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Ezekiel 23:46

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For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.

For thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; I will bring up {H5927} a company {H6951} upon them, and will give {H5414} them to be removed {H2189} and spoiled {H957}.

For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Summon an assembly to punish them; give them over to terror and plunder.

This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder.

For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will bring up a company against them, and will give them to be tossed to and fro and robbed.

Commentary

Ezekiel 23:46 declares God's solemn judgment upon Oholah and Oholibah, allegorical representations of Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah), respectively. This verse marks the culmination of the preceding indictment against their spiritual harlotry and idolatry, signifying the impending divine wrath.

Context

Chapter 23 of Ezekiel is a vivid and extended allegory portraying the profound spiritual unfaithfulness of God's chosen people. Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem) are depicted as sisters who engaged in egregious acts of spiritual harlotry, symbolizing their idolatry and reliance on foreign alliances rather than on the Lord. Their sins, detailed in verses like Ezekiel 23:37, provoked God's righteous anger. Verse 46 transitions from the description of their sin to the direct declaration of their punishment, stating that the Lord GOD Himself would bring a "company"—an invading army, primarily the Babylonians—to execute His judgment upon them.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: This verse powerfully underscores God's unwavering justice against sin, particularly against covenant-breaking, idolatry, and spiritual unfaithfulness. The "removal" and "spoiling" are direct consequences of their rebellion.
  • Consequences of Apostasy: It illustrates the severe and destructive outcomes of abandoning God and His covenant. The actions of Oholah and Oholibah led to their utter desolation, serving as a stark warning against spiritual compromise.
  • God's Sovereignty in Judgment: The phrase "I will bring up a company" highlights God's active role in orchestrating events. He is not merely reacting to sin but sovereignly using nations as instruments to fulfill His righteous decrees, as He did with Babylon as His instrument of judgment against Judah.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "removed and spoiled" captures the Hebrew terms `la'ah` (לאה) and `shas` (שס). The word `la'ah` implies a comprehensive taking away or consumption, often leading to destruction. The term `shas` specifically refers to the plundering or looting of possessions and resources, leaving the victims destitute. Together, these words convey a complete and devastating judgment, encompassing both the people being taken into captivity and their material wealth being seized by the invaders.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 23:46, though rooted in ancient history, carries profound relevance for believers today. It serves as a solemn reminder of God's holiness and His intolerance for spiritual unfaithfulness. While we live under the new covenant of grace, the principles of God's character remain constant. This verse calls us to:

  • Examine Our Hearts: To identify and renounce any form of idolatry, whether it be reliance on wealth, power, comfort, or anything that supplants God's rightful place in our lives.
  • Pursue True Faithfulness: To live lives marked by genuine devotion and obedience to God, understanding that He is a righteous judge who holds all accountable.
  • Take Warnings Seriously: To recognize that God's warnings against sin are not idle threats but expressions of His justice and desire for His people to walk in righteousness. We are reminded that our God is a consuming fire.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 16:40 (4 votes)

    They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

  • Jeremiah 15:4 (3 votes)

    And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 24:9 (3 votes)

    And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for [their] hurt, [to be] a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

  • Jeremiah 25:9 (2 votes)

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 34:17 (2 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

  • Ezekiel 23:22 (2 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;

  • Ezekiel 23:26 (2 votes)

    They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.