Ezekiel 23:20

For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh [is as] the flesh of asses, and whose issue [is like] the issue of horses.

For she doted {H5689} upon their paramours {H6370}, whose flesh {H1320} is as the flesh {H1320} of asses {H2543}, and whose issue {H2231} is like the issue {H2231} of horses {H5483}.

Yes, she lusted after their male prostitutes, whose members are like those of donkeys and who ejaculate like stallions.

and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions.

And she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 23:20

The prophet Ezekiel frequently used vivid, often shocking, imagery to convey God's message to a rebellious Israel and Judah. Ezekiel 23 continues an extended allegory, portraying two sisters, Aholah (representing Samaria/Israel) and Aholibah (representing Jerusalem/Judah), as prostitutes who have abandoned their covenant with God for illicit relationships with foreign nations. Verse 20 focuses specifically on Aholibah, Jerusalem, and her extreme spiritual unfaithfulness.

Context of Ezekiel 23:20

Ezekiel 23 details the spiritual harlotry of God's people, comparing their idolatry and pursuit of foreign alliances to prostitution. Aholibah, representing Jerusalem, is depicted as even more depraved than her sister Aholah (Samaria). She not only engaged in idolatry but also sought political and military alliances with powerful nations like Assyria and Babylon, trusting in their strength rather than God's. This verse, with its crude and explicit language, serves to underscore the depth of Jerusalem's degradation and the intensity of her lustful devotion to these foreign "paramours" (lovers or illicit partners), reflecting a profound betrayal of her covenant with the Lord. The entire chapter serves as a stark warning of impending judgment, a theme also explored in Ezekiel 16.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The primary theme is Judah's profound unfaithfulness to God, symbolized by her "doting" on foreign powers and their idolatrous practices. This represents a complete breach of the covenant, which demanded exclusive devotion to the Lord, as outlined in the first commandment against having other gods.
  • Extreme Degeneracy: The graphic and animalistic imagery ("flesh of asses," "issue of horses") is designed to shock and convey the utter depravity and base nature of Jerusalem's spiritual and political alliances. It highlights how far God's chosen people had fallen, pursuing perverse desires instead of divine faithfulness.
  • Divine Disgust and Impending Judgment: The verse powerfully expresses God's disgust with His people's actions. The vivid description serves to justify the severe judgment that is about to fall upon Jerusalem, as detailed later in the chapter and throughout Ezekiel's prophecies.

Linguistic and Figurative Insights

The Hebrew word translated "doted upon" is 'agav (עָגַב), which means to lust after, to be enamored, often in a negative, illicit sense. It conveys an intense, obsessive desire. The phrases "whose flesh [is as] the flesh of asses, and whose issue [is like] the issue of horses" are intensely vulgar and shocking. This is not a literal description of the foreign nations but a highly figurative and metaphorical expression of Aholibah's (Jerusalem's) insatiable and depraved lust for them. The imagery of asses and horses, known for their strong sexual drives, emphasizes the extreme, animalistic nature of this spiritual and political infatuation. It reflects the prophet's use of hyperbole to convey the depth of Jerusalem's spiritual sickness and God's utter revulsion at it. This strong language aims to strip away any pretense or dignity from their actions, exposing them in their most crude and offensive form.

Practical Application

While the language of Ezekiel 23:20 is specific to ancient Israel, its underlying message remains profoundly relevant. For believers today, this verse serves as a powerful warning against:

  • Spiritual Idolatry: Placing anything—whether wealth, power, relationships, or ideologies—above one's devotion to God. The "paramours" can represent anything that draws our ultimate allegiance away from the Lord.
  • Compromising Alliances: Entering into partnerships or dependencies that compromise one's faith or moral integrity. Just as Judah relied on foreign powers instead of God, we can be tempted to trust in worldly systems or philosophies more than divine provision and guidance.
  • Lust of the Flesh and Worldliness: The graphic description of "doting" and animalistic lust highlights the dangers of unchecked desires that lead to spiritual degradation. This resonates with warnings against friendship with the world being enmity with God.

Ezekiel 23:20 calls us to examine our own hearts and allegiances, ensuring that our devotion remains pure and undivided towards God, avoiding any form of spiritual harlotry.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 17:15 (3 votes)

    But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such [things]? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

  • Ezekiel 16:26 (3 votes)

    Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

  • Ezekiel 16:20 (1 votes)

    Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. [Is this] of thy whoredoms a small matter,

  • Jeremiah 5:8 (1 votes)

    They were [as] fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.