Ezekiel 23:8

KJV

Neither left she her whoredoms [brought] from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.

KJV (with Strong's)

Neither left {H5800} she her whoredoms {H8457} brought from Egypt {H4714}: for in her youth {H5271} they lay {H7901} with her, and they bruised {H6213} the breasts {H1717} of her virginity {H1331}, and poured {H8210} their whoredom {H8457} upon her.

Complete Jewish Bible

She did not give up the whoring she had begun in Egypt, where men had sex with her, fondled her virgin nipples and flooded her with their fornication.

Berean Standard Bible

She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.

American Standard Version

Neither hath she left her whoredoms since the days of Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her, and they handled the bosom of her virginity; and they poured out their whoredom upon her.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 23:8 delivers a searing indictment against Oholibah, representing the Southern Kingdom of Judah, for her entrenched and unyielding spiritual infidelity. Through vivid allegorical language, the verse portrays Judah as a harlot who never abandoned the idolatrous practices and illicit political entanglements that originated during her formative period in Egypt. It powerfully underscores the persistent and deeply rooted nature of her rebellion against Yahweh, highlighting the profound defilement and betrayal of her sacred covenant relationship with God that began in the earliest stages of her national history and continued unabated through generations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 23 serves as a profound continuation and intensification of the allegorical theme of spiritual harlotry, first introduced and extensively developed in [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - Jerusalem's Spiritual Adultery"), which detailed Jerusalem's profound unfaithfulness. In this chapter, the prophet introduces two sisters, Oholah (symbolizing Samaria, the Northern Kingdom) and Oholibah (representing Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom), both depicted engaging in illicit sexual acts as a powerful metaphor for their pervasive idolatry and unholy political alliances with pagan nations. Verse 8 specifically zeroes in on Oholibah (Judah), emphasizing that her "whoredoms" were not a recent or transient deviation but were deeply "brought from Egypt," thereby establishing a long and tragic historical lineage of spiritual rebellion. This highlights the ingrained nature of Judah's sin, demonstrating that their current state of profound defilement and impending judgment was the culmination of generations of covenant betrayal, directly linking their present woes to their past choices and persistent refusal to repent and return to Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Ezekiel's prophetic ministry is the harrowing period of the Babylonian exile, a time when the people of Judah were grappling with the devastating consequences of their prolonged unfaithfulness. The reference to Judah's "youth" in Egypt points to the foundational period of Israel's nationhood, encompassing their bondage in Egypt, the miraculous Exodus, and their formative wilderness wanderings. During this crucial era, they were repeatedly exposed to, and often succumbed to, the polytheistic practices and idolatrous influences of Egypt, vividly exemplified by the infamous golden calf incident shortly after their liberation from slavery, as recorded in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf Incident"). The "whoredoms" serve as a potent metaphor for both literal idolatry—the worship of foreign gods—and the formation of treacherous political alliances with pagan nations like Egypt or Assyria. Such alliances were considered a profound betrayal of their exclusive covenant with Yahweh, who demanded singular devotion. In the ancient Near East, treaties often necessitated swearing by and worshipping the gods of the allied nation, making such political entanglements a direct violation of the First Commandment. The graphic sexual imagery, though shocking to modern sensibilities, was a common and powerful prophetic device employed to convey the depth and intimacy of Israel's covenant infidelity, mirroring the exclusivity and fidelity expected within a marital relationship.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 23:8 profoundly contributes to several major theological and narrative themes woven throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. Foremost among these is the theme of **Persistent Idolatry and Covenant Betrayal**, vividly illustrating Judah's stubborn and unyielding refusal to abandon the pagan practices and political entanglements that either originated from or were reinforced by their historical ties with Egypt. This was not merely a transient lapse but a deeply entrenched spiritual condition that fundamentally violated their sacred covenant with Yahweh. The stark phrase "neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt" powerfully underscores the **Historical Continuity of Sin**, demonstrating how ancestral sins and the influences of past generations can persist and manifest in deeply rooted patterns of rebellion if not genuinely repented of and forsaken. Furthermore, the disturbing and visceral imagery of defilement powerfully conveys **God's Abhorrence of Spiritual Adultery**, reflecting the Lord's profound offense, sorrow, and righteous indignation over His chosen people's rejection of Him for false gods and unreliable human alliances. This resonates deeply with other prophetic condemnations of Israel's unfaithfulness, such as those found in [Jeremiah 2](/jeremiah/2 "Jeremiah 2 - Israel's Idolatry and Apostasy") and [Hosea 4](/hosea/4 "Hosea 4 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery and Judgment").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **whoredoms (Hebrew, _taznûwth'_):** This term (H8457), derived from the root _zanah_ (to commit fornication), literally refers to physical prostitution. However, in the prophetic literature, and especially throughout Ezekiel's powerful allegories, it is almost exclusively employed metaphorically. It signifies spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and the grievous breaking of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. It vividly portrays Israel's turning away from their exclusive devotion to God by worshipping foreign deities and forming unholy alliances with pagan nations, thereby betraying their divine "husband."
* **left (Hebrew, _ʻâzab'_):** This primitive root (H5800) carries the meaning "to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc." In the context of Ezekiel 23:8, it emphatically highlights Judah's deliberate, active, and persistent refusal to abandon her idolatrous practices. It's not merely a passive failure to cease sinning, but an active choice to cling to these "whoredoms" rather than forsake them, underscoring the profound depth of their spiritual stubbornness and their rebellious defiance against God's explicit commands and warnings.
* **virginity (Hebrew, _bᵉthûwlîym'_):** This term (H1331) refers to the state of being a virgin, inherently implying purity, innocence, and untaintedness. Within the allegorical framework of Ezekiel, it powerfully represents Israel's initial purity, consecration, and exclusive devotion to Yahweh at the time of the covenant at Sinai. The phrase "bruised the breasts of her virginity" graphically portrays the violent violation and profound defilement of this pristine covenant relationship, indicating an irreversible loss of spiritual innocence and a deep corruption of their original, consecrated devotion to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither left she her whoredoms [brought] from Egypt:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the central accusation against Oholibah (Judah/Jerusalem): her unyielding and unrepentant spiritual infidelity. The crucial phrase "brought from Egypt" emphasizes that these idolatrous tendencies and worldly attachments were not a recent deviation but had deep, historical roots, originating from or being significantly reinforced by Israel's formative experiences and prolonged interactions with Egyptian culture and religion. It powerfully highlights a continuous, unbroken pattern of sin that was passed down through generations, demonstrating a persistent refusal to break free from these defiling influences.
* **"for in her youth they lay with her,"** This clause provides the historical explanation for the enduring nature of Judah's "whoredoms." "Her youth" refers to the nascent stages of Israel's national existence, specifically the period of their sojourn in Egypt and their subsequent wilderness wanderings. "They lay with her" employs graphic sexual imagery to metaphorically describe the profound spiritual defilement that occurred as Israel engaged in idolatry and eagerly adopted the pagan practices of the nations around them, particularly Egypt. This signifies the initial corruption of their covenant purity and the very commencement of their spiritual harlotry, marking the beginning of their departure from exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
* **"and they bruised the breasts of her virginity,"** This highly evocative and disturbing phrase intensifies the imagery of violation, defilement, and profound damage. "Breasts of her virginity" symbolizes the nation's initial purity, innocence, and the potential for exclusive, unblemished devotion to Yahweh, akin to a bride before her marriage. The verb "bruised" implies a violent, painful, and deeply damaging act, signifying the profound harm and irreversible defilement inflicted upon Israel's spiritual integrity and their sacred covenant relationship with God through their persistent idolatrous practices. It speaks to the tragic loss of their original consecrated state and the violation of their most intimate spiritual bond.
* **"and poured their whoredom upon her."** This final clause further emphasizes the complete, pervasive, and overwhelming nature of Judah's spiritual corruption. The imagery of "poured their whoredom upon her" suggests an abundant, saturating, and inescapable defilement. It indicates that the idolatry and unfaithfulness were not superficial or incidental but had thoroughly saturated the very fabric of the nation, leaving her utterly polluted and estranged from her divine husband. The active verb "poured" implies the deliberate and willing reception of this spiritual defilement, highlighting Judah's complicity and active participation in her own profound corruption.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 23:8 is a profound example of **Allegory**, where the prophet constructs an extended metaphor of two sisters as harlots to represent the spiritual unfaithfulness of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. This allegorical framework allows for a deeply symbolic, emotionally charged, and visceral portrayal of their covenant betrayal. The verse utilizes vivid **Personification**, treating Judah (Oholibah) as a woman who actively engages in illicit sexual acts, thereby transforming the abstract concept of national idolatry and political apostasy into something concrete, relatable, and tragically human. The language is characterized by striking **Graphic Imagery**, particularly in phrases such as "bruised the breasts of her virginity" and "poured their whoredom upon her." This disturbing imagery serves to underscore the extreme severity of Israel's sin and the depth of their defilement in God's eyes, conveying the profound offense of their covenant betrayal in a visceral and unforgettable manner. The entire passage functions as a powerful **Metaphor** for spiritual adultery, where the exclusive covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel is likened to a sacred marriage, and their idolatry and foreign alliances are depicted as acts of prostitution and infidelity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 23:8 profoundly illustrates the theological concept of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness, framing it as spiritual harlotry. This verse underscores that Judah's idolatry was not a recent phenomenon but a deeply ingrained, generational pattern, passed down from their earliest national experiences in Egypt. It highlights God's unwavering expectation of exclusive devotion from His covenant people, viewing any deviation as a profound betrayal akin to marital infidelity. The graphic language reveals the depth of God's sorrow, His righteous anger, and His profound offense over His people's persistent rejection of Him for false gods and unreliable human alliances. This persistent and unrepentant sin ultimately led to the severe judgment of exile, demonstrating that while God is eternally faithful to His covenant promises, His faithfulness does not negate His justice in the face of His people's unrepentant rebellion.

* [Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery and Prophetic Marriage")
* [Jeremiah 3:8](/jeremiah/3-8 "Jeremiah 3:8 - Israel's Unfaithfulness and Divorce from God")
* [Revelation 17:1-6](/revelation/17-1-6 "Revelation 17:1-6 - The Great Harlot, Babylon the Great")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 23:8 serves as a potent spiritual warning for believers today, highlighting the insidious nature of persistent spiritual compromise and the deep-seated roots of unfaithfulness. Just as Judah struggled to break free from the "whoredoms brought from Egypt"—the ingrained idolatry and worldly entanglements from their formative history—we too can be susceptible to deeply ingrained patterns of worldliness, subtle idolatries, or unfaithfulness that subtly erode our exclusive devotion to God. This verse calls us to a radical and honest self-examination, urging us to identify and repent of any "attachments" or "alliances"—whether they be material possessions, career ambitions, cultural norms, personal comforts, or even intellectual pursuits—that compete for the exclusive loyalty owed to Christ. It reminds us that true spiritual purity involves not just avoiding overt, grievous sin but also diligently guarding our hearts against anything that might defile our sacred covenant relationship with our Lord. We are called to cultivate an undivided heart, fully committed to Him who bought us with an immeasurable price, ensuring that the lingering influences of our past or our surrounding culture do not dictate our present devotion or compromise our future walk with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "whoredoms" or worldly attachments from my past or cultural upbringing might still be subtly influencing my devotion and loyalty to God today?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be forming "illicit alliances" or seeking security, identity, or satisfaction outside of my exclusive, intimate relationship with Christ?**
* **How can I actively work to "leave" or forsake these lingering influences and ensure my heart remains pure, undivided, and fully consecrated in its loyalty to God?**

### FAQ
**What does "bruised the breasts of her virginity" mean in this context?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful and graphic metaphor within Ezekiel's extended allegory of spiritual harlotry. "Virginity" (Hebrew _bᵉthûwlîym_) represents Israel's initial purity, innocence, and sacred consecration to God at the time of the Sinai covenant, when they were "betrothed" to Yahweh. "Breasts" (Hebrew _dad_) symbolize the seat of love, intimacy, and nurturing, often associated with a woman's purity and potential for life. To "bruise" (Hebrew _ʻâsâh_, used idiomatically here to mean harm or defile) them signifies a violent, painful, and deeply damaging act. Therefore, the phrase collectively means that Israel's engagement in idolatry and illicit foreign alliances profoundly violated, corrupted, and irrevocably damaged her original spiritual purity and the exclusive, intimate covenant relationship she had with Yahweh. It's a visceral image of deep spiritual defilement and the painful betrayal of sacred vows, signifying a tragic loss of spiritual innocence and integrity.

**Why is Egypt specifically mentioned as the origin of Judah's "whoredoms"?**

Answer: Egypt is specifically mentioned because it represents a foundational and deeply influential period in Israel's history where they were exposed to, and often succumbed to, pagan influences and a worldly mindset. While God miraculously delivered them from physical bondage in Egypt, the spiritual "whoredoms"—the idolatrous practices, polytheistic beliefs, and reliance on human power—of Egypt continued to exert a powerful and lingering influence on the nation. Examples include the notorious worship of the golden calf shortly after the Exodus ([Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf Incident")) and, centuries later, Israel's repeated temptation to seek political alliances and security with Egypt rather than placing their trust solely in God's protection ([Isaiah 30](/isaiah/30 "Isaiah 30 - Trusting in Egypt Instead of God") and [Isaiah 31](/isaiah/31 "Isaiah 31 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")). Thus, "whoredoms brought from Egypt" signifies a deep-seated, generational pattern of spiritual unfaithfulness, a reliance on human strength and worldly systems rather than divine provision and exclusive devotion, a pattern that continued to plague Judah even centuries later, demonstrating the enduring and destructive legacy of early compromises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 23:8, with its stark and graphic portrayal of Israel's persistent spiritual harlotry and profound defilement, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's chosen bride, repeatedly broke her covenant vows and engaged in spiritual adultery, but Christ, the true and faithful Israel, perfectly fulfilled the covenant in His unwavering obedience and spotless faithfulness. He is the faithful Son who never strayed, unlike the nation depicted as a harlot. The disturbing imagery of "bruised the breasts of her virginity" and "poured their whoredom upon her" speaks powerfully to the profound sinfulness of humanity and the spiritual defilement that utterly estranges us from a holy God. Yet, in Christ, we witness the ultimate answer to this pervasive spiritual brokenness. He came not to condemn the harlot but to redeem her. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of humanity's spiritual "whoredoms" and defilement, offering a path to true purity, reconciliation, and restoration. The Church, as the [bride of Christ](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church, His Bride"), is called to a new covenant of faithfulness, washed clean by His precious blood and presented as a [pure virgin to Christ](/2_corinthians/11-2 "2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul's Concern for the Corinthian Church's Purity"). We are no longer bound by the "whoredoms brought from Egypt"—the slavery to sin, the allure of the world, and reliance on human systems—but are freed to live in exclusive and undivided devotion to our heavenly Bridegroom, empowered by the [Spirit to walk in newness of life](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ"). In Him, the broken covenant is gloriously restored, and the defiled are made holy, reflecting the ultimate triumph of God's sovereign grace over human unfaithfulness and the promise of a glorious, pure, and eternal union.

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 23:19

Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

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.

Exodus 32:4

And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 12:28

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2 Kings 10:29

¶ Howbeit [from] the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that [were] in Bethel, and that [were] in Dan.

2 Kings 17:16

And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, [even] two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

Ezekiel 23:21

Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.