Ezekiel 23:8

8 "She did not forsake her harlotries ¹from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.

Ezekiel 23:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 23:8

Neither left she her idols brought from Egypt
Though the Israelites took in the gods of the Assyrians into their worship, they did not relinquish the golden calves set up at Dan and Bethel, in imitation of the Egyptian deities; the idolatrous worship of which they learned in Egypt, and brought from thence: for in her youth they lay with her;
the Egyptians enticed the Israelites to idolatry when among them, as soon as they began to be a people; (See Gill on Ezekiel 23:3): and they bruised the breasts of her virginity;
who before retained the pure worship of God, and was like a chaste virgin: and poured their whoredom upon her;
expressive of the numerous acts of idolatry committed together by them.

Ezekiel 23:8 In-Context

6 who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

7 "She bestowed her harlotries on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself.

8 "She did not forsake her harlotries from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.

9 "Therefore, I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted.

10 "They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they slew her with the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgments on her.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 32:4; 1 Kings 12:28; 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 17:16; Ezekiel 23:3, 19

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "they"
• [b]. Lit "harlotry"