Ezekiel 23:40

Translations

Modern

Furthermore, 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.

Traditional

And 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,

Literal

…and also that they sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold—they came, those for whom you washed yourself and painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments.

Latin

Miserunt ad viros venientes de longe, ad quos nuntium miserant: itaque ecce venerunt quibus te lavisti, et circumlinisti stibio oculos tuos, et ornata es mundo muliebri.

Original

Hebrew

English

Furthermore, 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.

Notes

Ezekiel 23:36–43

The prophet again took the role of a prosecuting attorney. A prosecuting attorney is a person who brings charges against someone in court. His task was to confront Jerusalem with her sins (detailed in Ezekiel 22).

Jerusalem and Samaria were supposed to be holy cities, set apart for God. Instead, they had become like worn-out prostitutes. This picture shows that they had been unfaithful to God. Their only attraction was their availability, meaning they were ready to give themselves to anyone.

The prophet used this strong image to show how serious their unfaithfulness was. They had turned away from the Lord and given their loyalty to other gods and foreign nations.

Ezekiel 23:1–49

This chapter, like chapter 16, tells the history of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It does this through an extended metaphor (a comparison that continues through many verses).

In this comparison, Samaria and Jerusalem, the capital cities, are described as two immoral women. The language is strong and direct.

This metaphor shows that their judgment was certain and deserved.

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

2 Kings 9:30
Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
Jeremiah 4:30
And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.
Ezekiel 16:13–16
So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.
Isaiah 57:9
You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.
Isaiah 3:18–23
In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;
Ruth 3:3
Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
Ezekiel 23:13
And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.
2 Kings 20:13–15
And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
Esther 2:12
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
Proverbs 7:10
Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

Glossary

Aholah Aholibah Cosmetics Ezekiel, Book of Oholah and Oholibah

Topics

Cosmetics: General Scriptures Concerning Eyelids: Painted Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Licentiousness of Painting: Around the Eyes to Enlarge Their Appearance Prophecies Concerning Israel: Captivity of Great Wickedness is the Cause of Their Adversity The Eye: The Jewish Women often Painted

Ezekiel 23:40

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