Am I misinterpreting this Bible verse?

Question

Ezekiel 23:19-21 seems to be saying that Egyptian men have huge ... um... boy parts. Am I reading this wrong?

Any Egyptians here care to comment on the literal truth of the Bible?

(source)
"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. For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth."

Answer 1

To the Israelites, Egypt represented military strength and power through political alliance. When Israel depended on Egypt it symbolized dependence on human power. Ezekiel 29:1-7. Ezekiel Chapter 23 speaks of her prostitution – that is, spiritually. To be unfaithful to a husband is to be guilty of physical fornication. To be unfaithful to God is to be guilty of spiritual fornication. God was spoken of as the husbandly owner of Israel (Isaiah 54:5) and at James 4:4 we read that friendship with the world makes one a spiritual adulteress.

So the scriptures you site make it clear that Israel was guilty, not only of spiritual adultery, (spiritual unfaithfulness to God) but she went beyond that, prostituting herself – going after those who were built like horses, so to speak.

God is using the symbols of physical fornication to underscore the depth of Israel's spiritual fornication. Thus her paramours (political lovers) would provide her, or so she thought, with strength – that is, political strength - and God symbolizes that strength by referencing the size of their flesh. Politically, Israel was going after those nations she thought would deliver her by means of their political and military size. But since she was committing spiritual adultery – their political and military size is metaphorically spoken of by God as the size of their flesh. Does that make sense? Hope it helps.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

Well, while there are some verses we can take as promises and assurances God would have for us as believers, this isn't one of them. There are times where God WILL do this for us, but this isn't an "always" thing. This one is easy, because it's so straight-forward, like much of the Bible, there is no need to interpret it at all. Let's look at it in context with the verses around it: Exodus 14:10-14 (The Israelites have just gotten away from Egypt and are at the Red Sea.) 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. 11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn't this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” After that, God has Moses lead them across the Red Sea and then releases the waters on Pharaoh's soldiers, drowning them and saving the Israelites. This was an assurance for the Israelites specifically, at that time. Things were looking grim for them. --------------------------------------... Personally, I think you need to cut both of those people loose. You don't need to put up with the situation or the next one they cause. They are not worth another second of your time. -

Answer 3

Israel, ie the Jews, when they are not behaving as they should, as a nation, is often compared to a harlot in the writings of the prophets. This is allusion of idolatry.

Israel is 'married' to God. When Israel strays and worships other gods, it is similar to a wife who engages in an adulterous affair.

The extent of the graphic nature of the allusion speaks to the extent that Israel strayed.

Answer 4

dont u understand what 'whoredoms' means? it clearly says 'whoredoms'&'paramours'. these lines r regarding strayin and that israel shouldnt encourage such immoral things in as it's god's own .we've to concentrate & read the bible properly. without reading it fully&thoroughly, no one can understand it properly so no one should make fun of it. there r people who make fun of christians &the bible &u r one

Answer 5

in my zondervan bible it says it is about having over siazed organs, the language reflects gods and Ezekiel's disgust with Jeruslem's Apostasy. Still it is funny to see God use organs to describe his disgust for Jeruslem's apostacy. LOL

Answer 6

Well, I believe Ezekiel is using this as a metaphor and that the she is not a real woman, so you could take it either way. He could mean it literally or he could just be using that image.

Answer 7

Nope, you're right. A non-KJV version makes it much clearer:

There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

Answer 8

I'm Egyptian from the waist down.

And the word of God is right in this case.

Answer 9

Well, it does sound rather like your interpretation is correct. I must admit I'd never read that passage before, and would not have thought about it. But yeah, that's a good point.

Answer 10

Yeah, that's true, my version is more mondern language, it left no room for confusion.