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

EZEKIEL 23:20KJV
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Ezekiel 23:20 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:20 mean?

Ezekiel 23:20 uses vivid and shocking imagery to describe how deeply one of the two symbolic sisters, representing Samaria or Jerusalem, desired alliances and relationships with foreign nations, especially Egypt. The verse emphasizes the intensity and shamelessness of this desire by comparing it to animal lust.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, using the story of two sisters (Oholah and Oholibah) as a metaphor for the northern and southern kingdoms. The verse highlights how the people pursued foreign alliances and practices with great eagerness, turning away from God. The language is intentionally graphic to show the seriousness of their unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:20

  • דָּגָה (doted, H5689; dâgah): This word means "to lust after" or "to be infatuated with." It stresses the intensity and obsession of the desire, not just a passing interest.
  • פִּלַּגְשֵׁיהֶם (paramours, H6370; pillagsheihem): This word refers to lovers outside of marriage, often used for illicit or forbidden relationships. It underscores the idea of unfaithfulness and betrayal.
  • בָּשָׂר (flesh, H1320; basar): Here, "flesh" is used in a physical and sexual sense, making the comparison to animals even more direct and shocking.
  • זִרְמָה (issue, H2231; zirmah): This word refers to emission or semen, further intensifying the sexual imagery and the sense of excess.
  • חֲמוֹרִים (asses, H2543; chamorim) and סוּסִים (horses, H5483; susim): These animal comparisons are meant to be jarring, highlighting the unnatural and extreme nature of the people's desires.

Why Ezekiel 23:20 matters

  • This verse clears up that the language is not literal but symbolic, using extreme imagery to show the depth of Israel’s unfaithfulness and pursuit of foreign alliances.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by reinforcing the metaphor of the two sisters, making it clear that their actions are seen as betrayal and spiritual adultery against God.
  • Understanding the original words helps readers see that the focus is on the intensity and shamelessness of the people's actions, not just the act itself, which deepens the impact of the warning.

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.

“paramours” Hebrew H6370 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 22:24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
  • Judges 19:27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
  • 2 Samuel 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

“asses” Hebrew H2543 · used in 93 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Numbers 31:28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
  • 1 Samuel 25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

“horses” Hebrew H5483 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 47:17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
  • 2 Kings 14:20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
  • Jeremiah 8:16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.