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“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
Ezekiel 23:2 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
  • KJV Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
  • NKJV “Son of man, there were two women, The daughters of one mother.
  • NASB “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
  • NLT “Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother.

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

God speaks of two women who were daughters of one mother. They represent Israel and Judah, sharing a common origin.

Overview

The two sisters stand for the northern kingdom (Samaria) and the southern kingdom (Jerusalem), born of one nation. Their shared mother emphasizes that both descend from the same covenant people. The allegory will trace how both sisters, despite their common heritage, fell into spiritual prostitution.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Ezek 16:44–46Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’
  • Jer 3:7–10I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 23:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

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 23:2 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.