Lexical Summary agabah: Love, strong desire, or passion Original Word: עֲגָבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance inordinate love From agab; love (abstractly), i.e. Amorousness -- inordinate love. see HEBREW agab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom agab Definition lustfulness NASB Translation lust (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עֲגָבָה] noun feminine lustfuless; — suffix עַגְבָתָהּ Ezekiel 23:11 (of personified Jerusalem; "" תַּזְנוּתֶיהָ). Topical Lexicon Term Overview עֲגָבָה appears once in Scripture and denotes a consuming, sensual longing that operates outside the boundaries of covenant faithfulness. In Ezekiel’s oracle it functions metaphorically, portraying an appetite so unchecked that it drives God’s people to imitate and even surpass the wickedness of surrounding nations. Old Testament Context (Ezekiel 23:11) “Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and adultery she was more depraved than her sister.” (Ezekiel 23:11) Oholibah represents Jerusalem, while Oholah represents Samaria. Both “sisters” are charged with spiritual prostitution through alliances with pagan powers and worship of foreign gods. The prophet frames their idolatry in the language of sexual excess to expose its shameless intensity. The single occurrence of עֲגָבָה thus anchors the entire passage: Jerusalem’s desires not only match but outstrip Samaria’s earlier apostasy, justifying the severity of the coming judgment. Historical and Cultural Setting Ezekiel ministers among the exiles in Babylon (circa 593–571 BC). Political realities pressed Judah toward diplomatic entanglements with Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, deals often sealed by religious compromise. By depicting these covenants as acts of prostitution, Ezekiel unmasks the spiritual dynamics beneath geopolitical strategy. Prophetic Imagery and Theological Significance 1. Covenant infidelity: The marriage covenant between the LORD and Israel (Exodus 19; Jeremiah 31:32) frames adultery as the quintessential image of idolatry. Related Biblical Concepts • Hebrew תַּאֲוָה (ta’avah, craving) often expresses insatiable appetite (Numbers 11:4). Continuity of the Biblical Witness From the golden calf (Exodus 32) to the lure of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17–18), Scripture consistently equates unbridled desire for what God forbids with spiritual adultery. Paul warns, “Do not be idolaters…” (1 Corinthians 10:7), while James calls friendship with the world “hostility toward God” (James 4:4). The single Old Testament use of עֲגָבָה harmonizes with these broader canonical themes. Pastoral and Ministerial Implications • Diagnostic clarity: עֲגָבָה helps pastors name the root—misdirected desire—behind visible sins. Intercessory and Devotional Use Intercessors may pray Ezekiel 23 as a lament for contemporary churches courting cultural idols, pleading for repentance and renewal. Devotional reading prompts self-examination: Where have I allowed unchecked cravings to rival my devotion to Christ? Key References for Further Study Ezekiel 16; Hosea 2; Psalm 106:35–39; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; 2 Peter 2:14; Revelation 17:1–2 Forms and Transliterations עַגְבָתָ֖הּ עגבתה ‘aḡ·ḇā·ṯāh ‘aḡḇāṯāh agvaTahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 23:11 HEB: אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת־ NAS: corrupt in her lust than KJV: [this], she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms INT: Oholibah corrupt her lust was more harlotries 1 Occurrence |
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