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 23:19KJV
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Ezekiel 23:19 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:19 mean?

Ezekiel 23:19 describes how the woman in the story, representing a nation, continued and even increased her unfaithful behavior, recalling and returning to the ways she acted in her youth when she was in Egypt. The verse uses strong language to show that she not only remembered her past actions but actively chose to repeat them.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is speaking God’s message to the people of Jerusalem, using the story of two sisters as a picture of Israel and Judah. The verse highlights how Judah (the second sister) did not learn from past mistakes but instead repeated the same unfaithful actions as before, especially those from the time when the people lived in Egypt.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:19

  • "multiplied" (רָבָה, rabah): This word means to increase or make many. Here, it shows that the unfaithfulness was not just repeated but actually grew worse over time.
  • "whoredoms" (תַּזְנוּת, taznut): This term refers to acts of unfaithfulness, often used in the prophets to describe spiritual betrayal or idol worship, not just literal immorality.
  • "remembrance" (זָכַר, zakar): This word means to remember or call to mind. The verse points out that the nation’s return to old ways was not accidental; it was a deliberate act of recalling and repeating past unfaithfulness.
  • "youth" (נְעוּרִים, ne’urim): This word means youth or early days, referring to the time when the people first became a nation, especially during their time in Egypt.

Why Ezekiel 23:19 matters

  • Ezekiel 23:19 clarifies that the nation’s unfaithfulness was a conscious choice, not just a slip or accident, since they actively remembered and returned to their old ways.
  • The verse connects the people’s current behavior to their earliest history in Egypt, showing a long pattern rather than a new problem.
  • This verse helps the reader see the seriousness of repeating past mistakes, especially after experiencing the consequences before, which is a key theme in Ezekiel’s message to the people.

Where else these words appear

“whoredoms” Hebrew H8457 · used in 19 verses

  • Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
  • Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.
  • Ezekiel 23:14 And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

“youth” Hebrew H5271 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
  • Psalms 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
  • Jeremiah 32:30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.

“harlot” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Kings 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
  • Ezekiel 16:30 How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;