Ezekiel

Ezekiel 23:14–21

¹⁴But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans,^c engraved in vermilion, ¹⁵wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea,^d the land of their birth. ¹⁶At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. ¹⁷Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.

¹⁸When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. ¹⁹Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt ²⁰and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions. ²¹So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.

Footnotes

c 23:14 That is, the Babylonians
d 23:15 Or Babylonia; also in verse 16

Read all of Ezekiel 23

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ezekiel 23:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	וַתּ֖וֹסֶף	wat·tō·w·sep̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3254 add
her prostitution	תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ	taz·nū·ṯe·hā	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H8457 fornication
She saw	וַתֵּ֗רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
the men	אַנְשֵׁי֙	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
portrayed	מְחֻקֶּ֣ה	mə·ḥuq·qeh	Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular	H2707 cut in, carve
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the wall	הַקִּ֔יר	haq·qîr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7023 wall
images	צַלְמֵ֣י	ṣal·mê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6754 image
of the Chaldeans	כַשְׂדִּיִּים	ḵaś·dī·yīm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3778 Chaldean
engraved	חֲקֻקִ֖ים	ḥă·qu·qîm	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural	H2710 cut in, inscribe, decree
in vermilion	בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃	baš·šā·šar	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H8350 red colour, vermilion

Ezekiel 23:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
wearing	חֲגוֹרֵ֨י	ḥă·ḡō·w·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H2289 girt, girded
belts	אֵז֜וֹר	’ê·zō·wr	Noun - masculine singular	H232 waistcloth
on their waists	בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם	bə·mā·ṯə·nê·hem	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine dual construct; third person masculine plural	H4975 waist, loins
and flowing	סְרוּחֵ֤י	sə·rū·ḥê	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H5628 go free, be unrestrained, overrun, exceed
turbans	טְבוּלִים֙	ṭə·ḇū·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2871 turban
on their heads	בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם	bə·rā·šê·hem	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H7218 head
all	כֻּלָּ֑ם	kul·lām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3605 the whole, all
of them looked	מַרְאֵ֥ה	mar·’êh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4758 sight, appearance, vision
like officers	שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים	šā·li·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H7991 third
of the Babylonians	בְּנֵֽי־	bə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
in Chaldea	כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים	kaś·dîm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3778 Chaldean
the land	אֶ֖רֶץ	’e·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of their birth	מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃	mō·w·laḏ·tām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H4138 nativity, lineage, native country

Ezekiel 23:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
At the sight of them	לְמַרְאֵ֣ה	lə·mar·’êh	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4758 sight, appearance, vision
she lusted	וַתַּעְגַּב	wat·taʿ·gaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H5689 have inordinate affection, lust
for them	עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height
and sent	וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח	wat·tiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7971 send
messengers	מַלְאָכִ֛ים	mal·’ā·ḵîm	Noun - masculine plural	H4397 messenger
to them	אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
in Chaldea	כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃	kaś·dî·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H3778 Chaldean

Ezekiel 23:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the Babylonians	בְנֵֽי־	ḇə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
came	וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to her	אֵלֶ֤יהָ	’ê·le·hā	Preposition; third person feminine singular	H413 motion to
to the bed	לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב	lə·miš·kaḇ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4904 place of lying, couch; act of lying
of love	דֹּדִ֔ים	dō·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1730 beloved, love
and in their lust	בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם	bə·ṯaz·nū·ṯām	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H8457 fornication
they defiled	וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ	way·ṭam·mə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2930 be or become unclean
her	אוֹתָ֖הּ	’ō·w·ṯāh	Direct object marker; third person feminine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
But after she had been defiled	וַתִּ֨טְמָא־	wat·tiṭ·mā-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H2930 be or become unclean
by them	בָ֔ם	ḇām	Preposition; third person masculine plural
she	נַפְשָׁ֖הּ	nap̄·šāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
turned away	מֵהֶֽם׃	mê·hem	Preposition-m; Pronoun - third person masculine plural
in disgust	וַתֵּ֥קַע	wat·tê·qa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3363 be dislocated, alienated

Ezekiel 23:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	וַתְּגַל֙	wat·tə·ḡal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
prostituted herself	תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ	taz·nū·ṯe·hā	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H8457 fornication
and exposed	וַתְּגַ֖ל	wat·tə·ḡal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
her nakedness	עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ	‘er·wā·ṯāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H6172 nakedness, pudenda
I	נַפְשִׁי֙	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
turned away from her	מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ	mê·‘ā·le·hā	Preposition-m; third person feminine singular	H5921 height
in disgust	וַתֵּ֤קַע	wat·tê·qa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3363 be dislocated, alienated
just as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I	נַפְשִׁ֖י	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
had turned away	נָקְעָ֥ה	nā·qə·‘āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H5361 be [severed, figurative] alienated, estranged
from	מֵעַ֥ל	mê·‘al	Preposition-m	H5921 height
her sister	אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃	’ă·ḥō·w·ṯāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H269 sister

Ezekiel 23:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yet she multiplied	וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה	wat·tar·beh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
her promiscuity	תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ	taz·nū·ṯe·hā	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H8457 fornication
remembering	לִזְכֹּר֙	liz·kōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H2142 remember
the days	יְמֵ֣י	yə·mê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3117 day
of her youth	נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ	nə·‘ū·re·hā	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H5271 youth, juvenility, young
when	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
she had prostituted herself	זָנְתָ֖ה	zā·nə·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H2181 commit fornication, be a harlot
in the land	בְּאֶ֥רֶץ	bə·’e·reṣ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of Egypt	מִצְרָֽיִם׃	miṣ·rā·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians

Ezekiel 23:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and lusted	וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה	wat·ta‘·gə·ḇāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H5689 have inordinate affection, lust
after	עַ֖ל	‘al	Preposition	H5921 height
their lovers	פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם	pi·laḡ·šê·hem	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6370 concubine
whose	אֲשֶׁ֤ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
genitals	בְּשַׂר־	bə·śar-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1320 flesh
were like those	בְּשָׂרָ֔ם	bə·śā·rām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H1320 flesh
of donkeys	חֲמוֹרִים֙	ḥă·mō·w·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2543 heap
and whose emission	וְזִרְמַ֥ת	wə·zir·maṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H2231 issue
was like that	זִרְמָתָֽם׃	zir·mā·ṯām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H2231 issue
of stallions	סוּסִ֖ים	sū·sîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5483 swallow or swift

Ezekiel 23:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So you revisited	וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י	wat·tip̄·qə·ḏî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular	H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
the indecency	זִמַּ֣ת	zim·maṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H2154 plan, device, wickedness
of your youth	נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ	nə·‘ū·rā·yiḵ	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person feminine singular	H5271 youth, juvenility, young
when the Egyptians	מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙	mim·miṣ·ra·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
caressed	בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת	ba‘·śō·wṯ	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
your bosom	דַּדַּ֔יִךְ	dad·da·yiḵ	Noun - masculine dual construct; second person feminine singular	H1717 breast
and pressed	לְמַ֖עַן	lə·ma·‘an	Conjunction	H4616 purpose, intent
your young	נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ס	nə·‘ū·rā·yiḵ	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person feminine singular	H5271 youth, juvenility, young
breasts	שְׁדֵ֥י	šə·ḏê	Noun - masculine dual construct	H7699 violence, havoc, devastation, ruin