Ezekiel 23:15

Girded with girdles vpon their loynes, exceeding in dyed attire vpon their heads, all of them princes to looke to, after the maner of the Babylonians of Caldea, the land of their natiuitie: Ezekiel 23:15 (KJV)

Ezekiel 23:15 belongs to a larger prophetic passage in which the prophet Ezekiel uses an allegory to convey God’s message concerning the unfaithfulness of the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The two kingdoms are represented as sister cities—Samaria as Oholah and Jerusalem as Oholibah—who have turned to promiscuous and idolatrous behavior, thereby breaking their covenant with God.

In this verse the focus is on Oholibah, that is, Jerusalem. The description emphasizes the extravagant appearance of the Babylonian princes whose images are on the wall and whom Jerusalem’s rulers coveted. They are portrayed as “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.” This language highlights the luxurious, worldly lifestyle of the Babylonians and the allure of their fashion and status.

The reference to “the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity” underscores the strong influence of Babylonian culture on the elite of Jerusalem. Babylon was a dominant empire at the time, and Judah would later be taken captive by it. The imitation of Babylonian dress—belts around the waist and richly dyed headgear—serves as a visual symbol of Jerusalem’s adoption of foreign customs that Ezekiel regarded as contrary to the covenant with God.

The broader context of Ezekiel 23 contains a stern rebuke of both Israel and Judah for their idolatry, alliances with pagan nations, and rejection of God’s commandments. Through this vivid allegory, Ezekiel warns of the impending judgment that will follow such spiritual infidelity. Ezekiel 23:15 thus illustrates the moral and spiritual decline of Jerusalem’s rulers, who had become engrossed in worldly pursuits and foreign influences instead of remaining faithful to God’s covenant.