King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 23:19 Mean?

Ezekiel 23:19 in the King James Version says “Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.”

Ezekiel 23:19 · King James Version

Context

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. Babylonians: Heb. children of Babel alienated: Heb. loosed, or, disjointed

18

So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

19

Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

20

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

21

Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

Read Ezekiel 23 full chapter

Commentaries2 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms shows divine alienation didn't stop Jerusalem's pursuit of idols—it accelerated it. In calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt means Jerusalem romanticized origins, returning to Egypt for alliance. When God's presence withdraws, humans don't naturally turn back but plunge deeper into sin. Jeremiah's contemporaries fled to Egypt despite prophetic warning (Jeremiah 42-43). Egypt represented the past, the familiar, the originally corrupting influence. In crisis, we regress to formative patterns, even destructive ones. Apart from grace, abandonment by God produces not repentance but accelerated rebellion—the darkening spiral of Romans 1.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

During final years before Jerusalem's fall, Judah's kings (especially Jehoiakim and Zedekiah) vacillated between Babylonian and Egyptian alliances, repeatedly turning to Egypt for military support (Jeremiah 37:5-7; Ezekiel 17:15). This political instability reflected spiritual chaos and refusal to submit to Babylonian dominance as God commanded through Jeremiah.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do we return to past sins when present circumstances deteriorate?
  2. How does divine withdrawal lead to deeper rebellion rather than repentance?
  3. What formative influences continue to exert pull during spiritual crisis?

Compare 2 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה1 of 11

“Yet she multiplied”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

אֶת2 of 11
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ3 of 11

“her whoredoms”

H8457

harlotry, i.e., (figuratively) idolatry

לִזְכֹּר֙4 of 11

“in calling to remembrance”

H2142

properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male

אֶת5 of 11
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְמֵ֣י6 of 11

“the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ7 of 11

“of her youth”

H5271

(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר8 of 11
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

זָנְתָ֖ה9 of 11

“wherein she had played the harlot”

H2181

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

בְּאֶ֥רֶץ10 of 11

“in the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃11 of 11

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 23:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 23:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 23:3Ezekiel 23:21Ezekiel 16:22Ezekiel 20:7Amos 4:4Ezekiel 23:14

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Ezekiel 23 →

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 23 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 23 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes