Ezekiel 23:20 Meaning and Explanation
“For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Aholibah sought even more degrading alliances, compared to animals in their base nature.
The Context of Ezekiel 23:20
Aholibah's doting extended to the most degrading alliances.
What Does Ezekiel 23:20 Mean?
The graphic animal imagery—asses and horses—is deliberately crude and contemptuous. Despite this base comparison, Aholibah still 'doted' upon these allies, showing her spiritual condition had descended to depths where she pursued the degrading.
The animal comparison is not accusation but diagnosis: those who abandon covenant become enslaved to base instincts and false powers that dehumanize them spiritually.
Ezekiel 23:20 in the Original Language
issue (שִׁכְבַת) — 'emission' or 'semen,' emphasizing base animal nature and rejecting any nobility in these relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 23:20
What does Ezekiel 23:20 mean?
Aholibah sought even more degrading alliances, compared to animals in their base nature.
What is the context of Ezekiel 23:20?
Aholibah's doting extended to the most degrading alliances.