“Then I said concerning her who was worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is like this?’
Parallel translations
- WEB Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, ‘Now they will play the prostitute with her, and she with them.’
- KJV Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
- BSB Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!’
- NKJV Then I said concerning her who had grown old in adulteries, ‘Will they commit harlotry with her now, and she with them?’
- NLT Then I said, ‘If they really want to have sex with old worn-out prostitutes like these, let them!’
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 observes that even though Judah is worn out by adultery, she and the nations continue in immorality. It shows sin's persistence even when it no longer satisfies.
Overview
God speaks of Judah as 'old in adulteries', long practiced in unfaithfulness, yet still drawn into prostitution with the nations. The verse highlights the wearying, joyless cycle of habitual sin that nonetheless refuses to stop. Only a new heart, promised later in Ezekiel and given in Christ, can break such bondage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ps 106:6We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
- Dan 9:16Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.
- Jer 13:23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
- Ezek 23:3They played the prostitute in Egypt. They played the prostitute in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their youthful nipples were caressed there.
- Ezra 9:7Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:43 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.