Ezekiel 23:32

Thus sayth the Lord God, Thou shalt drinke of thy sisters cuppe deepe and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorne and had in derision; it containeth much. Ezekiel 23:32 (KJV)

The prophet Ezekiel uses the vivid metaphor of two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah (also rendered Oholah and Oholibah), to portray the spiritual condition of Israel’s northern and southern kingdoms. In this passage the sisters represent Samaria and Jerusalem, both of which had turned away from the covenant with Yahweh and embraced foreign idols. The historical setting is the Babylonian exile, when the divided kingdoms were already under divine judgment and the people were experiencing the consequences of their rebellion.

The verse itself declares that Jerusalem (Aholibah) will “drink of thy sister’s cup deep and large.” The cup symbolizes a severe judgment prepared by God. Its depth and size convey the overwhelming nature of the punishment that will be poured out, and the language of being “laughed to scorn and had in derision” underscores the public humiliation that will accompany Jerusalem’s downfall. The cup “containeth much,” indicating that the judgment will be extensive and overwhelming.

Ezekiel’s broader context describes a “cup of judgment” shared by the sisters, illustrating that Jerusalem will suffer the same fate as Samaria. Although the immediate verse mentions the cup, the surrounding narrative also speaks of a sword that will strike the mighty ones, reinforcing the inevitability and intensity of divine retribution.

From this passage several spiritual lessons emerge. First, the consequences of disobedience are stark: turning away from God leads to severe, public repercussions. Second, God’s justice is portrayed as perfect and unyielding; He does not tolerate persistent rebellion and administers judgment according to His wisdom. Third, even amid impending judgment, there remains an invitation to repentance. The warning serves to call the people back to faithfulness, urging them to seek forgiveness and restoration before the cup is fully drained.

In summary, Ezekiel 23:32 delivers a sobering prophetic warning to Jerusalem, using the imagery of a deep, large cup to convey the magnitude of divine judgment, the shame of public scorn, and the urgent need for repentance in the face of God’s righteous justice.