New International Version“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.
New Living Translation“Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother.
English Standard Version“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
Berean Standard Bible“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
King James BibleSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
New King James Version“Son of man, there were two women, The daughters of one mother.
New American Standard Bible“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
NASB 1995“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
NASB 1977“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
Legacy Standard Bible“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
Amplified Bible“Son of man, there were two women (Israel and Judah), the daughters of one mother (the united kingdom);
Christian Standard Bible“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
Holman Christian Standard BibleSon of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
American Standard VersionSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Contemporary English VersionEzekiel, son of man, listen to this story about two sisters.
English Revised VersionSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Son of man, there were once two women, daughters of the same mother.
Good News Translation"Mortal man," he said, "there were once two sisters.
International Standard Version"Son of Man, here are two sisters who are daughters from the same mother.
NET Bible"Son of man, there were two women who were daughters of the same mother.
New Heart English Bible"Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Webster's Bible TranslationSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
World English Bible“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTwo women were daughters of one mother,
Young's Literal Translation Two women were daughters of one mother,
Smith's Literal TranslationSon of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSon of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother.
Catholic Public Domain Version“Son of man, two women were daughters of one mother,
New American BibleSon of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.
New Revised Standard VersionMortal, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedSon of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationSon of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother:
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Sonof man,there weretwowomen,daughtersof the samemother,3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.…
Cross References Jeremiah 3:6-10Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...
Hosea 2:2-5Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. / Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst. / I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery. ...
Isaiah 1:21See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
Jeremiah 2:20“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
Hosea 1:2When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
Jeremiah 13:27Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”
Isaiah 57:3-8“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! / Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, / who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? ...
Hosea 4:12-14My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. / I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
Jeremiah 31:22How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”
Isaiah 50:1This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
Revelation 17:1-5Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ...
Revelation 18:3All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
James 4:4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
Matthew 12:39Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Treasury of Scripture Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: two Ezekiel 16:44,46 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall usethis proverb against thee, saying, Asis the mother,so is her daughter… Jeremiah 3:7-10 And I said after she had done all thesethings, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah sawit… Jump to Previous DaughtersMotherWomenJump to Next DaughtersMotherWomenEzekiel 23 1.The unfaithfulness of Aholah and Aholibah23.Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers36.The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both45.and shows their judgmentsSon of manThis phrase is a common title used for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a prophet. It is used over 90 times in the book of Ezekiel. The term "Son of man" is also significant in the New Testament, where Jesus frequently uses it to refer to Himself, highlighting His incarnation and fulfillment of prophecy (e.g., Daniel 7:13-14). there were two women
The two women symbolize the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This allegory is used to illustrate their unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with pagan nations. The use of women in prophetic literature often represents cities or nations, as seen in other scriptures likeIsaiah 1:21 andRevelation 17:1-5. daughters of the same mother
This phrase indicates that both Israel and Judah originated from the same covenant relationship with God, established through the patriarchs and the giving of the Law at Sinai. Despite their shared heritage, both kingdoms strayed from their covenantal obligations. The imagery of a shared mother underscores their common ancestry and the unity they were meant to have under God's law, as seen inGenesis 12:1-3 andExodus 19:5-6. Persons / Places / Events 1. Son of ManThis is a title used for the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of God to the people of Israel. 2. Two WomenSymbolic representations of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They are depicted as sisters, sharing the same heritage and covenant relationship with God. 3. Daughters of the Same MotherThis phrase indicates that both Israel and Judah originated from the same ancestral line, the people of God, and shared the same spiritual heritage. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual AdulteryThe imagery of two women symbolizes the spiritual unfaithfulness of God's people. It serves as a warning against idolatry and turning away from God. Shared Heritage and ResponsibilityBoth Israel and Judah shared the same spiritual heritage. Believers today share a common faith and are called to uphold the values and teachings of Christ. Consequences of UnfaithfulnessThe account warns of the consequences of spiritual adultery, urging believers to remain faithful to God and His commandments. Repentance and RestorationDespite the unfaithfulness depicted, God's desire is for repentance and restoration. This is a call to return to God with a sincere heart. The Role of the ProphetEzekiel's role as "Son of Man" highlights the responsibility of God's messengers to speak truth and call people back to righteousness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Ezekiel 23:2?
2.How does Ezekiel 23:2 illustrate the consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness to God?
3.What lessons can modern believers learn from the allegory in Ezekiel 23:2?
4.How does Ezekiel 23:2 connect with the theme of idolatry in the Bible?
5.In what ways can we guard against spiritual infidelity in our lives today?
6.How does understanding Ezekiel 23:2 enhance our comprehension of God's expectations for His people?
7.What is the significance of the allegory in Ezekiel 23:2 for understanding Israel's history?
8.How does Ezekiel 23:2 reflect on the nature of idolatry in biblical times?
9.Why does Ezekiel use the metaphor of two sisters in chapter 23:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 23?
11.What does 'Lord of the Sabbath' mean?
12.Is there any evidence that Ezekiel 15 was edited or added later, indicating multiple sources or authors?
13.How does the 'one taken, one left' description (Luke 17:34-35) reconcile with other New Testament passages depicting the end times differently?
14.Is the Trinity visible in heaven?What Does Ezekiel 23:2 Mean Son of manEzekiel 23:2 opens with God addressing the prophet: “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.” • “Son of man” (Ezekiel 2:1; 3:1, 4) reminds Ezekiel—and us—that the messenger is human, yet entrusted with a divine word. • The phrase highlights Ezekiel’s responsibility to speak plainly about sin (Ezekiel 3:17–19), just as Jesus later used the same title to reveal His own messianic authority (Matthew 9:6). • By beginning this oracle with the familiar address, the Lord signals continuity with earlier visions (Ezekiel 8–11) and sets a sober tone for the shocking allegory that follows.
there were two womenImmediately God introduces an extended parable: two women who stand for the two kingdoms. • Ezekiel soon names them Oholah (Samaria, the northern kingdom) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, the southern kingdom) inEzekiel 23:4. • Both women engage in blatant, lifelong adultery, picturing Israel’s and Judah’s persistent idolatry (Isaiah 1:21;Jeremiah 3:6–10). • Their unfaithfulness isn’t occasional but patterned: “They gave themselves as prostitutes even in Egypt” (Ezekiel 23:3), recalling the golden-calf episode (Exodus 32:1–6) and the calf shrines Jeroboam later set up (1 Kings 12:28–30). • The allegory underscores that spiritual adultery brings devastating consequences—Assyria for Samaria (2 Kings 17:6) and Babylon for Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1–11).
daughters of the same motherThe two women share one mother, symbolizing their common covenant origin. • Both kingdoms descended from the patriarchs, heard the same Law at Sinai, and worshiped in the same tabernacle before the split (Deuteronomy 6:4;1 Kings 11:31). • Their shared “mother” exposes the tragedy: identical privileges did not prevent identical rebellion (Hosea 2:2;Ezekiel 16:44-45). • Sin therefore cannot be excused by heritage or tradition; each generation must personally cling to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). • The phrase also foreshadows a future reunification under one Shepherd (Ezekiel 37:22, 24), because God disciplines to restore, not to discard (Jeremiah 30:11).
summaryEzekiel 23:2 sets the framework for a vivid parable: God tells His human prophet to confront the northern and southern kingdoms—two “women” who, though born of the same covenant mother, chose parallel paths of spiritual adultery. The verse reminds us that shared heritage offers no immunity from judgment, but it also hints at God’s redemptive intent to reclaim and reunite His wayward people.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew “Sonבֶּן־(ben-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof man,אָדָ֑ם(’ā·ḏām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120:Ruddy, a human beingthere wereהָיֽוּ׃(hā·yū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, betwoשְׁתַּ֣יִם(šə·ta·yim)Number - fd
Strong's 8147:Two (a cardinal number)women,נָשִׁ֔ים(nā·šîm)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, femaledaughtersבְּנ֥וֹת(bə·nō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1323:A daughterof the sameאַחַ֖ת(’a·ḥaṯ)Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259:United, one, firstmother,אֵם־(’êm-)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 517:A mother, )
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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:2 Son of man there were two women (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
