Ezekiel 23:45

And the righteous men, they shall iudge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their handes. Ezekiel 23:45 (KJV)

Ezekiel 23:45 belongs to the prophetic book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. The verse is situated within a larger passage where the prophet uses the vivid illustration of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, to represent the kingdoms of Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah). In this chapter God pronounces judgment on both sisters for their unfaithfulness and wickedness, employing strong figurative language to convey the seriousness of their covenant breach.

The phrase “the righteous men” in this verse does not denote judges who will mete out punishment in the manner of adulteresses. Rather, the text contrasts the outwardly righteous with the foolish, indicating that those considered righteous have become morally compromised and will partake in the same corrupt practices as the ungodly. This interpretation underscores the theme that outward righteousness can be hollow when the people abandon God’s standards.

The metaphor of adulteresses illustrates Israel’s spiritual infidelity—turning away from Yahweh to worship foreign gods and forming illicit political alliances. By likening the cities’ actions to adulterous behavior, the passage highlights the depth of the covenant violation. The reference to women who shed blood, while not explicitly repeated in the verse itself, is linked earlier in the chapter to the violence and bloodshed that accompanied Israel’s idolatry and oppression.

Together, these images emphasize the severity of the sisters’ sins and the inevitable divine judgment they will face. The passage warns that even those who appear righteous can fall into corruption when they forsake God, and it calls the people to recognize the seriousness of their spiritual adultery and its tragic consequences.