A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Posted on October 1, 2020 by admin

Another statement of sabbath law in Exodus follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 31:12, 13 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (NET)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:	The Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) said to Moses,	And the Lord (κύριος) spoke to Moyses, saying:	And the Lord (Κύριος) spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths (שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י), for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem (יְהֹוָ֖ה) who sanctify you.	“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths (shabbath, שבתתי), for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you.	And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά)! For it is a sign with me and among you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord (κύριος) who consecrates you.	Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά); [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord (Κύριος) that sanctifies you.

Yehovah (יְהֹוָ֖ה) was explicit about the purpose of the sabbaths He made for people: that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you.^[1] Paul wrote to believers in Colossae (Colossians 2:6-17 NET):

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord (κύριον, a form of κύριος), continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing^[2] with thankfulness. Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him all the fullness (πλήρωμα) of deity lives in bodily form, and you have been filled (πεπληρωμένοι, a form of πληρόω) in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly^[3] body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism,^[4] you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the^[5] dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you^[6] alive^[7] with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days (σαββάτων, a form of σάββατον)—these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ [Table]!

The Greek word translated reality above was σῶμα (KJV: body): Christ is the body which cast the shadow.

I rely now on the Holy Spirit and his continuous infusion of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to quash any impulse to rush out and indulge my favorite sin after reading: He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.^[8]

It is extremely interesting to me that where the NET described a believer’s circumcision as the removal of the fleshly body because the NA²⁸ proposed τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός as the more original text, the KJV described it as putting off the body of the sins of the flesh because the Stephanus Textus Receptus had του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος. Even if των αμαρτιων was added by a scribe, I doubt that Paul would take offense at this amplification.

He wrote to believers in Rome (Romans 6:1-4 NET):

What shall we say then? Are we to remain^[9] in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

The NET translators chose live above for two different Greek words. In—so we too may live a new life^[10]—live was περιπατήσωμεν (a form of περιπατέω) in Greek. And in—How can we who died to sin still live in it?^[11]—it was ζήσομεν (a form of ζάω). I don’t have any particular quarrel with translating περιπατήσωμεν live. But perhaps ζήσομεν in such close proximity could have been translated something like fester to capture the tone better: How can we who died to sin still fester in it?

What appears to be hung out there as a rhetorical question or lament in Paul’s letter to the Romans was actually answered quite succinctly in his letter to the Galatians: One will continue to fester in sin if one does not live (περιπατεῖτε, another form of περιπατέω) by the Spirit: But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.^[12]

The English translation—you will not carry out—is weaker here than the Greek: οὐ μὴ τελέσητε. The second person plural verb τελέσητε is an aorist subjunctive form of τελέω. So οὐ μὴ makes this clause a “Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation…the absolute and unequivocal denial of the probability of an event EVER OCCURING at any moment or time in the future.”^[13] So if I ever bring the sinful desires of the flesh to maturity or carry them out, I am not at that moment living by the Spirit.

It’s not a time to debate a point but to recalibrate my senses to become more accustomed and attuned to the Spirit of God (Romans 7:18-20 NET).

For I know that nothing good lives (οἰκεῖ, a form of οἰκέω) in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot^[14] do it. For I do not do the good I want, but^[15] I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but^[16] sin that lives (οἰκοῦσα, another form of οἰκέω) in me.

Paul’s command—κρινέτω, translated do…let…judge, is an imperative form of κρίνω—do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days^[17] makes no sense to me on its surface. I don’t know how to stop religious people from making religious judgments about religious things. But if I understand κρινέτω here as rule, things begin to fall into place.

I have sinned. I have lived, walked, been led by the sin that lives in me rather than the Holy Spirit. That very moment when I need most of all to get back to living, walking, being led by Christ’s Spirit is the very moment religious people descend with their judgments. Should they refrain my own religious mind jabbers away at me with similar judgments. If I turn then to live, walk or be led by the judgments of religious people or my own religious mind, I have still not returned to live, walk, be led by the Spirit of God. I have refused to enter his rest.

The regulations in the law regarding food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days…are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!^[18] A believer must be certain of this. The sabbath laws continued:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 31:14, 15 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:14, 15 (NET)	Exodus 31:14, 15 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)
Ye shall keep the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת) therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	So you must keep the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת), for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.	And you shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people.	And ye shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath (שַׁבַּ֧ת) of solemn rest (שַׁבָּת֛וֹן), holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת) day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath (shabbath, שבת) of complete rest (shabbathown, שבתון), holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת) day must surely be put to death.	For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata (σάββατα), a rest (ἀνάπαυσις) holy to the Lord. Everyone who does work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death.	Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath (σάββατα), a holy rest (ἀνάπαυσις) to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death.

A believer bullied by the fear of death into living by these sabbath regulations rather than the Holy Spirit not only exchanges the reality of Christ for a shadow but frustrates the purpose of the sabbath as revealed in the law: that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) you.^[19] For indeed he who makes holy (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) and those being made holy (ἁγιαζόμενοι, another form of ἁγιάζω) all have the same origin (ἐξ ἑνὸς πάντες; KJV: are all of one), and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers…^[20]

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 7:1-6 NET):

For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

In the Septuagint the Greek word translated rest in the description of the sabbath as a holy rest to the Lord was ἀνάπαυσις. I’ll conclude this essay with Jesus’ promise of ἀνάπαυσις (Matthew 11:28-30 NET):

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω, a form of ἀναπαύω). Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν, a form of ἀνάπαυσις) for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.

Tables comparing Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Colossians 2:7; 2:11-13; Romans 6:1 and 7:18-20 in the NET and KJV.

Exodus 31:12 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:12 (KJV)	Exodus 31:12 (NET)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,	The Lord said to Moses,

Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων	Καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
Exodus 31:12 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying:	And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Exodus 31:13 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:13 (KJV)	Exodus 31:13 (NET)
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem who sanctify you.	Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.	“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ λέγων ὁρᾶτε καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε σημεῗόν ἐστιν παρ᾽ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ὑμῗν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς	καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· ὁρᾶτε, καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε· σημεῖόν ἐστι παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν, ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς
Exodus 31:13 (NETS)	Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)
And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths! For it is a sign with me and among you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord who consecrates you.	Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths; [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:14 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:14 (KJV)	Exodus 31:14 (NET)
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστιν κυρίου ὑμῗν ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ	καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα, ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστι Κυρίῳ ὑμῖν· ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ
Exodus 31:14 (NETS)	Exodus 31:14 (English Elpenor)
And you shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people.	And ye shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.

Exodus 31:15 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:15 (KJV)	Exodus 31:15 (NET)
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ κυρίῳ πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται	ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα, τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα, ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ Κυρίῳ· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, θανατωθήσεται
Exodus 31:15 (NETS)	Exodus 31:15 (English Elpenor)
For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata, a rest holy to the Lord. Everyone who does work on the seventh day shall be put to death.	Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day shall be put to death.

Colossians 2:7 (NET)	Colossians 2:7 (KJV)
rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.	Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ	ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια	ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

Colossians 2:11-13 (NET)	Colossians 2:11-13 (KJV)
In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.	In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ	εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου	εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ \|βαπτισμῷ\|, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν	συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων	συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων

And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας [ἐν] τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ, χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα.	και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωποιησεν συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα	και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωοποιησεν υμας συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα

Romans 6:1 (NET)	Romans 6:1 (KJV)
What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?	What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ	τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενουμεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση	τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενομεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση

Romans 7:18-20 (NET)	Romans 7:18-20 (KJV)
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.	For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ οἰκεῖ ἐν ἐμοί, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου, ἀγαθόν· τὸ γὰρ θέλειν παράκειται μοι, τὸ δὲ κατεργάζεσθαι τὸ καλὸν οὔ	οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω	οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω

For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω ποιῶ ἀγαθόν, ἀλλὰ ὃ οὐ θέλω κακὸν τοῦτο πράσσω	ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω	ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ θέλω [ἐγὼ] τοῦτο ποιῶ, οὐκέτι ἐγὼ κατεργάζομαι αὐτὸ ἀλλὰ ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία	ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια	ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 7

Back to Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 2

Back to Psalm 22, Part 5

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 16

Back to Who Am I? Part 12

Back to To Make Holy, Part 9

Back to Westworld, Part 3

Back to Westworld, Part 4

Back to The Book of Life, Part 1

Back to The New Covenant, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 7

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

Back to Luke 8:22-56

^[1] Exodus 31:13b (NET)

^[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν αυτη (KJV: therein) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[3] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had των αμαρτιων (KJV: of the sins) between the body and the flesh. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had βαπτισμῷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had βαπτισματι.

^[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article των here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[6] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ὑμᾶς here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

^[7] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had συνεζωοποίησεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had συνεζωποιησεν (KJV: hath he quickened).

^[8] Colossians 2:14 (NET)

^[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπιμένωμεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επιμενουμεν (KJV: Shall we continue) and the Byzantine Majority Text had επιμενομεν.

^[10] Romans 6:4b (NET)

^[11] Romans 6:2b (NET)

^[12] Galatians 5:16 (NET)

^[13] Justin Alfred, “EMPHATIC NEGATIONS IN BIBLICAL GREEK,” BLB Blog

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὔ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουχ ευρισκω (KJV: I find not).

^[15] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

^[16] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

^[17] Colossians 2:16 (NET)

^[18] Colossians 2:16-17 (NET)

^[19] Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)

^[20] Hebrews 2:11 (NET)

Romans, Part 41

Posted on February 28, 2013 by admin

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles, Paul continued. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy (παραζηλώσω, a form of παραζηλόω)^[1] and save some of them.^[2] Here Paul referred back to the Lord’s prophesy through Moses, I will make you jealous (παραζηλώσω, a form of παραζηλόω) by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.^[3]

The complete verse reads, They have made me jealous (Septuagint: παρεζήλωσάν, another form of παραζηλόω) with false gods, enraging me with their worthless gods; so I will make them jealous (Septuagint: παραζηλώσω, a form of παραζηλόω) with a people they do not recognize, with a nation slow to learn I will enrage them.^[4] And so I have the karmic reason: Israel made God jealous with false gods, so He made them jealous with senseless, slow to learn or foolish people. But Paul alluded to a grace reason as well: I ask then, [Israel] did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression [e.g., making God jealous with false gods] salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous (παραζηλῶσαι, another form of παραζηλόω).^[5] And so Paul hoped to provoke [his] people to jealousy (παραζηλώσω, a form of παραζηλόω) and save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, Paul continued, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^[6] Then he said something odd: If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy…^[7] The phrase the first portion of the dough offered is one word in Greek, ἀπαρχὴ,^[8] firstfruits. At first I thought Paul was referencing the firstfruits offering from the law.

You must offer up a cake of the first (rêʼshı̂yth)^[9] of your finely ground flour as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up. You must give to the Lord some of the first (rêʼshı̂yth) of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.^[10] But the firstfruits belonged to the priests and their immediate families: All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the first fruits (rêʼshı̂yth) of these things that they give to the Lord, I have given to you. And whatever first ripe fruit in their land they bring to the Lord will be yours; everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.^[11]

So if the whole batch became holy because of the offering of the firstfruits, the people would have starved, because the whole batch would have belonged to the priests and their immediate families. Paul used the word ἀπαρχὴ in another context in 1 Corinthians. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits (ἀπαρχὴ)^[12] of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits (ἀπαρχὴ); then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.^[13]

So I think Christ was the fristfruits (ἀπαρχὴ) Paul wrote about, and making the whole batch… holy was not something true of, or done by, the law. It is accomplished through Christ. Later in Romans Paul wrote that the people of Israel are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.^[14] I don’t think he meant that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were of such special merit that their merit would be extended to their descendants. I think he referenced the promises the Lord Jesus made to them, about their descendents, as Yahweh. As Paul wrote earlier, Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”^[15]

And Paul continued, if the root is holy, so too are the branches.^[16] Here again the Lord Jesus is the root: At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic. At that time the sovereign master will again lift his hand to reclaim the remnant of his people…^[17] The Lord Jesus is holy and all who spring forth from him are holy, too.

Then Paul began to describe the attitude Gentile believers should have toward the people of Israel. Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches.^[18] “I am part of a senseless nation grafted in to make Israel jealous!” is not much to brag about anyway. But if you boast, Paul continued, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”^[19] Here is a good place to review why the branches were broken off (Jeremiah 11:15-17 NET).

The Lord says to the people of Judah, “What right do you have to be in my temple, my beloved people? Many of you have done wicked things. Can your acts of treachery be so easily canceled by sacred offerings that you take joy in doing evil even while you make them? I, the Lord, once called you a thriving olive tree, one that produced beautiful fruit. But I will set you on fire, fire that will blaze with a mighty roar. Then all your branches will be good for nothing. For though I, the Lord who rules over all, planted you in the land, I now decree that disaster will come on you because the nations of Israel and Judah have done evil and have made me angry by offering sacrifices to the god Baal.”

Granted! Paul continued. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear (φοβοῦ, a form of φοβέω)!^[20] This word φοβοῦ in this form occurs most often in the New Testament as the divine greeting to the fearful flesh of Adam: Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ)!^[21] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ), Zechariah…^[22] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ), Mary…^[23] Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ)…”^[24] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ), little flock…^[25] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ), people of Zion…^[26] The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ)…”^[27] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ), Paul!^[28] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ) of the things you are about to suffer.^[29] But Paul used it twice in Romans to say, But if you do wrong, be in fear (φοβοῦ)…^[30] For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.^[31]

I must be an adulteress ^[32] at heart. I can’t count how many times I came to this place in Paul’s letter to the Romans, ignored everything I had heard thus far, and ran back to the law. It was like an all-consuming lust that blinded me and made me deaf to everything Paul had said about the law: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.^[33]

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.^[34]

For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.^[35] Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.^[36] For the law brings wrath…^[37] Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase…^[38] For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!^[39]

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.^[40]

Despite all this when Paul said, Do not be arrogant, but fear (φοβοῦ), I fled in terror from Jesus my Savior back to the law. A Baal worshiper may have thought that he was worshipping the true God. I’m sure I did at the time. A Baal worshiper may have thought that he had found a better god. But I was worshiping myself and my own ability to keep the law, even after years of practical experience and empirical proofs that I could not keep it. Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ); just believe.^[41] Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ); just believe…^[42]

Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God, Paul continued, harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?^[43]

Romans, Part 42

^[2] Romans 11:13, 14 (NET)

^[3] Romans 10:19 (NET) Table

^[4] Deuteronomy 32:21 (NET) Table

^[5] Romans 11:11 (NET)

^[6] Romans 11:15 (NET)

^[7] Romans 11:16a (NET)

^[10] Numbers 15:20, 21 (NET)

^[11] Numbers 18:12, 13 (NET)

^[13] 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NET)

^[14] Romans 11:28b (NET)

^[15] Romans 3:4 (NET)

^[16] Romans 11:16b (NET)

^[17] Isaiah 11:10, 11a (NET)

^[18] Romans 11:17, 18a (NET)

^[19] Romans 11:18b, 19 (NET)

^[20] Romans 11:20 (NET)

^[21] Revelation 1:17 (NET)

^[22] Luke 1:13 (NET)

^[23] Luke 1:30 (NET)

^[24] Luke 5:10 (NET)

^[25] Luke 12:32 (NET)

^[26] John 12:15 (NET)

^[27] Acts 18:9 (NET)

^[28] Acts 27:24 (NET)

^[29] Revelation 2:10 (NET)

^[30] Romans 13:4 (NET)

^[31] Romans 11:21 (NET)

^[32] Is Sin Less Than Sin? Part 4

^[33] Romans 2:13 (NET)

^[34] Romans 3:19-22a (NET)

^[35] Romans 3:28 (NET) Table

^[36] Romans 3:31 (NET)

^[37] Romans 4:15a (NET)

^[38] Romans 5:20a (NET)

^[39] Romans 6:14, 15 (NET)

^[40] Romans 7:1-6 (NET)

^[41] Mark 5:36 (NET)

^[42] Luke 8:50 (NET)

^[43] Romans 11:22-24 (NET)

Adultery in the Prophets, Part 3

Posted on June 4, 2012 by admin

Ezekiel, a priest, prophesied from Babylonia after the southern kingdom of Judah was taken captive.¹ Ezekiel 23 is a history lesson from the Lord’s point of view told as an allegory (23:1-4 NET).

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, there were two women who were daughters of the same mother. They engaged in prostitution (zānâ, ותזנינה) in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution (zānâ, זנו). Their breasts were squeezed there; lovers fondled their virgin nipples there [see Addendum below]. 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.”

The key to the allegory is at the end of this passage above: Oholah stands for Samaria the former capital of the long-exiled northern kingdom of Israel. Oholibah stands for Jerusalem the capital of the more recently exiled southern kingdom of Judah (though Jerusalem was still inhabited at this particular time).² Oholah and Oholibah became the Lord’s at Sinai after the exodus from Egypt. Though I had missed it many times before, studying in this context helped me recognize that the people standing there that day were quite different than I had imagined previously.

According to Ezekiel’s prophetic allegory, in Egypt they had become accustomed to worship and sacrifice that included the drunken sexual practices of the nations around them. And it was to this that they returned when Moses tarried on the mountain. So they got up early on the next day and offered up burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.³

The Hebrew word translated to play (ṣāḥaq, לצחק) does not necessarily mean what I have suggested. But in light of the Lord’s testimony through Ezekiel I’m quite comfortable assuming that it is within the bounds of a euphemistic usage of the word. It was used to describe Isaac caressing (ṣāḥaq, מצחק) his wife Rebekah⁴ or sporting (ṣāḥaq) with Rebekah his wife⁵ in a manner that alerted Abimelech that she was in fact his wife and not his sister, as Isaac had said. And I sincerely doubt that Moses and the Levites strapped on swords, marched through the camp and killed three thousand men to break up the ancient equivalent of sack races, horseshoe matches and softball games.⁶

The Lord continued his allegorical history lesson through Ezekiel with a brief reprise of Oholah’s exploits (Ezekiel 23:5-10 NET):

Oholah engaged in prostitution (zānâ, ותזן) while she was mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians – warriors clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. She bestowed her sexual favors (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) on them; all of them were the choicest young men of Assyria. She defiled herself with all whom she desired – with all their idols [see Addendum below]. She did not abandon the prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) she had practiced in Egypt; for in her youth men had sex with her, fondled her virgin breasts, and ravished (taznûṯ, תזנותם) her [see Addendum below]. Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted. They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became notorious among women, and they executed judgments against her.

This is a familiar tale from Hosea’s prophecies about the northern kingdom of Israel⁷ with an additional insight that the desire for a military alliance with the Assyrians may have been the justification for joining in cultic worship practices. And once again, just in case I missed it the first time (which I did many times), what Israel (Oholah) practiced and was judged for by war and captivity is the same practice that she did not abandon from her youth in Egypt.

Then Oholibah took center stage in the allegory (Ezekiel 23:11-21 NET):

Her sister Oholibah watched this, but she became more corrupt in her lust than her sister had been, and her acts of prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) were more numerous than those of her sister [see Addendum below]. She lusted after the Assyrians – governors and officials, warriors in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. I saw that she was defiled; both of them followed the same path. But she increased her prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה). She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red [see Addendum below], wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, the image of Babylonians whose native land is Chaldea. When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. The Babylonians crawled into bed with her. They defiled her with their lust (taznûṯ, בתזנותם); after she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them [see Addendum below]. When she lustfully (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) exposed her nakedness, I was disgusted with her, just as I had been disgusted with her sister [see Addendum below]. Yet she increased her prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה), remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution (zānâ, זנתה) in the land of Egypt [see Addendum below]. She lusted after their genitals – as large as those of donkeys, and their seminal emission was as strong as that of stallions. This is how you assessed the obscene (zimmâ, זמת) conduct of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.

Once again the idolatrous worship practices for which Judah was judged were equated to the obscene conduct of her youth in Egypt, just in case I missed it the first two times. If I plug this understanding into Matthew 5:32 (NET) and 19:9 (NET) as the meaning of πορνεία, I get the following:

Matthew 5:32 (NET)	Matthew 19:9 (NET)
I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for “idolatrous worship (including its drunken sexual practices),” makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.	Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for “idolatrous worship (including its drunken sexual practices),” and marries another commits adultery.

1) The meaning is limited and specific.

2) One party may be guilty while the other is innocent (unlike unlawful marriage which makes both parties guilty by definition).

3) It is in keeping with a major prophetic theme of God’s complaint against his chosen people.

4) It accounts for even the apparent permissiveness of Matthew 19:9 in that God himself divorced Israel over this kind of πορνεία,⁸ not immediately, but after centuries of practice with little, or no, or feigned confession and repentance.

On a personal note this study and its consequent understanding of porneia (πορνεία) lifts my thoughts out of the gutter of self-obsession, that God hates divorce to make my life perpetually miserable with a despised wife, or perpetually guilt-ridden because I have failed to keep a wife, twice (once when I was young and again many years later when I could not blame it on my youth). Rather, his hatred of divorce is yet another way to know⁹ Him. Paul took up this prophetic theme of marriage and divorce/adultery in Romans 7:1-6 (NET).

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

How secure am I joined to the Lord Jesus in this way? “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel…¹⁰ And Jesus said, Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.¹¹ Only continual flagrant idolatrous worship (including its drunken sexual practices) compelled God to divorce his beloved. If this is what Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers meant by πορνεία, it fits amazingly well into the fabric of the Bible’s prophetic writings. But could Jesus have still been concerned about this particular kind of πορνεία? in the first century? in Judea?

Addendum: January 25, 2022
While the English translations of the Masoretic text of Ezekiel 23:3 made the sisters’ prostitution sound like heavy petting, the English translations of the Septuagint were more direct.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:3 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:3 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:3 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:3 (Elpenor English)
And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed (מֹֽעֲכ֣וּ), and there they bruised (עִשּׂ֔וּ) the teats (דַּדֵּ֖י) of their virginity.	They engaged in prostitution in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution. Their breasts were squeezed (māʿaḵ, מעכו) there; lovers fondled (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) their virgin nipples (daḏ, דדי) there.	And they played the whore in Egypt in their youth; there their breasts fell (ἔπεσον); there they lost their virginity (διεπαρθενεύθησαν).	and they went a-whoring in Egypt in their youth: there their breasts fell (ἔπεσον), there they lost their virginity (διεπαρθενεύθησαν).

I won’t spend the time here to explore whether the rabbis understood they bruised (עִשּׂ֔וּ) the teats (דַּדֵּ֖י) of their virginity (Tanakh) as an idiom or euphemism for they lost their virginity (διεπαρθενεύθησαν, a form of διαπαρθενεύω) or if the Masoretes altered the Hebrew text.

In Ezekiel 23:7 below the Hebrew word תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ (taznûṯ), whoredoms (Tanakh, KJV), sexual favors (NET), was translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία), whoring (NETS), fornication (English Elpenor), in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:7 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:7 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:7 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:7 (Elpenor English)
Thus she committed her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙) with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.	She bestowed her sexual favors (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) on them; all of them were the choicest young men of Assyria. She defiled herself with all whom she desired—with all their idols.	And she granted her whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) to them; they were all the chosen sons of Assyrians, and she was defiling herself upon all, upon whom she laid herslef, with all her notions.	And she bestowed her fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) upon them; all were choice sons of the Assyrians: and on whomsoever she doted herself, with them she defiled herself in all [their] devices.

In Ezekiel 23:8 below it seems more likely that they bruised (עִשּׂ֖וּ) the breasts (דַּדֵּ֣י) of her virginity (Tanakh, KJV) was understood as an idiom or euphemism for they took her virginity (διεπαρθένευσαν, a form of διαπαρθενεύω) by the rabbis who translated the Septuagint. And both תַּזְנוּתֶ֚יהָ, whoredoms (Tanakh, KJV), and תַזְנוּתָ֖ם, whoredom (Tanakh, KJV), were translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:8 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:8 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:8 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:8 (Elpenor English)
Neither left she her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֚יהָ) brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised (עִשּׂ֖וּ) the breasts (דַּדֵּ֣י) of her virginity, and poured their whoredom (תַזְנוּתָ֖ם) upon her.	She did not abandon the prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) she had practiced in Egypt, for in her youth men went to bed with her, fondled (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) her virgin breasts (daḏ, דדי), and ravished (taznûṯ, תזנותם) her.	And she did not give up her whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) from Egypt, for they were lying with her in her youth, and they took her virginity (διεπαρθένευσαν) and poured out their whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῶν) upon her.	And she forsook not her fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) with the Egyptians: for in her youth they committed fornication with her, and they deflowered (διεπαρθένευσαν) her, and poured out their fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῶν) upon her.

In Ezekiel 23:11 both תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ (taznûṯ) and מִזְּנוּנֵ֖ (zᵊnûnîm) were translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:11 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:11 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:11 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:11 (Elpenor English)
And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ) more than her sister in her whoredoms (מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י).	“Her sister Oholibah watched this, but she became more corrupt in her lust than her sister had been, and her acts of prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) were more numerous than those (zᵊnûnîm, מזנוני) of her sister.	And her sister, Ooliba, saw and was corrupting her aggression beyond her and her whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) beyond the whoring (τὴν πορνείαν) of her sister.	And her sister Ooliba saw [it], and she indulged in her fondness more corruptly than she, and in her fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) more than the fornication (τὴν πορνείαν) of her sister.

In Ezekiel 23:14 תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ (taznûṯ) was translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:14 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:14 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:14 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:14 (Elpenor English)
And that she increased her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ): for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,	But she increased her prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה). She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red,	And she added to her whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς), and she saw men painted upon the wall, images of the Chaldeans, painted by brush,	And she increased her fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς), and she saw men painted on the wall, likenesses of the Chaldeans painted with a pencil,

In Ezekiel 23:17 בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם (taznûṯ) was translated πορνείᾳ in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:17 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:17 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:17 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:17 (Elpenor English)
And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom (בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם), and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.	The Babylonians crawled into bed with her. They defiled her with their lust (taznûṯ, בתזנותם); after she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.	And the sons of Babylon came to her for a bed of lodgers, and they were defiling her in her whoring (τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς), and she was defiled with them, and her soul recoiled from them.	And the sons of Babylon came to her, into the bed of rest, and they defiled her in her fornication (τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς), and she was defiled by them, and her soul was alienated from them.

In Ezekiel 23:18 תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ (taznûṯ) was translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:18 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:18 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:18 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:18 (Elpenor English)
So she discovered her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ), and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.	When she lustfully (taznûṯ, תזנותיה) exposed her nakedness, I was disgusted with her, just as I had been disgusted with her sister.	And she uncovered her whoring (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς) and uncovered her shame, and my soul recoiled from her, as my soul recoiled from her sister.	And she exposed her fornication (τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς), and exposed her shame: and my soul was alienated from her, even as my soul was alienated from her sister.

In Ezekiel 23:19 תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ (taznûṯ) was translated πορνείαν (a form of πορνεία) and זָֽנְתָ֖ה (zānâ) with the verb ἐπόρνευσας a form of πορνεύω) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 23:19 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 23:19 (NET)	Ezekiel 23:19 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:19 (Elpenor English)
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms (תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ), in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot (זָֽנְתָ֖ה) in the land of Egypt.	Yet she increased her prostitution (taznûṯ, תזנותיה), remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution (zānâ, זנתה) in the land of Egypt.	And you multiplied your whoring (τὴν πορνείαν σου) to remind them of the days of your youth when you whored (ἐπόρνευσας) in Egypt,	And thou didst multiply thy fornication (τὴν πορνείαν σου), so as to call to remembrance the days of thy youth, wherein thou didst commit whoredom (ἐπόρνευσας) in Egypt,

Tables comparing Ezekiel 23:1; 23:2; 23:3; 23:4; Genesis 26:8; Ezekiel 23:5; 23:6; 23:7; 23:8; 23:9; 23:10; 23:11; 23:12; 23:13; 23:14; 23:15; 23:16; 23:17; 23:18; 23:19; 23:20 and 23:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Ezekiel 23:1; 23:2; 23:3; 23:4; Genesis 26:8; Ezekiel 23:5; 23:6; 23:7; 23:8; 23:9; 23:10; 23:11; 23:12; 23:13; 23:14; 23:15; 23:16; 23:17; 23:18; 23:19; 23:20 and 23:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Ezekiel 23:1 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:1 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:1 (NET)
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,	The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,	The Lord’s message came to me:

Ezekiel 23:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός με λέγων	ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρός με λέγων
Ezekiel 23:1 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:1 (English Elpenor)
And a word of the Lord came to me, saying:	And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 23:2 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:2 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:2 (NET)
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:	Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:	“Son of man, there were two women who were daughters of the same mother.

Ezekiel 23:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου δύο γυναῗκες ἦσαν θυγατέρες μητρὸς μιᾶς	υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, δύο γυναῖκες ἦσαν θυγατέρες μητρὸς μιᾶς
Ezekiel 23:2 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:2 (English Elpenor)
Son of man, two women were daughters of one mother,	Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother:

Ezekiel 23:3 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:3 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:3 (NET)
And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.	And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.	They engaged in prostitution in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution. Their breasts were squeezed there; lovers fondled their virgin nipples there.

Ezekiel 23:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῇ νεότητι αὐτῶν ἐκεῗ ἔπεσον οἱ μαστοὶ αὐτῶν ἐκεῗ διεπαρθενεύθησαν	καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῇ νεότητι αὐτῶν· ἐκεῖ ἔπεσον οἱ μαστοὶ αὐτῶν, ἐκεῖ διεπαρθενεύθησαν
Ezekiel 23:3 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:3 (English Elpenor)
And they played the whore in Egypt in their youth; there their breasts fell; there they lost their virginity.	and they went a-whoring in Egypt in their youth: there their breasts fell, there they lost their virginity.

Ezekiel 23:4 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:4 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:4 (NET)
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.	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.	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.

Ezekiel 23:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἦν Οολα ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ Οολιβα ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐγένοντό μοι καὶ ἔτεκον υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν Σαμάρεια ἡ Οολα καὶ Ιερουσαλημ ἡ Οολιβα	καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἦν ᾿Οολὰ ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ ᾿Οολιβὰ ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς. καὶ ἐγένοντό μοι καὶ ἔτεκον υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν· Σαμάρεια ἦν ᾿Οολὰ καὶ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἦν ᾿Οολιβά
Ezekiel 23:4 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:4 (English Elpenor)
And their names were Oola the elder and Ooliba her sister. And they became mine and bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Oola was Samaria, and Ooliba was Ierousalem.	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.

Genesis 26:8 (Tanakh)	Genesis 26:8 (KJV)	Genesis 26:8 (NET)
And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.	And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.	After Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines happened to look out a window and observed Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

Genesis 26:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 26:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ πολυχρόνιος ἐκεῗ παρακύψας δὲ Αβιμελεχ ὁ βασιλεὺς Γεραρων διὰ τῆς θυρίδος εἶδεν τὸν Ισαακ παίζοντα μετὰ Ρεβεκκας τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ	ἐγένετο δὲ πολυχρόνιος ἐκεῖ· καὶ παρακύψας ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ὁ βασιλεὺς Γεράρων διὰ τῆς θυρίδος, εἶδε τὸν ᾿Ισαὰκ παίζοντα μετὰ Ρεβέκκας τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ
Genesis 26:8 (NETS)	Genesis 26:8 (English Elpenor)
And he stayed on there quite some time. Now Abimelech the king of Gerara, when he peered through the window, saw Isaak playing around with his wife Rebekka.	And he remained there a long time, and Abimelech the king of Gerara leaned to look through the window, and saw Isaac sporting with Rebecca his wife.

Ezekiel 23:5 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:5 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:5 (NET)
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,	And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,	“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors

Ezekiel 23:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσεν ἡ Οολα ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐραστὰς αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἀσσυρίους τοὺς ἐγγίζοντας αὐτῇ	καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσεν ἡ ᾿Οολὰ ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐραστὰς αὐτῆς, ἐπὶ τοὺς ᾿Ασσυρίους τοὺς ἐγγίζοντας αὐτῇ
Ezekiel 23:5 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:5 (English Elpenor)
And Oola played the whore away from me and laid herself upon her lovers, upon the Assyrians who were coming near to her	And Oola went a-whoring from me, and doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians that were her neighbors

Ezekiel 23:6 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:6 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:6 (NET)
Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.	Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.	clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.

Ezekiel 23:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐνδεδυκότας ὑακίνθινα ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγούς νεανίσκοι ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες ἱππεῗς ἱππαζόμενοι ἐφ᾽ ἵππων	ἐνδεδυκότας ὑακίνθινα, ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγούς· νεανίσκοι καὶ ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες, ἱππεῖς ἱππαζόμενοι ἐφ’ ἵππων
Ezekiel 23:6 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:6 (English Elpenor)
clothed in blue, governors and commanders. They were all elite young men, horsemen riding upon horses.	clothed with purple, princes and captains; [they were] young men and choice, all horseman riding on horses.

Ezekiel 23:7 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:7 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:7 (NET)
Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.	Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.	She bestowed her sexual favors on them; all of them were the choicest young men of Assyria. She defiled herself with all whom she desired—with all their idols.

Ezekiel 23:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔδωκεν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς ἐπίλεκτοι υἱοὶ Ἀσσυρίων πάντες καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας οὓς ἐπέθετο ἐν πᾶσι τοῗς ἐνθυμήμασιν αὐτῆς ἐμιαίνετο	καὶ ἔδωκε τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐπ’ αὐτούς· ἐπίλεκτοι υἱοὶ ᾿Ασσυρίων πάντες, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας, οὓς ἐπέθετο, ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν αὐτοῖς ἐμιαίνετο
Ezekiel 23:7 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:7 (English Elpenor)
And she granted her whoring to them; they were all the chosen sons of Assyrians, and she was defiling herself upon all, upon whom she laid herslef, with all her notions.	And she bestowed her fornication upon them; all were choice sons of the Assyrians: and on whomsoever she doted herself, with them she defiled herself in all [their] devices.

Ezekiel 23:8 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:8 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:8 (NET)
Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.	Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.	She did not abandon the prostitution she had practiced in Egypt, for in her youth men went to bed with her, fondled her virgin breasts, and ravished her.

Ezekiel 23:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν ὅτι μετ᾽ αὐτῆς ἐκοιμῶντο ἐν νεότητι αὐτῆς καὶ αὐτοὶ διεπαρθένευσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐξέχεαν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῶν ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν	καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν, ὅτι μετ’ αὐτῆς ἐκοιμῶντο ἐν νεότητι αὐτῆς, καὶ αὐτοὶ διεπαρθένευσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐξέχεαν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῶν ἐπ’ αὐτήν
Ezekiel 23:8 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:8 (English Elpenor)
And she did not give up her whoring from Egypt, for they were lying with her in her youth, and they took her virginity and poured out their whoring upon her.	And she forsook not her fornication with the Egyptians: for in her youth they committed fornication with her, and they deflowered her, and poured out their fornication upon her.

Ezekiel 23:9 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:9 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:9 (NET)
Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.	Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.	Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted.

Ezekiel 23:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκα αὐτὴν εἰς χεῗρας τῶν ἐραστῶν αὐτῆς εἰς χεῗρας υἱῶν Ἀσσυρίων ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπετίθετο	διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκα αὐτὴν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἐραστῶν αὐτῆς, εἰς χεῖρας υἱῶν ᾿Ασσυρίων, ἐφ’ οὓς ἐπετίθετο
Ezekiel 23:9 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:9 (English Elpenor)
Therefore, I gave her over into the hands of her lovers, into hands of the sons of Assyrians upon whom she was laying herself.	Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the children of the Assyrians, on whom she doted.

Ezekiel 23:10 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:10 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:10 (NET)
These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.	These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.	They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became notorious among women, and they executed judgments against her.

Ezekiel 23:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
αὐτοὶ ἀπεκάλυψαν τὴν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας αὐτῆς ἔλαβον καὶ αὐτὴν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἀπέκτειναν καὶ ἐγένετο λάλημα εἰς γυναῗκας καὶ ἐποίησαν ἐκδικήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ εἰς τὰς θυγατέρας	αὐτοὶ ἀπεκάλυψαν τὴν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς, υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας αὐτῆς ἔλαβον καὶ αὐτὴν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἀπέκτειναν. καὶ ἐγένετο λάλημα εἰς γυναῖκας, καὶ ἐποίησαν ἐκδικήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ εἰς τὰς θυγατέρας
Ezekiel 23:10 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:10 (English Elpenor)
They uncovered her shame; they took her sons and daughters and killed her by sword, and she became prattle for women, and they executed judgment against her upon her daughters.	They uncovered her shame: they took her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became a byword among women: and they wrought vengeance in her for the sake of the daughters.

Ezekiel 23:11 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:11 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:11 (NET)
And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.	And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.	“Her sister Oholibah watched this, but she became more corrupt in her lust than her sister had been, and her acts of prostitution were more numerous than those of her sister.

Ezekiel 23:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶδεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς Οολιβα καὶ διέφθειρε τὴν ἐπίθεσιν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ τὴν πορνείαν τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς	Καὶ εἶδεν ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς ᾿Οολιβὰ καὶ διέφθειρε τὴν ἐπίθεσιν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ τὴν πορνείαν τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς
Ezekiel 23:11 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:11 (English Elpenor)
And her sister, Ooliba, saw and was corrupting her aggression beyond her and her whoring beyond the whoring of her sister.	And her sister Ooliba saw [it], and she indulged in her fondness more corruptly than she, and in her fornication more than the fornication of her sister.

Ezekiel 23:12 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:12 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:12 (NET)
She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.	She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.	She lusted after the Assyrians—governors and officials, warriors in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.

Ezekiel 23:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν Ἀσσυρίων ἐπέθετο ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοὺς ἐγγὺς αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυκότας εὐπάρυφα ἱππεῗς ἱππαζομένους ἐφ᾽ ἵππων νεανίσκοι ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες	ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ᾿Ασσυρίων ἐπέθετο, ἡγουμένους καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοὺς ἐγγὺς αὐτῆς ἐνδεδυκότας εὐπάρυφα, ἱππεῖς ἱππαζομένους ἐφ’ ἵππων· νεανίσκοι ἐπίλεκτοι πάντες
Ezekiel 23:12 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:12 (English Elpenor)
She applied herself to the sons of Assyrians, governors and commanders near her, wearing fine purple, horsemen riding upon horses. They were all elite young men.	She doted upon the sons of the Assyrian, princes and captains, her neighbours, clothed with fine linen, horsemen riding on horses; [they were] all choice young men.

Ezekiel 23:13 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:13 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:13 (NET)
Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,	Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,	I saw that she was defiled; both of them followed the same path.

Ezekiel 23:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶδον ὅτι μεμίανται ὁδὸς μία τῶν δύο	καὶ εἶδον ὅτι μεμίανται· ὁδὸς μία τῶν δύο
Ezekiel 23:13 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:13 (English Elpenor)
And I saw that she had been defiled, one way for the two.	And I saw that they were defiled, [that] the two [had] one way.

Ezekiel 23:14 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:14 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:14 (NET)
And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,	And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,	But she increased her prostitution. She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red,

Ezekiel 23:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσέθετο πρὸς τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ εἶδεν ἄνδρας ἐζωγραφημένους ἐπὶ τοῦ τοίχου εἰκόνας Χαλδαίων ἐζωγραφημένους ἐν γραφίδι	καὶ προσέθετο πρὸς τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ εἶδεν ἄνδρας ἐζωγραφημένους ἐπὶ τοῦ τοίχου, εἰκόνας Χαλδαίων, ἐζωγραφημένους ἐν γραφίδι
Ezekiel 23:14 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:14 (English Elpenor)
And she added to her whoring, and she saw men painted upon the wall, images of the Chaldeans, painted by brush,	And she increased her fornication, and she saw men painted on the wall, likenesses of the Chaldeans painted with a pencil,

Ezekiel 23:15 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:15 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:15 (NET)
Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:	Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:	wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, the image of Babylonians whose native land is Chaldea.

Ezekiel 23:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐζωσμένους ποικίλματα ἐπὶ τὰς ὀσφύας αὐτῶν καὶ τιάραι βαπταὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτῶν ὄψις τρισσὴ πάντων ὁμοίωμα υἱῶν Χαλδαίων γῆς πατρίδος αὐτῶν	ἐζωσμένους ποικίλματα ἐπὶ τὰς ὀσφύας αὐτῶν, καὶ τιάραι βαπταὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτῶν, ὄψις τρισσὴ πάντων, ὁμοίωμα υἱῶν Χαλδαίων, γῆς πατρίδος αὐτῶν
Ezekiel 23:15 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:15 (English Elpenor)
girded with brocades upon their loins and dyed tiaras on their heads; all had a triple aspect, a likeness of sons of Chaldeans of their native land.	having variegated girdles on their loins, having also richly dyed [attire] upon their heads; all had a princely appearance, the likeness of the children of the Chaldeans, of their native land.

Ezekiel 23:16 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:16 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:16 (NET)
And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.	And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.	When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

Ezekiel 23:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς τῇ ὁράσει ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν Χαλδαίων	καὶ ἐπέθετο ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς τῇ ὁράσει ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν Χαλδαίων
Ezekiel 23:16 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:16 (English Elpenor)
And she applied herself to them in the vision of her eyes and sent out messengers to them into the land of the Chaldeans.	And she doted upon them as soon as she saw them, and sent forth messengers to them into the land of the Chaldeans.

Ezekiel 23:17 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:17 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:17 (NET)
And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.	And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.	The Babylonians crawled into bed with her. They defiled her with their lust; after she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.

Ezekiel 23:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς αὐτὴν υἱοὶ Βαβυλῶνος εἰς κοίτην καταλυόντων καὶ ἐμίαινον αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἐν αὐτοῗς καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν	καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς αὐτὴν υἱοὶ Βαβυλῶνος εἰς κοίτην καταλυόντων καὶ ἐμίαινον αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἐν αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς ἀπ’ αὐτῶν
Ezekiel 23:17 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:17 (English Elpenor)
And the sons of Babylon came to her for a bed of lodgers, and they were defiling her in her whoring, and she was defiled with them, and her soul recoiled from them.	And the sons of Babylon came to her, into the bed of rest, and they defiled her in her fornication, and she was defiled by them, and her soul was alienated from them.

Ezekiel 23:18 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:18 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:18 (NET)
So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.	So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.	When she lustfully exposed her nakedness, I was disgusted with her, just as I had been disgusted with her sister.

Ezekiel 23:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς ὃν τρόπον ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς	καί ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν πορνείαν αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπεκάλυψεν αἰσχύνην αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπ’ αὐτῆς, ὃν τρόπον ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή μου ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς
Ezekiel 23:18 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:18 (English Elpenor)
And she uncovered her whoring and uncovered her shame, and my soul recoiled from her, as my soul recoiled from her sister.	And she exposed her fornication, and exposed her shame: and my soul was alienated from her, even as my soul was alienated from her sister.

Ezekiel 23:19 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:19 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:19 (NET)
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.	Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.	Yet she increased her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution in the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 23:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὴν πορνείαν σου τοῦ ἀναμνῆσαι ἡμέρας νεότητός σου ἐν αἷς ἐπόρνευσας ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ	καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὴν πορνείαν σου τοῦ ἀναμνῆσαι ἡμέραν νεότητός σου, ἐν αἷς ἐπόρνευσας ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ
Ezekiel 23:19 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:19 (English Elpenor)
And you multiplied your whoring to remind them of the days of your youth when you whored in Egypt,	And thou didst multiply thy fornication, so as to call to remembrance the days of thy youth, wherein thou didst commit whoredom in Egypt,

Ezekiel 23:20 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:20 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:20 (NET)
For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.	For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.	She lusted after her lovers there, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions.

Ezekiel 23:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπέθου ἐπὶ τοὺς Χαλδαίους ὧν ἦσαν ὡς ὄνων αἱ σάρκες αὐτῶν καὶ αἰδοῗα ἵππων τὰ αἰδοῗα αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐπέθου ἐπὶ τοὺς Χαλδαίους, ὧν ὡς ὄνων αἱ σάρκες αὐτῶν καὶ αἰδοῖα ἵππων τὰ αἰδοῖα αὐτῶν
Ezekiel 23:20 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:20 (English Elpenor)
and you applied yourself to the Chaldeans, whose flesh was like that of donkeys and their privates were privates of horses.	and thou didst dote upon the Chaldeans, whose flesh is as the flesh of the asses, and their members [as] the members of horses.

Ezekiel 23:21 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 23:21 (KJV)	Ezekiel 23:21 (NET)
Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.	Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.	This is how you assessed the obscene conduct of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.

Ezekiel 23:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 23:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπεσκέψω τὴν ἀνομίαν νεότητός σου ἃ ἐποίεις ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῷ καταλύματί σου οὗ οἱ μαστοὶ νεότητός σου	καὶ ἐπεσκέψω τὴν ἀνομίαν νεότητός σου, ἃ ἐποίεις ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν τῷ καταλύματί σου, οὗ οἱ μαστοὶ νεότητός σου
Ezekiel 23:21 (NETS)	Ezekiel 23:21 (English Elpenor)
And you reflected upon the lawlessness of your youth, what you used to do in Egypt in your lodging, where the breasts of your youth were.	And thou didst look upon the iniquity of thy youth, [the things] which thou wroughtest in Egypt in thy lodgings, where were the breasts of thy youth.