Ezekiel 23:21

Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

Ezekiel 23:21 (KJV)

Context

Ezekiel 23 presents an allegory of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem), whose unfaithfulness pictures Israel and Judah’s covenant betrayal of God. The verse directly addresses Oholibah, Jerusalem, during the Babylonian captivity, when Judah sought alliances with Egypt and other nations instead of trusting the Lord.

Meaning

The phrase “calledst to remembrance” indicates that Jerusalem actively recalled and reenacted the “lewdness” of her youth, the idolatry first committed in Egypt. The graphic language of “bruising thy teats” is metaphorical, portraying spiritual adultery—worship of idols and reliance on foreign powers. By repeating these sins, Judah caused God to remember them for judgment, not for blessing.

Biblical connections

This verse echoes Ezekiel 23:3, where the sisters “committed whoredoms” in Egypt and their breasts were pressed. The earlier verse establishes the pattern of unfaithfulness that began long before and continued into Ezekiel’s day. The connection shows that Judah’s present sin was not a new failure but a return to an old one.

Application

Readers are warned that persisting in sin, especially idolatry and trusting in worldly powers rather than God, leads to judgment. The verse calls for honest self-examination: do we repeat former sins, or do we turn from them? It also reminds us that God sees and remembers, yet His warnings invite repentance.

Reflection

Ezekiel’s blunt language conveys the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness. The verse challenges us to consider where we place our trust and whether we are, like Oholibah, rehearsing old sins. The appropriate response is to confess and return to the Lord, who alone is worthy of our devotion.