Ezekiel 23:15

wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ezekiel addresses the exiled community while describing Oholibah’s vision of painted figures on a wall. The narrative captures the precise moment she observes these depicted men before acting on her desire.

The words — The text highlights אֵז֜וֹר ('e.Zor), a waistband or belt, and טְבוּלִים֙ (te.vu.Lim), turbans. These terms specify the distinctive military and cultural attire of the Chaldean figures.

The thread — The description of warriors in specific gear echoes accounts of Israelite and foreign soldiers in Judges 8:18 and 1 Samuel 18:4. The focus on physical appearance and attire also parallels the detailed descriptions of Absalom in 2 Samuel 14:25.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of how external allure and crafted imagery can provoke internal compromise. Readers must examine what visual or cultural influences they allow to dictate their spiritual allegiance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

חֲגוֹרֵ֨יcha.go.Reigirded of אֵז֜וֹר'e.Zora waistband בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗םbe./ma.te.nei./Hemon/ hips/ their סְרוּחֵ֤יse.ru.Cheioverhung of טְבוּלִים֙te.vu.Limturbans בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔םbe./Ra.shei./Hemon/ heads/ their מַרְאֵ֥הmar.'Eh[the] appearance of of שָׁלִשִׁ֖יםsha.li.Shimicers כֻּלָּ֑םku.La/mall of/ them דְּמ֤וּתde.Mut[the] likeness of בְּנֵֽי־be.nei-[the] sons of בָבֶל֙va.VelBabylon כַּשְׂדִּ֔יםkas.DimChaldea אֶ֖רֶץ'E.retz[was] [the] land of מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃mo.lad.Ta/mkindred/ their

King James Version

Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:

Cross-references

Judges 8:18 Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.”
1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
2 Samuel 14:25 Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
Isaiah 22:21 I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.