Ezekiel 23:27
Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
Original Language Analysis
וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י
to cease
H7673
וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י
to cease
Strong's:
H7673
Word #:
1 of 15
to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)
זִמָּתֵךְ֙
Thus will I make thy lewdness
H2154
זִמָּתֵךְ֙
Thus will I make thy lewdness
Strong's:
H2154
Word #:
2 of 15
a plan, especially a bad one
מִמֵּ֔ךְ
H4480
מִמֵּ֔ךְ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ
from thee and thy whoredom
H2184
זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ
from thee and thy whoredom
Strong's:
H2184
Word #:
5 of 15
adultery, i.e., (figuratively) infidelity, idolatry
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ
brought from the land
H776
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ
brought from the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
6 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׂאִ֤י
so that thou shalt not lift up
H5375
תִשְׂאִ֤י
so that thou shalt not lift up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
9 of 15
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙
thine eyes
H5869
עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙
thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
10 of 15
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Ezekiel 16:41And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.Ezekiel 23:19Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.Ezekiel 23:3And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
Historical Context
Post-exilic Judaism became fiercely monotheistic. Second Temple Judaism's resistance to idolatry—even unto death under Antiochus Epiphanes (167-164 BC) and Roman persecution—demonstrates exile successfully purged idolatrous tendencies. The Maccabean martyrs and later Jewish resistance to emperor worship prove judgment achieved its purpose of producing exclusive Yahweh worship.
Questions for Reflection
- How does judgment serve remedial purposes beyond mere punishment?
- What competing affections must God strip away to win our exclusive devotion?
- Why does prosperity sometimes fail where adversity succeeds spiritually?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee declares judgment's purpose: eradication of sin. And thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt emphasizes ancient roots being destroyed. Judgment isn't merely punitive but remedial—it purges. So that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more indicates forced separation from idols. When all false hopes are destroyed, only God remains. This is severe mercy. Sometimes God must strip away every competing affection to win exclusive devotion. He burns chaff to purify gold. Exile would accomplish what prosperity couldn't: exclusive worship of Yahweh. After exile, Jews never returned to idolatry. Judgment succeeded where blessing failed.