And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,

EZEKIEL 23:5KJV
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Ezekiel 23:5 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:5 mean?

Ezekiel 23:5 describes how Aholah, representing the northern kingdom of Israel, was unfaithful to God by seeking relationships with neighboring Assyrians, turning away from her special relationship with God. The verse uses the image of adultery to show Israel’s spiritual betrayal and attraction to foreign alliances and practices.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites, using the story of two sisters (Aholah and Aholibah) as a picture of Israel and Judah. The verse highlights how Israel, though belonging to God, pursued political and religious connections with the Assyrians, which is portrayed as spiritual unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:5

  • אהלָה (Aholah, transliterated "Aholah"): This name means "her own tent" and stands for Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom. The name itself hints at Israel’s separate worship practices apart from God’s temple.
  • זָנָה (zanah, transliterated "harlot"): This word means to act as a prostitute, but here it is used figuratively for spiritual unfaithfulness—turning to other nations and their gods instead of remaining loyal to God.
  • עָגַב (agav, transliterated "doted"): This word means to have a strong desire or infatuation. It emphasizes how deeply Israel longed for these foreign alliances, not just a casual interest.
  • אֲשּׁוּרִי (Ashshuri, transliterated "Assyrians"): The Assyrians were powerful neighbors, and Israel’s attraction to them was both political and religious, showing a desire for security and influence outside of God’s protection.

Why Ezekiel 23:5 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s main problem was not just political alliances, but a deep spiritual longing for what other nations had, which God saw as betrayal.
  • The use of strong imagery—adultery and infatuation—shows how seriously God viewed Israel’s turning away, making the message more personal and emotional.
  • Understanding the symbolism of Aholah and the historical context helps make sense of the rest of Ezekiel 23, where both Israel and Judah’s actions are compared and judged.

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 23:36 The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
  • 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.

“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 23:9 Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
  • Ezekiel 23:16 And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

“mine” Hebrew H8478 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
  • Exodus 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
  • Job 30:14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

“neighbours” Hebrew H7138 · used in 76 verses

  • Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither,( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
  • 1 Kings 21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
  • Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.