The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;

EZEKIEL 23:36KJV
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Ezekiel 23:36 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:36 mean?

Ezekiel 23:36 describes God instructing the prophet Ezekiel to judge Aholah and Aholibah and to clearly announce their abominations. The verse shows God calling Ezekiel to confront these two figures with their wrongdoings, making their sins known.

In this verse, "the LORD" is speaking directly to Ezekiel, who is often called "son of man" throughout the book. Aholah and Aholibah are symbolic names for Samaria and Jerusalem, representing the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. The situation is one of judgment: God is commanding Ezekiel to act as a judge and public accuser, exposing the serious sins of these two cities.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:36

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the message comes with divine authority.
  • judge (שָׁפַט, shafat): This word means to act as a judge or to pronounce judgment. Here, it highlights that Ezekiel is not just to observe but to actively declare a verdict against Aholah and Aholibah.
  • declare (נָגַד, nagad): This verb means to make something known or to announce. God is telling Ezekiel to publicly reveal the abominations, not keep them hidden.
  • abominations (תּוֹעֵבָה, to'evah): This word refers to acts that are detestable or repulsive, especially in a religious or moral sense. It underlines the seriousness of what Aholah and Aholibah have done.

Why Ezekiel 23:36 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Ezekiel’s role is not only to receive messages from God but also to act as a judge and public messenger, making the people’s sins unmistakably clear.
  • It shows that God’s judgment is not hidden or arbitrary; the charges are to be openly declared, giving the people a chance to understand exactly what they are being judged for.
  • By naming Aholah and Aholibah, the verse connects to the larger allegory in Ezekiel 23, where these names represent Samaria and Jerusalem, highlighting the shared guilt and responsibility of both kingdoms.

Where else these words appear

“Aholah” Hebrew H170 · used in 4 verses

  • Ezekiel 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
  • Ezekiel 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
  • Ezekiel 23:44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.

“Aholibah” Hebrew H172 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezekiel 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
  • Ezekiel 23:11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.
  • Ezekiel 23:22 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;

“abominations” Hebrew H8441 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Ezekiel 7:3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.