Bible Strands
Ezekiel 23:6
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet Ezekiel addresses exiled Israel, depicting Oholah’s initial spiritual adultery as she lusted after Assyrian allies. He describes these allies as elite military governors and officials.
The words — תְכֵ֙לֶת (te.Khe.let) means "blue," and חֶ֖מֶד (Che.med) means "desire." These terms modify the Assyrian governors and officials, marking them as the coveted young horsemen Oholah pursued.
The thread — The phrase "desirable young men" reappears in Ezekiel 23:23 when listing the Babylonians, Chaldeans, and remaining Assyrians. The same elite military imagery tracks Israel’s shifting spiritual infidelity across the chapter.
Why it lands — The text records Oholah's explicit pursuit of foreign warriors and their prized appearance before detailing her subsequent idolatry. Readers must confront how visual allure and political alliance directly preceded covenant violation.
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
Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 23:23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses.