Ezekiel 23:9
Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֥ן
H3651
לָכֵ֥ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
נְתַתִּ֖יהָ
Wherefore I have delivered
H5414
נְתַתִּ֖יהָ
Wherefore I have delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
2 of 10
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּיַד֙
her into the hand
H3027
בְּיַד֙
her into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 10
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ
of her lovers
H157
מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ
of her lovers
Strong's:
H157
Word #:
4 of 10
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
בְּיַד֙
her into the hand
H3027
בְּיַד֙
her into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
5 of 10
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
בְּנֵ֣י
of the Assyrians
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
of the Assyrians
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 10
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אַשּׁ֔וּר
H804
אַשּׁ֔וּר
Strong's:
H804
Word #:
7 of 10
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 10
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Hosea 11:5He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.2 Kings 17:23Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
Historical Context
After decades of seeking Assyrian alliance and paying tribute, Israel finally rebelled against Assyria under King Hoshea (2 Kings 17:4). Shalmaneser V besieged Samaria for three years (725-722 BC), and Sargon II completed the conquest, deporting 27,290 Israelites according to Assyrian records. The very nation Israel trusted destroyed her.
Questions for Reflection
- How do our idols eventually destroy us?
- What does it mean that God's judgment often grants us what we wrongly desire?
- How should we respond when worldly systems we've trusted turn against us?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians declares God's sovereign judgment through historical process. Those she pursued for security became instruments of destruction. The Hebrew natan (delivered/gave) indicates active divine causation, not mere permission. God orchestrated Assyria's conquest of Samaria (722 BC) as judicial punishment. Upon whom she doted shows divine irony—our idols become our punishment. What we love inordinately God may give us fully, revealing its destructive nature (Romans 1:24-28). This is judicial abandonment—God gives us what we wrongly demand.