And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

EZEKIEL 23:16KJV
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Ezekiel 23:16 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:16 mean?

Ezekiel 23:16 describes how one of the symbolic sisters, representing a nation, became infatuated with men she saw from Chaldea (Babylon) and actively reached out to them by sending messengers. The verse shows her eager desire for an alliance or relationship with the Babylonians, which is pictured as unfaithfulness.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, using the story of two sisters as a metaphor for the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The "she" in this verse refers to Oholibah, symbolizing Judah, who is drawn to the Babylonians. The verse highlights Judah's pursuit of foreign alliances and practices, which God sees as spiritual adultery.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:16

  • "saw" (מַרְאֶה, mar'eh): This word refers to seeing with the eyes, but also carries the sense of being captivated by appearance. Here, it emphasizes how Judah was drawn in by the impressive or attractive appearance of the Babylonians.
  • "doted" (עָגַב, 'agav): This word means to lust after or become infatuated with. It is a strong term, showing not just interest but an intense, almost obsessive desire.
  • "Chaldea" (כַּשְׂדִּים, Kasdim): This is the Hebrew term for the region of Babylon. Naming it specifically points to the historical reality of Judah's fascination with Babylonian power and culture.

Why Ezekiel 23:16 matters

  • This verse helps clear up that Judah's attraction to Babylon was not just political but deeply emotional and eager, described in terms of longing and desire.
  • The language emphasizes that Judah's pursuit of Babylonian alliances was a deliberate choice, not something that happened by accident or necessity.
  • Understanding this verse in its context shows how Ezekiel uses vivid imagery to confront the people with the seriousness of turning away from God to seek security or identity in other nations.

Where else these words appear

“doted” Hebrew H5689 · used in 7 verses

  • Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
  • Ezekiel 23:7 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.
  • Ezekiel 23:12 She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

“Chaldea” Hebrew H3778 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
  • Jeremiah 32:4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
  • Jeremiah 43:3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

“saw” Hebrew H4758 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
  • Deuteronomy 28:34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
  • Ezekiel 1:27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.