At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
Parallel translations
- WEB As soon as she saw them she lusted after them, and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
- KJV And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
- NKJV As soon as her eyes saw them, She lusted for them And sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
- NASB And when she saw them she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
- NLT When she saw these paintings, she longed to give herself to them, so she sent messengers to Babylonia to invite them to come to her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
At the sight of these images, Jerusalem lusted and sent messengers to Babylon. She actively pursued alliance with the very power that would destroy her.
Overview
Jerusalem took the initiative, sending envoys to seek the Babylonians she desired. This depicts Judah's diplomatic overtures to Babylon, alliances that proved disastrous. The verse shows the folly of chasing after worldly powers for security instead of trusting the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ezek 16:29So you extended your promiscuity to Chaldea, the land of merchants—but even with this you were not satisfied!
- Matt 5:28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- Ezek 16:17You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself.
- Prov 6:25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
- 2 Kgs 24:1During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
- Gen 39:7and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”
- Prov 23:33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
- Job 31:1“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
- Gen 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- 2 Pet 2:14Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
- 2 Sam 11:2One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
- Ezek 23:40–41Furthermore, you sisters sent messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.
- Ps 119:37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.
- Gen 3:6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
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The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 23:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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