King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 23:27 Mean?

Ezekiel 23:27 in the King James Version says “Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt no... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.

Ezekiel 23:27 · KJV


Context

25

And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.

26

They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels. fair: Heb. instruments of thy decking

27

Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.

28

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:

29

And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee declares judgment's purpose: eradication of sin. And thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt emphasizes ancient roots being destroyed. Judgment isn't merely punitive but remedial—it purges. So that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more indicates forced separation from idols. When all false hopes are destroyed, only God remains. This is severe mercy. Sometimes God must strip away every competing affection to win exclusive devotion. He burns chaff to purify gold. Exile would accomplish what prosperity couldn't: exclusive worship of Yahweh. After exile, Jews never returned to idolatry. Judgment succeeded where blessing failed.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Post-exilic Judaism became fiercely monotheistic. Second Temple Judaism's resistance to idolatry—even unto death under Antiochus Epiphanes (167-164 BC) and Roman persecution—demonstrates exile successfully purged idolatrous tendencies. The Maccabean martyrs and later Jewish resistance to emperor worship prove judgment achieved its purpose of producing exclusive Yahweh worship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does judgment serve remedial purposes beyond mere punishment?
  2. What competing affections must God strip away to win our exclusive devotion?
  3. Why does prosperity sometimes fail where adversity succeeds spiritually?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י1 of 15

to cease

H7673

to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)

זִמָּתֵךְ֙2 of 15

Thus will I make thy lewdness

H2154

a plan, especially a bad one

מִמֵּ֔ךְ3 of 15
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְאֶת4 of 15
H853

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

זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ5 of 15

from thee and thy whoredom

H2184

adultery, i.e., (figuratively) infidelity, idolatry

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ6 of 15

brought from the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וּמִצְרַ֖יִם7 of 15

Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְלֹֽא8 of 15
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִשְׂאִ֤י9 of 15

so that thou shalt not lift up

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙10 of 15

thine eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם11 of 15
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וּמִצְרַ֖יִם12 of 15

Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לֹ֥א13 of 15
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִזְכְּרִי14 of 15

unto them nor remember

H2142

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

עֽוֹד׃15 of 15
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more


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 23:27 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 23:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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