Ezekiel 23:4 The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

◄ Ezekiel 23:4 ►

New International Version
The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

New Living Translation
The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters. I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

English Standard Version
Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

King James Bible
And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

New King James Version
Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; They were Mine, And they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

New American Standard Bible
Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

NASB 1995
“Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

NASB 1977
“And their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

Amplified Bible
Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister, and they became Mine and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for [the identity of] their names, Oholah is Samaria (capital city of Israel) and Oholibah is Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).

Christian Standard Bible
The older one was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They became mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The older one was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.”

American Standard Version
And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

Contemporary English Version
The older one was named Oholah, which stands for Samaria; the younger one was Oholibah, which stands for Jerusalem. They became my wives and gave birth to my children.

English Revised Version
And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
The older one was named Oholah (she represents Samaria), and the younger one was named Oholibah (she represents Jerusalem). I married both of them, and they bore me children.

International Standard Version
The older one was named Oholah and her sister was named Oholibah. They belonged to me and gave birth to sons and daughters. Now as to their real identities, Oholah refers to Samaria and Oholibah to Jerusalem."

Majority Standard Bible
The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

NET Bible
Oholah was the name of the older and Oholibah the name of her younger sister. They became mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

New Heart English Bible
Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

World English Bible
Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And their names [are] Aholah the older, "" And Aholibah her sister, "" And they are Mine, and bear sons and daughters. As for their names—Samaria [is] Aholah, "" And Jerusalem [is] Aholibah.

Young's Literal Translation
And their names are Aholah the elder, And Aholibah her sister, And they are Mine, and bear sons and daughters. As to their names -- Samaria is Aholah, And Jerusalem is Aholibah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their names Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and they will be to me, and they will bring forth sons and daughters, and their names Shomeron-Aholah and Jerusalem Aholibah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And their names were Oolla the elder, and Ooliba her younger sister: and I took them, and they bore sons and daughters. Now for their names, Samaria is Oolla, and Jerusalem is Ooliba.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now their names were Oholah, the elder, and Oholibah, her younger sister. And I held them, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

New American Bible
Oholah was the name of the elder, and the name of her sister was Oholibah. They became mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names: Samaria was Oholah and Jerusalem, Oholibah.

New Revised Standard Version
Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the name of the elder was Ahlah, and the name of the younger was Ahlibah; and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names: Samaria is Ahlah and Jerusalem is Ahlibah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The name of the elder was Ahlah and the name of the other, Ahlyabah, and they were mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters, the name of Samaria is Ahlah, and of Jerusalem Ahlyabah

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister; and they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And their names were Oola the elder, and Ooliba her sister: and they were mine, and bore sons and daughters: and as for their names, Samaria was Oola, and Jerusalem was Ooliba.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah
…3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 3:6-10
Now 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 2:2-5
Rebuke 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 1:21
See 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 1:2
When 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.”

2 Kings 17:18-23
So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained, / and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced. / So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence. ...

2 Kings 23:27
For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’”

Jeremiah 13:27
Your 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 57:3-9
“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? ...

Jeremiah 31:31-32
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.

Revelation 17:1-5
Then 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 18:2-3
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / All 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.”

Galatians 4:25-26
Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. / But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Treasury of Scripture

And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

the names

the elder

Ezekiel 16:40
They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

1 Kings 12:20
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

they were

Ezekiel 16:8,20
Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine…

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Psalm 45:11-16
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him…

Aholah.

1 Kings 12:26-33
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: …

John 4:22
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Aholibah.

1 Kings 8:29
That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

Psalm 76:2
In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

Psalm 132:13,14
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation…

Jump to Previous

Aholah Aholibah Bare Bear Birth Bore Daughters Elder Jerusalem Names Oholah Oho'lah Oholibah Ohol'ibah Older Samaria Sama'ria Sister

Jump to Next

Aholah Aholibah Bare Bear Birth Bore Daughters Elder Jerusalem Names Oholah Oho'lah Oholibah Ohol'ibah Older Samaria Sama'ria Sister

Ezekiel 23

1. The unfaithfulness of Aholah and Aholibah
23. Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers
36. The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both
45. and shows their judgments

Berean Study Bible

The older was named Oholah
The name "Oholah" is derived from the Hebrew root "ohel," meaning "tent." In the context of Ezekiel 23, Oholah represents Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The imagery of a tent may symbolize a temporary dwelling or a place of worship, reflecting the transient and unstable nature of Samaria's spiritual fidelity. Historically, Samaria was known for its idolatry and alliances with foreign nations, which led to its downfall. The use of "older" signifies the precedence of Samaria in falling away from God's covenant.

and her sister was Oholibah
"Oholibah" comes from the Hebrew roots "ohel" (tent) and "bah" (in her), meaning "My tent is in her." This name represents Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The phrase suggests a more intimate relationship with God, as His "tent" or presence was in Jerusalem, particularly in the Temple. Despite this closeness, Jerusalem also fell into idolatry and unfaithfulness. The term "sister" indicates a familial relationship between the two cities, both part of God's chosen people yet both guilty of spiritual adultery.

They were Mine
This phrase emphasizes God's ownership and covenant relationship with both Samaria and Jerusalem. Despite their unfaithfulness, they were chosen by God, set apart for His purposes. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's enduring commitment to His people, even when they stray. Historically, this relationship was marked by God's repeated calls to repentance through prophets like Ezekiel.

and gave birth to sons and daughters
The "sons and daughters" symbolize the inhabitants and subsequent generations of Samaria and Jerusalem. In a spiritual sense, these offspring represent the fruits of the cities' actions, both good and bad. The phrase underscores the idea that the spiritual state of a community affects future generations, a recurring theme in biblical teachings about legacy and responsibility.

Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister
Reiterating the names and their familial relationship serves to reinforce the allegory of the two cities. The repetition highlights the seriousness of their spiritual infidelity and the consequences that follow. It also serves as a reminder of the prophetic nature of Ezekiel's message, calling the people to recognize their sins and return to God.

they were Samaria and Jerusalem
This direct identification leaves no doubt about the allegorical meaning of the passage. Samaria and Jerusalem, as historical and spiritual centers, represent the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. Their mention serves as a warning to the people of God about the dangers of idolatry and unfaithfulness. The historical context of their eventual destruction underscores the reality of divine judgment, yet also points to the hope of restoration for those who repent and return to God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.--Samaria, as the capital, is put for the northern kingdom, and is called Aholah = her own tabernacle, because she set up her own worship instead of resorting to the Temple; while the southern kingdom, represented by Jerusalem, is called Aholibah = my tabernacle is in her, because she still contained the sanctuary of the Lord. The word "elder" should be translated greater, as in Ezekiel 16:46. (See Note there.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - The occurrence of proper names is almost unique in the parables of the Bible, the Lazarus of Luke 16:20 being the only other instance. Their meaning is sufficiently clear. Aholah (but both names should begin with O rather than A) means "Her tent;" Aholibah, "My tent is in her." A parallel, which may have suggested the names, is found in the Aholibamah (equivalent to "My tent is in the high place") of Genesis 36:2, and another in the use of Ohel as a proper name in 1 Chronicles 3:20. The common element of the two names is the word that is commonly used for the sacred tent or tabernacle in the Pentateuch and elsewhere. The distinctive element of each points to the fact that the worship in Samaria was unauthorized. Her "tent" was hers, not Jehovah's. Of Jerusalem with its temple Jehovah could say, "My tent is in her," and this, as magnifying her privilege, also aggravated her guilt. Keil and others take the adjective here, as in Ezekiel 16:46, as meaning "greater" rather than "older." The former adjective is, of course, applicable to the greater power of the kingdom of the Ten Tribes, and, even if we retain the renderings of the Authorized Version, is probably the explanation of Samaria being named as the elder of the two.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The older
הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ (hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

was named
וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן (ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 8034: A name

Oholah,
אָהֳלָ֤ה (’ā·ho·lāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 170: Oholah -- 'she who has a tent', a symbolic name for Samaria

and her sister
אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ (’ă·ḥō·w·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

was Oholibah.
וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה (wə·’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 172: Oholibah -- 'tent in her', a symbolic name for Jerusalem

They became
וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה (wat·tih·ye·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Mine
לִ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

and gave birth to
וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה (wat·tê·laḏ·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

sons
בָּנִ֣ים (bā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters.
וּבָנ֑וֹת (ū·ḇā·nō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

[As] [for] their identities,
וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן (ū·šə·mō·w·ṯān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 8034: A name

Oholah
אָהֳלָ֔ה (’ā·ho·lāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 170: Oholah -- 'she who has a tent', a symbolic name for Samaria

[is] Samaria,
שֹׁמְר֣וֹן (šō·mə·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel

and Oholibah
אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃ (’ā·ho·lî·ḇāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 172: Oholibah -- 'tent in her', a symbolic name for Jerusalem

is Jerusalem.
וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (wî·rū·šā·lim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:4 The names of them were Oholah (Ezek. Eze Ezk)