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 23:7KJV
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Ezekiel 23:7 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:7 mean?

Ezekiel 23:7 describes how "she" (symbolizing the northern kingdom of Israel) engaged in unfaithful alliances and idol worship with the Assyrians, defiling herself by adopting their practices and gods. The verse emphasizes the depth of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness by comparing it to prostitution with the "chosen men" of Assyria and being corrupted by their idols.

In this chapter, 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 divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Here, the focus is on Oholah (Samaria/Israel) and her political and religious entanglements with Assyria, which God views as betrayal and spiritual impurity.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:7

  • "committed" (נָתַן, natan, H5414): This word literally means "to give," but here it is used to describe giving oneself over to unfaithfulness, highlighting an active choice rather than passive involvement.
  • "whoredoms" (תַּזְנוּת, taznut, H8457): This term is often used metaphorically in the prophets to describe spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry, not just literal sexual immorality.
  • "chosen" (מִבְחָר, mivchar, H4005): This word means "choice" or "select," emphasizing that Israel was attracted to what seemed impressive or desirable about Assyria, not just any foreign influence.
  • "idols" (גִּלּוּל, gilul, H1544): This word refers to detestable idols, often carrying a sense of something filthy or repulsive, underlining how offensive this idolatry was in God’s eyes.
  • "defiled" (טָמֵא, tame, H2930): This word means to become ritually or morally unclean, stressing the seriousness of Israel’s actions in adopting foreign worship.

Why Ezekiel 23:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Israel’s alliances with Assyria were not just political mistakes but deep spiritual betrayals, involving both admiration for Assyria’s power and adoption of their religious practices.
  • By using strong language like "whoredoms" and "defiled," Ezekiel highlights how seriously God views idolatry and unfaithfulness, not as minor lapses but as acts that fundamentally corrupt the relationship between God and His people.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Ezekiel 23, where both Israel and Judah are depicted as unfaithful sisters, showing that the problem of idolatry and misplaced trust was widespread and deeply rooted in both kingdoms.

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 23:9 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.

“chosen” Hebrew H4005 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
  • Isaiah 22:7 And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
  • Ezekiel 24:4 Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.

“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 23:17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.

“idols” Hebrew H1544 · used in 45 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • Ezekiel 8:10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
  • Ezekiel 20:31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.