Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's judgment here isn't just about punishment for the guilty; it's a drastic, public lesson. The "lewdness" being removed is primarily idolatry, and its eradication is meant to serve as a permanent warning to "all women"—meaning all nations—preventing them from repeating the same fatal mistake.
Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse concludes a lengthy, graphic allegory where the prophet Ezekiel condemns Jerusalem (Aholibah) and Samaria (Aholah) for their spiritual "lewdness," meaning idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, comparing it to prostitution. God declares through Ezekiel that He will bring an end to this corrupting behavior within the land by removing its practitioners, serving as a stark warning to all other nations. This judgment is intended to teach everyone that God's wrath is severe against such unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel's prophecy uses strong language to describe sin. What exactly is this 'lewdness' God is putting an end to, and how does His judgment achieve this?
The term 'lewdness' here in Ezekiel isn't just about sexual immorality, though that can be a consequence. In the context of Ezekiel 23, it's primarily a metaphor for the spiritual adultery of idolatry and the unfaithfulness to God that characterized Israel and Judah. They chased after other gods and pursued alliances with foreign nations, turning away from their covenant relationship with the Lord.
The Lord declares "Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land." This isn't a gentle suggestion; it's a declaration of decisive action. God's judgment, symbolized by the destruction and exile described throughout the chapter, is the mechanism by which this 'lewdness' will be stopped. It means removing the opportunities for sin and the sinners themselves. For Israel, this meant an end to their persistent idolatry, a point of no return after their exile.
The verse mentions 'all women' and 'all women.' Who are these 'women,' and what does this broad scope tell us about God's justice?
When Ezekiel speaks of 'all women,' he's using the allegorical language of the prophecy. In the context of Israel's story, 'women' often represent nations or peoples. The judgment falling on Samaria and Jerusalem isn't meant to be isolated. Instead, it's a public spectacle designed to teach a broader lesson.
God's aim is for 'all women' – meaning all nations and peoples – to 'take warning.' The devastating consequences experienced by God's own people, who were called to be a light to the nations, serve as a stark illustration of the seriousness of spiritual infidelity. It's a powerful demonstration that God's justice is not confined to one group; His standards apply universally, and His judgment on sin is certain.
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Understand the original words
zimmah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to moral looseness, unchastity, or shameful acts. In the prophets, it is frequently used as a metaphor for spiritual adultery or unfaithfulness to God.
This verse speaks prophetically about the ultimate consequences of idolatry and unfaithfulness, promising an end to 'lewdness' (understood as both literal immorality and spiritual adultery with foreign gods) not just through the immediate judgments of exile, but as a permanent lesson for all nations throughout history.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people. This marks the end of Samaria's existence as a distinct entity and sets the stage for divine judgment on Judah.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a significant portion of the Judean elite, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon. This begins the period of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Babylon deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin. This event deeply impacts the exilic community to whom Ezekiel ministers.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces utterly destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population. This is the catastrophic culmination of Judah's apostasy.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel Completes His Ministry
The Book of Ezekiel concludes around this time, after about two decades of prophetic ministry in exile. The final chapters, including the verse in question, offer a vision of future restoration and divine justice.
Post-Exilic Period
Return and Rebuilding
After the Babylonian exile, some Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Notably, they largely refrain from the idolatry and syncretism that characterized earlier periods.
This passage describes the consequence of finding a false prophet, showing that such wickedness should be utterly eliminated to prevent further corruption, echoing Ezekiel's point about eradicating 'lewdness' as a deterrent.
1 Corinthians 10:11Paul uses Israel's history as a warning to the Corinthians, highlighting how their past failings and the judgments they faced serve as examples for future generations, just as Ezekiel highlights the judgment on Oholah and Oholibah as a lesson for all 'women' (nations).
Jeremiah 3:8This verse speaks of God divorcing unfaithful Israel due to her 'adultery' (idolatry), mirroring the theme of divine judgment and the severing of a relationship due to profound disobedience that is also central to Ezekiel 23.
Romans 1:26-27These verses describe the consequences of rejecting God, leading to degrading passions and unnatural acts, illustrating how 'lewdness' (both literal and spiritual) is a result of turning away from divine order.
barnesEzekiel 23:48: "Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness."
To cease - Because they are stricken and consumed. Compare marginal reference. All women - i. e., all countries.
gillEzekiel 23:48: "Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness."
Thus will I cause to cease lewdness out of the land,.... There being no opportunity for it, nor any to commit it; what were not destroyed by famine, sword, and pestilence, during the siege, were carried captive; and, when they returned, were never more given to idolatry; see Ezekiel 23:27 , that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness; that is, that all…
God's judgment here isn't just about punishment for the guilty; it's a drastic, public lesson. The "lewdness" being removed is primarily idolatry, and its eradication is meant to serve as a permanent warning to "all women"—meaning all nations—preventing them from repeating the same fatal mistake.
This verse concludes a lengthy, graphic allegory where the prophet Ezekiel condemns Jerusalem (Aholibah) and Samaria (Aholah) for their spiritual "lewdness," meaning idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, comparing it to prostitution. God declares through Ezekiel that He will bring an end to this corrupting behavior within the land by removing its practitioners, serving as a stark warning to all other nations. This judgment is intended to teach everyone that God's wrath is severe against such unfaithfulness.
This verse concludes a lengthy, graphic allegory where the prophet Ezekiel condemns Jerusalem (Aholibah) and Samaria (Aholah) for their spiritual "lewdness," meaning idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, comparing it to prostitution. God declares through Ezekiel that He will bring an end to this corrupting behavior within the land by removing its practitioners, serving as a stark warning to all other nations. This judgment is intended to teach everyone that God's wrath is severe against such unfaithfulness.
"Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done." — God's judgment here isn't just about punishment for the guilty; it's a drastic, public lesson. The "lewdness" being removed is primarily idolatry, and its eradication is meant to serve as a permanent…
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Last reviewed October 2026