The term "doted" appears in the context of the Bible to describe an intense, often misguided affection or infatuation. It is used to convey a sense of excessive or foolish love, typically in a negative connotation. The concept of doting is associated with idolatry and unfaithfulness, where the object of affection replaces or rivals one's devotion to God.

Biblical References:

1. Ezekiel 23:5 : "Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine; she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians." In this passage, the term "doted" is implied through the actions of Oholah, representing Samaria, who is depicted as being infatuated with the Assyrians. This infatuation leads her away from her covenant relationship with God, symbolizing spiritual adultery and idolatry.

2. Ezekiel 23:7 : "She bestowed her harlotries upon them, all of them choice men of Assyria, and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after." Here, the doting is further illustrated by Oholah's actions, as she not only desires the Assyrians but also engages in idolatrous practices with them. This highlights the destructive nature of misplaced affection and the spiritual corruption that follows.

3. Ezekiel 23:9 : "Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted." The consequence of Oholah's doting is her eventual downfall, as God allows her to be overtaken by those she idolized. This serves as a warning against allowing infatuation to lead one away from faithfulness to God.

Theological Implications:

In the biblical context, doting is often linked to the theme of unfaithfulness to God. It serves as a metaphor for Israel's spiritual adultery, where the nation turns away from God to pursue alliances and idolatrous practices with foreign nations. This misplaced affection is portrayed as a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

The use of the term in Ezekiel underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the consequences of allowing one's heart to be led astray. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for exclusive devotion and the dangers of spiritual infidelity.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

The concept of doting in the Bible serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of misplaced affection and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God. It warns against allowing worldly desires and infatuations to take precedence over one's commitment to God. Believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas where they may be "doting" on things that detract from their devotion to God and to realign their affections accordingly.

In summary, the biblical use of "doted" highlights the destructive nature of infatuation that leads to idolatry and unfaithfulness. It calls believers to remain steadfast in their love and commitment to God, avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual adultery.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Dote.

2. (a.) Stupid; foolish.

3. (a.) Half-rotten; as, doted wood.

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians
... Paul rebukes, we may reasonably urge that these defects are not confined to the
Celts. The Phrygians doted on a sombre and mysterious religion. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xii the epistle of.htm

The Youth of Count Zinzendorf, 1700-1722.
... of her eye. He read the Bible every day. He doted on Luther's Catechism. He
had the Gospel story at his finger-ends. His aunt Henrietta ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter i the youth of.htm

These Things We, who were Living as Friends Together...
... I had found then how deadly he doted upon the Circus, and was deeply grieved that
he seemed likely, nay, or had thrown away so great promise: yet had I no ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter vii these things we.htm

Why He Delighted in that Theft, when all Things which under the ...
... 12. What was it, then, that I, miserable one, so doted on in thee, thou theft of
mine, thou deed of darkness, in that sixteenth year of my age? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter vi why he delighted in.htm

He Leads to Reformation his Friend Alypius, Seized with Madness ...
... I had then found how fatally he doted upon the circus, and was deeply grieved that
he seemed likely"if, indeed, he had not already done so"to cast away his ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter vii he leads to reformation.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses"and they and all that
appertained to them went down alive into the pit, and the earth doted upon them ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Trust in God --True Wisdom
... delusions, and when God awoke, and when that man awoke, as a dream when one awaketh,
so did he, or so shall he, despise the image on which his soul had doted. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/trust in godtrue wisdom.htm

Of Love to God
... As in the case of Abraham's offering up Isaac; Isaac being the son of his old age,
no question he loved him entirely, and doted on him; but when God said ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/of love to god.htm

Book Two He Concentrates Here on his Sixteenth Year, a Year of ...
... CHAPTER VI. 12. What was it in you, O theft of mine, that I, poor wretch, doted
on"you deed of darkness"in that sixteenth year of my age? ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book two he concentrates here.htm

The History of Solomon
... For when he was old he so doted and loved them that they made him honor their strange
gods, and worshipped Ashtareth, Chemosh and Moloch, idols of Zidonia, of ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of solomon.htm

Doted (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Dote. 2. (a.) Stupid; foolish. 3. (a.) Half-rotten; as,
doted wood. Multi-Version Concordance Doted (6 Occurrences). ...
/d/doted.htm - 8k

Assyrians (15 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her
lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/a/assyrians.htm - 11k

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she
doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (See NIV). ...
/p/prostitution.htm - 22k

Neighbours (34 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS BBE DBY). Ezekiel 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine;
and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, (KJV BBE DBY). ...
/n/neighbours.htm - 16k

Neighbors (40 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on
her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB ASV WBS NAS). ...
/n/neighbors.htm - 18k

Lovers (57 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her
lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/l/lovers.htm - 24k

Warriors (75 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezekiel 23:5 And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she
doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (See JPS NIV). ...
/w/warriors.htm - 27k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she
doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB). ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Neighbouring (11 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:12 On sons of Asshur she hath doted, Governors and prefects, Neighbouring
ones -- clothed in perfection, Horsemen, riding on horses, Desirable young ...
/n/neighbouring.htm - 9k

Oholah (4 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her
lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV). ...
/o/oholah.htm - 8k

Doted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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