King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 23:22 Mean?

Ezekiel 23:22 in the King James Version says “Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is a...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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;”

Ezekiel 23:22 · KJV

Context

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.

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;

23

The Babylonians , and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

24

And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.

Read Ezekiel 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore, O Oholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD transitions from accusation to sentence. Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee announces judgment's mechanism—her chosen allies become destroyers. From whom thy mind is alienated means those she now rejects will return as conquerors. I will bring them against thee on every side describes comprehensive encirclement. God orchestrates historical events as judicial punishment. Those Judah pursued for security, then rejected when disillusioned, will surround her for destruction. Divine irony: our idols become punishment, rejected lovers become executioners. This is lex talionis (law of retaliation) at cosmic scale—justice measured precisely to the crime. Sin carries its own judgment seeds.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Babylon, whom Judah initially courted then rebelled against, laid siege to Jerusalem from multiple directions. Nebuchadnezzar's army besieged Jerusalem twice (597 and 586 BC), with the final siege lasting 30 months (January 588 - July 586 BC), resulting in complete destruction, temple burning, and mass deportation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do our betrayed alliances return as instruments of judgment?
  2. What does it mean that God 'raises up' historical agents for His purposes?
  3. How does punishment fitting the crime demonstrate divine justice?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
לָכֵ֣ן1 of 19
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

אָהֳלִיבָ֗ה2 of 19

“Therefore O Aholibah”

H172

oholibah, a symbolic name for judah

כֹּֽה3 of 19
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֮4 of 19

“thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י5 of 19

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִה֒6 of 19

“GOD”

H3069

god

הִנְנִ֨י7 of 19
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

מֵעִ֤יר8 of 19

“Behold I will raise up”

H5782

to wake (literally or figuratively)

אֶת9 of 19
H853

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

מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙10 of 19

“thy lovers”

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

עָלַ֔יִךְ11 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֵ֛ת12 of 19
H853

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

אֲשֶׁר13 of 19
H834

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

נָקְעָ֥ה14 of 19

“is alienated”

H5361

to feel aversion

נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ15 of 19

“against thee from whom thy mind”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

מֵהֶ֑ם16 of 19
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים17 of 19

“and I will bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עָלַ֖יִךְ18 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִסָּבִֽיב׃19 of 19

“them against thee on every side”

H5439

(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

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 23:22 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 23:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 16:37Revelation 17:16Jeremiah 12:9-12Habakkuk 1:6-10Isaiah 39:3-4Ezekiel 23:28

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