Bible Strands
Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God delivers this declaration through Ezekiel to the allegorical representations of Samaria and Jerusalem during a prophetic indictment of their covenant unfaithfulness. The statement follows God's pronouncement that He turned away in disgust after Oholibah openly exposed her nakedness.
The words — The verb וַתַּרְבֶּה (va-tarbeh) literally means "she increased," governing the noun תַּזְנוּתֶיהָ (taznut'eha), "her prostitution." The infinitive לִזְכֹּר (lizkor) translates to "to remember," introducing a deliberate recall of past actions.
The thread — The text explicitly ties this moment to Ezekiel 23:3 and Ezekiel 16:22, both of which reference the nation's initial spiritual prostitution during their early years. The progression of escalating unfaithfulness aligns with the pattern described in Ezekiel 16:25.
Why it lands — The verse records that deliberate repetition of former idolatry follows divine warning. It requires the reader to acknowledge that recalling past rebellion without repentance accelerates spiritual degradation.
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
King James Version
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 23:3 and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.
- Ezekiel 16:22 And in all your abominations and acts of prostitution, you did not remember the days of your youth when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your own blood.
- Ezekiel 16:25 At the head of every street you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty. With increasing promiscuity, you spread your legs to all who passed by.
- Ezekiel 16:29 So you extended your promiscuity to Chaldea, the land of merchants—but even with this you were not satisfied!
- Ezekiel 16:51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.
- Ezekiel 20:7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
- Ezekiel 23:8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.
- Ezekiel 23:14 But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,
- Ezekiel 23:21 So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.
- Amos 4:4 “Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.