Every verse/chapter of the Bible can be interpreted into various meanings. It takes the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for a real born again Christian to really understand the meaning of a particular verse of the scriptures.
Even the devil knows the scriptures: As denoted by the time he told Jesus to jump off from the high buildings for it is written: “God will give his Angels charge over thee, lest you dash your feet against a stone”. Thank God for the Holy Spirit which was mighty upon our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the point of His baptism at River Jordan, and then He said: “It is written, do not tempt the Lord your God”.
This same scenario is rampant these days. A lot of false preachers keep misinterpreting the scriptures every day while spreading their false teachings. Here at HTMH, we are much concerned about the life/souls of the true Christians and so, we will keep trying our very best to ensure you are always on the right track with God.
Here, we succinctly explained the meaning of a popular Bible scripture that has been misinterpreted by many. I am talking about Ezekiel 23:20. I have also listed up to 15 things you can learn particularly from this verse of the Holy Bible.
Ezekiel 23:20 Meaning
Before I move on to explain the meaning of this verse, here is what Ezekiel 23 20 reads.
Ezekiel 23:20 – “For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses” – KJV
“There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses”. – NIV
Now, before you begin to think about the meaning of this particular verse, go back and start reading from the verse 2 of this chapter (Ezekiel 20); it’ll help.
One thing to keep in mind is this; the book of Ezekiel is a book of the prophet. So, it consists of prophecies declared by Prophet Ezekiel as revealed to him by God.
God was not happy with the adulterous life His people (Samaria and Jerusalem) were living. This verse of the scripture refers to the “whorish”, ungodly, and unfaithful behaviors exhibited by these two nations; it is clearly a metaphor.
The word “women” used throughout this chapter are metaphors for Jerusalem and Samaria. Then, the idolatry, and whore, etc were the actual sins committed by these two nations.
If you read the scripture from the very first verse as i said above, you’d probably see where Egypt was referenced; this takes us back to when the Israelites were still in Egypt and the trek through the wilderness. It also tells of how they lusted after the pieces of jewelry, luxury, and treasures of their Egyptians masters.
Let’s see what the Bible said from verse 8 – 10
“She did not give up her harlotry which she had practised since her days in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her. Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians upon whom she doted. These uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; and her they slew with the sword; and she became a byword among women, when judgment had been executed upon her”. Ezekiel 23:8-10
Here’s another similar Bible scripture that relates to this;
“Plead with your mother, plead – for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband – that she put away her harlotry from her face, and her adultery from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked and make her as in the day she was born”. Hosea 2:2-3
These two scriptures explain the level of God’s anger upon his saved people whom have chosen to despise and disobey his commandments.
In conclusion, this verse of the scripture tries to explain the level at which God sees the sins of the two named nations; it is likened to that of an adulterous wife who freely gives her body to her lovers.
15 things to Learn from Ezekiel 20 vs 23
- First of all, we ought to be loyal to God. To engage in idolatry is very bad in God’s eye as engaging in prostitution or any other form of adultery. Committing our lives to serve God full-time is what God wants.
- We must learn from the mistakes of others.
- God gets extremely angry when we sin against him and unleashes his wrath upon us which is usually very dreadful as seen in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah.
- We should always endeavor to live godly lives so as not to incur God’s wrath. ” I’ll deliver her into the hands of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted” (23:9-10)
- Do not follow the footsteps of ungodly people as emphasized in verses 11 and 12.
- Let’s adhere to the warnings from these passages and not become infatuated with the sin of the world. Instead, we should serve God with diligence.
- Most times, God does not use direct words to talk to when. It is the Holy Spirit in us that interprets these words to our clear understanding.
- We should not take the words/prophecies of the prophets likely or as mere words.
- We should obey and keep the commandments of God against all odds.
- Do not be moved by what the people of the world (unbelievers) are doing.
- God’s vengeance is severe as seen in the last verse of that scripture – Ezekiel 20:46 – 49
- Do not interpret the words/phrases/sentences used in the bible as you’d for mere books; they are more of metaphors and parables.
- Serve God with your body because that is his temple.
- Avoid the company of unbelievers
- Stay away from what would defile you or turn your heart away from pleasing God.
“Stay away from what would defy you…”
Should be:
“Stay away from what would defile you…”
Hi AlG,
Thanks for the fix. I’ll go ahead with the update.
“Do not be moved by what the people of the world are doing.”
Lot, nephew of Abraham, was personally righteous, was vexed by the wickedness of the people of Sodom. 2Peter 2:7
But he was not moved to get his wife and daughters out of the pesthole of depravity that was Sodom.
His daughters were betrothed to two of the men of Sodom.
It took angels sent to drag him out of Sodom. His wife longed for her home, her things, and the comforts of the city. Genesis 19:26
Lot had made an unwise choice to locate his family in a cesspool of perversion and evil. He was rescued but fell into sin by allowing his daughters to encourage him to become drunken. Gen. 19:32 Then, by unwittingly (19:33, 35) committing incest with them, founded two nations that were perennial thorns (Judges 11) in the flesh of Israel. Gen. 19:37, 38
“Serve God with your body because that is His temple.”
Many scriptures show that large families please our God and our Maker.
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth [with humankind].” Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 7, Leviticus 26:9, Psalm 127:3, 5
The apostle Paul strongly encouraged all who were able to marry – to “avoid sexual immorality.” 1Corinthians 7:2 Then, to make this effective, he commanded the married to be available to their spouses according to the desire of the other.
The author of Hebrews, thought to be Paul, commanded the married not to “defile” the [marriage] “bed.” The “marriage bed” is defiled by committing sexually immoral acts (anywhere, whether on a literal bed, couch, pallet, etc.). Ch. 13:4
The younger widows are urged to marry and to bear children. 1Timothy 5:14
Widowhood was common as men had a higher mortality rate and young women were commonly married to older men. Tradition is that Mary was 12-14 when she bore Jesus, and that Joseph was an older man. Rebekah traditionally was about 10 when she married Isaac.
Polygyny was almost universal. A young widow might become a second or third wife. The Bible appears to approve of up to seven wives (including concubines). Isaiah 4:1. King David had Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah by name. He had other wives and concubines, and the ten widows of Saul.
It is by the influence of pagan Rome that a man was limited to one wife, which the Church of Rome carried on. Roman, as Church law also, set no limit on concubines and slave women.
Thank for the infomation and I pray everyday that god would hear my prayers and forgive me. I pray for the changes that i pray to come true.