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Ezekiel 23:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 23:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in the handling of thy bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of thy youth.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in the handling of thy bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of thy youth.
Ezekiel 23:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18So she uncovered her whoredoms, and uncovered her nakedness: then my soul was alienated from her, like as my soul was alienated from her sister.
19Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, remembering the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20And she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
21Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in the handling of thy bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of thy youth.
22Therefore, O Oholibah, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy soul is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side:
23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, [and] all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and rulers all of them, princes and men of renown, all of them riding upon horses.
24And they shall come against thee with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples; they shall set themselves against thee with buckler and shield and helmet round about; and I will commit the judgment unto them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, &c.] By committing the same; the same idolatries their fathers committed in Egypt they now committed, being in alliance with the same people: or, thou causest to be visited the lewdness of thy youthf357; by the Lord, who remembered their sins, and punished them for them: in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth: committing spiritual fornication, that is, idolatry with them; signified by pressing and bruising the breasts and paps of virgins, by corporeal fornication with them.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“calledst to remembrance--"didst repeat" [MAURER]. in bruising--in suffering . . . to be bruised.”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification