan nations (like Assyria) constituted a breach of their exclusive devotion to God, making them spiritually impure and defiled in His sight. This metaphor highlights the profound depth of their betrayal and the passionate, deliberate nature of their apostasy.

**Who are Aholah and Aholibah, and why are they important to understanding this chapter?**

Answer: Aholah and Aholibah are allegorical figures introduced in [Ezekiel 23:4 - The Two Sisters](/ezekiel/23-4 "Ezekiel 23:4 - The Two Sisters") to represent the two kingdoms of Israel. Aholah represents Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which fell to Assyria in 722 BCE due to its unfaithfulness. Aholibah represents Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah, which was later conquered by Babylon. They are depicted as sisters who both engaged in "whoredoms" (spiritual idolatry and unfaithful alliances) from their youth, symbolizing their early spiritual deviations in Egypt. Their allegorical roles are crucial because they allow Ezekiel to vividly portray the historical progression of Israel's and Judah's spiritual apostasy, demonstrating how both kingdoms repeatedly abandoned their covenant with God for foreign entanglements and idolatry, ultimately leading to their respective destructions. Ezekiel 23:7 specifically focuses on Aholah's (Israel's) actions with Assyria.

**Why is Assyria specifically mentioned in this verse, and what does it signify?**

Answer: Assyria is specifically mentioned in Ezekiel 23:7 because it was a dominant geopolitical power during the time of the northern kingdom of Israel (Aholah). Israel frequently sought political and military alliances with Assyria, believing these alliances would provide security and strength against other enemies. However, such political treaties often required the vassal state to adopt the gods and religious practices of the dominant power. Therefore, Israel's alliance with the "chosen men of Assyria" symbolized not just a political pact but a profound spiritual compromise and the adoption of Assyrian idolatry. This act of "doting" on Assyria and their gods was a direct violation of God's command for exclusive worship, leading to Israel's spiritual defilement and ultimately contributing to their downfall. The mention of Assyria underscores the historical reality of Israel's misplaced trust and spiritual rebellion against Yahweh.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 23:7, with its stark depiction of Israel's spiritual harlotry and profound defilement through idolatrous alliances, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's chosen bride, repeatedly broke her covenant vows, pursuing the "chosen men of Assyria" and their "idols" in a cycle of unfaithfulness. This persistent pattern demonstrated humanity's inherent inability to maintain a pure and exclusive devotion to God under the Old Covenant, highlighting the desperate need for divine intervention. Jesus, however, comes as the faithful Bridegroom (as seen in [Matthew 9:15 - Jesus, the Bridegroom](/matthew/9-15 "Matthew 9:15 - Jesus, the Bridegroom")), who perfectly fulfills the covenant requirements that Israel failed to keep. He did not "dote" on worldly powers or defile Himself with idols; instead, He lived a life of perfect obedience and singular devotion to the Father, even unto death on the cross. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus provides the means for true cleansing from the defilement of sin and idolatry, which Israel could never achieve on its own. The New Covenant, inaugurated by His precious blood, establishes a relationship of grace where believers, the Church, are presented as a pure and spotless bride to Christ ([Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church")). We are no longer called to seek security in the "chosen men" of this world or be defiled by its "idols," but rather to find our complete identity, security, and devotion in Him, who alone is worthy of our worship and trust ([Colossians 3:5-10 - Putting Off the Old Self](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5-10 - Putting Off the Old Self")). In Christ, the devastating cycle of spiritual harlotry is broken, and a new, undefiled relationship with God is made possible through His perfect faithfulness and cleansing power, leading to eternal communion with the Holy One.

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

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.