Ezekiel 23:8

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Context

Ezekiel 23 presents a vivid and disturbing allegory concerning two sisters, Aholah (representing Samaria, the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Aholibah (representing Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom of Judah). Both are depicted as engaging in spiritual prostitution, symbolizing their unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and forming illicit political alliances with pagan nations like Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt. This chapter is a continuation of themes found in Ezekiel 16, where Jerusalem's spiritual harlotry is also condemned.

Verse 8 specifically focuses on Aholibah (Judah/Jerusalem), highlighting her deep-seated and persistent unfaithfulness. It emphasizes that she "neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt," indicating that the idolatrous practices and worldly attachments cultivated during Israel's early history and subsequent interactions with Egypt continued to plague Judah. This verse underscores the long-standing nature of their spiritual rebellion and the profound defilement that resulted from their choices.

Key Themes

  • Persistent Idolatry and Unfaithfulness: The core message is Judah's stubborn refusal to abandon the pagan practices and alliances that originated from or were reinforced by their ties with Egypt. This was not a temporary lapse but a deep-seated spiritual condition.
  • Covenant Betrayal: The graphic imagery of "whoredoms" and "bruised breasts of her virginity" powerfully conveys the idea of a violated covenant. Israel was meant to be exclusively devoted to the Lord, but they repeatedly prostituted themselves spiritually by worshipping other gods and relying on foreign powers, betraying their divine husband. This echoes the allegorical marriage in Hosea's prophecy.
  • Historical Continuity of Sin: The verse traces Judah's current spiritual state back to the influences of Egypt from their youth. This highlights how past sins and influences can persist through generations if not repented of and forsaken.
  • God's Abhorrence of Spiritual Adultery: The strong and disturbing language reflects the Lord's deep offense and sorrow over His people's rejection of Him for false gods and unreliable human alliances.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "whoredoms" translates the Hebrew word zanût (זָנוּת), which literally refers to physical prostitution, but in prophetic literature like Ezekiel, it almost exclusively denotes spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and the breaking of God's covenant. The phrase "bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her" is a highly graphic and symbolic depiction of the complete defilement and violation of Judah's purity and covenant relationship with God. It signifies a total surrender to pagan influences and a profound spiritual corruption that began early in their national history, exemplified by events such as the Golden Calf incident shortly after leaving Egypt.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 23:8 serves as a stark warning against spiritual compromise and persistent unfaithfulness. For believers today, it underscores the importance of:

  • Exclusive Devotion to God: We are called to an undivided loyalty to God, avoiding "spiritual adultery" by prioritizing worldly values, materialism, or anything that takes precedence over our relationship with Him. We must remember the call to serve the Lord our God with all our heart.
  • Breaking Cycles of Sin: Just as Judah inherited patterns of sin from Egypt, we must be vigilant against generational or cultural influences that draw us away from God. Identifying and repenting of these patterns is crucial for spiritual health.
  • The Purity of Our Faith: The verse emphasizes defilement. Believers are called to maintain purity in doctrine and practice, guarding against influences that corrupt the simplicity and devotion owed to Christ.
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.

  • 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.

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