And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
Parallel translations
- WEB As soon as she saw them she lusted after them, and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
- BSB At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in 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 16:29Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.
- Matt 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- Ezek 16:17Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,
- Prov 6:25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
- 2 Kgs 24:1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
- Gen 39:7And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
- Prov 23:33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
- Job 31:1I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
- Gen 6:2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
- 2 Pet 2:14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
- 2 Sam 11:2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
- Ezek 23:40–41And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,
- Ps 119:37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
- Gen 3:6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
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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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