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Ezekiel 23:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 23:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.
Ezekiel 23:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,
2Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
3and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.
4And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
5And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbors,
6who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
← Ezekiel 23:2Ezekiel 23:4 →
← Full Chapter 23 Ezekiel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they committed whoredoms in Egypt, &c.] When they were but one body, one nation; and while they sojourned as strangers in that land they learned and practised the idolatries of it, (<062414>Joshua 24:14), and so the Targum, “and they erred in Egypt, after the worship of their idols they erred, and there they corrupted their works:” they committed whoredoms in their youth; as soon as they were come out of Egypt, and were formed into a political and ecclesiastical state, had the law of God given them, and promised obedience to him, and were espoused by him, which times are called the days of their youth and espousal, (<240202>Jeremiah 2:2 <280215>Hosea 2:15), and then were they guilty of…”
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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
“Even so early in their history as their Egyptian sojourn, they committed idolatries (see on Eze 20:6-8; Jos 24:14). in their youth--an aggravation of their sin. It was at the very time of their receiving extraordinary favors from God (Eze 16:6, Eze 16:22). they bruised--namely, the Egyptians.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whoredoms - Idolatry. Ezekiel 23:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:3 They became prostitutes by worshiping false gods.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in Egypt: Eze 20:8; Lev 17:7; Deu 29:16; Jos 24:14 in their: Eze 23:8, Eze 23:19, Eze 23:21, Eze 16:22; Hos 2:15 Ezekiel 23:4”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification