Ezekiel 23:6
New International Version
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.

New Living Translation
They were all attractive young men, captains and commanders dressed in handsome blue, charioteers driving their horses.

English Standard Version
clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Berean Standard Bible
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.

King James Bible
Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

New King James Version
Who were clothed in purple, Captains and rulers, All of them desirable young men, Horsemen riding on horses.

New American Standard Bible
who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses.

NASB 1995
who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

NASB 1977
who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Legacy Standard Bible
who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Amplified Bible
who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them attractive young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Christian Standard Bible
dressed in blue, governors and prefects, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on steeds.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
dressed in blue, governors and prefects, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on steeds.

American Standard Version
who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

Contemporary English Version
She offered herself to soldiers in purple uniforms: handsome, high-ranking officers and cavalry troops.

English Revised Version
which were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They were governors and commanders clothed in purple. They were all handsome young men who rode on horses.

Good News Translation
They were soldiers in uniforms of purple, noblemen and high-ranking officers; all of them were handsome young cavalry officers.

International Standard Version
who were clothed in blue—including governors and commanders. All of them were desirable young men—horsemen mounted on horses.

Majority Standard Bible
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.

NET Bible
clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

New Heart English Bible
who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

World English Bible
who were clothed with blue—governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Clothed with blue—governors and prefects, "" All of them desirable young men, "" Horsemen, riding on horses,

Young's Literal Translation
Clothed with blue -- governors and prefects, Desirable young men all of them, Horsemen, riding on horses,

Smith's Literal Translation
Putting on cerulean purple, prefects and governors, young men of desire all of them, horsemen riding horses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who were clothed with blue, princes, and rulers, beautiful youths, all horsemen, mounted upon horses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
who were clothed with hyacinth: rulers and magistrates, passionate youths and all of the horsemen, mounted on horses.

New American Bible
dressed in purple, governors and officers, all of them handsome young soldiers, mounted on horses.

New Revised Standard Version
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, mounted horsemen.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who were clothed with blue, lords and captains, desirable young men, all of them horsemen riding on horses.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who wore blue fringes, Lords and Princes and Rulers, desirable young men, all of them horsemen, riders of horses
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
clothed with blue, governors and rulers, handsome young men all of them, horsemen riding upon horses.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
clothed with purple, princes and captains; they were young men and choice, all horseman riding on horses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah
5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors 6clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds. 7She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 4:30
And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.

2 Kings 23:29
During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.

Isaiah 30:1-2
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

Hosea 7:11
So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

2 Chronicles 35:20-24
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. / But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!” / Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo. ...

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Jeremiah 2:18
Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

Hosea 8:9
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.

Revelation 17:1-2
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.”

Revelation 18:3
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.”

Nahum 3:4
because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.

Isaiah 57:8
Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness.

Jeremiah 3:1-2
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD. / “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.

Revelation 17:12-13
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast. / These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.

Revelation 18:9
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.


Treasury of Scripture

Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

all of

Ezekiel 23:12-15
She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men…

Jump to Previous
Attractive Blue Captains Clothed Commanders Desirable Desired Governors Handsome Horsemen Horses Mounted Officials Purple Riding Rulers Warriors Young
Jump to Next
Attractive Blue Captains Clothed Commanders Desirable Desired Governors Handsome Horsemen Horses Mounted Officials Purple Riding Rulers Warriors Young
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














clothed in blue
The phrase "clothed in blue" refers to the luxurious and royal attire often associated with nobility and wealth in ancient cultures. In the Hebrew context, blue was a color used in the garments of the high priest and in the tabernacle, symbolizing divinity and heavenly origin (Exodus 28:31). The use of blue here suggests a sense of allure and prestige, indicating the seductive power of worldly allurements that can lead one away from God. Historically, blue dye was rare and expensive, often extracted from shellfish, making it a symbol of opulence and status.

governors and commanders
This phrase highlights positions of authority and leadership. In the ancient Near East, governors and commanders were individuals of significant power and influence, often responsible for the administration and military oversight of regions. The Hebrew words used here, "pechah" (governor) and "shalish" (commander), denote high-ranking officials who were respected and often feared. This reflects the temptation of political power and the human tendency to idolize those in authority, which can lead to spiritual compromise.

all desirable young men
The description "all desirable young men" emphasizes physical attractiveness and the vigor of youth. In the context of Ezekiel, this phrase underscores the temptation of physical beauty and the allure of youthful strength, which can be idolized in place of spiritual virtues. The Hebrew word "chemdah" (desirable) conveys a sense of longing or coveting, suggesting that these young men were objects of desire, representing the seductive nature of sin that entices individuals away from their devotion to God.

horsemen mounted on steeds
The imagery of "horsemen mounted on steeds" conveys a sense of military might and mobility. Horses were symbols of power and speed in ancient warfare, and those who rode them were often seen as elite warriors. The Hebrew term "parash" (horseman) indicates a skilled rider, while "sus" (steed) refers to a strong and swift horse. This phrase highlights the allure of military strength and the false sense of security it can provide, reminding believers that true security and strength come from reliance on God, not on human power or military prowess.

(6) Horsemen.--The Assyrians, like the Egyptians, made large use of cavalry, as was necessary to a warlike nation; the multiplication of horses had on this account been forbidden to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 17:16).

Verse 6. - Clothed with blue. The same word as that used in the description of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:4; Exodus 26:31, et al.). It was probably some hue of the Tyrian purple kind which marked the official dress of the "captains" of the Assyrian armies. The words, with those that follow, bring before us the magnificent array of the Assyrian cavalry - a force in which Israel, throughout its history, was deficient (Judges 5:10; Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 36:8.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
clothed
לְבֻשֵׁ֤י (lə·ḇu·šê)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

in blue,
תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ (ṯə·ḵê·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8504: The cerulean mussel, the color, obtained therefrom, stuff dyed therewith

governors
פַּח֣וֹת (pa·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6346: A governor

and commanders,
וּסְגָנִ֔ים (ū·sə·ḡā·nîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5461: A prefect of a, province

all
כֻּלָּ֑ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

desirable
חֶ֖מֶד (ḥe·meḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2531: Desire, delight

young men,
בַּח֥וּרֵי (ba·ḥū·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 970: Selected, a youth

horsemen
פָּרָשִׁ֕ים (pā·rā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6571: A steed, a driver, cavalry

mounted on
רֹכְבֵ֖י (rō·ḵə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

steeds.
סוּסִֽים׃ (sū·sîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)


Links
Ezekiel 23:6 NIV
Ezekiel 23:6 NLT
Ezekiel 23:6 ESV
Ezekiel 23:6 NASB
Ezekiel 23:6 KJV

Ezekiel 23:6 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 23:6 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 23:6 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 23:6 French Bible
Ezekiel 23:6 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 23:6 Who were clothed with blue governors (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 23:5
Top of Page
Top of Page