The Meaning of Ezekiel 23:12 Explained

Ezekiel 23:12

KJV: She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

YLT: On sons of Asshur she hath doted, Governors and prefects, Neighbouring ones -- clothed in perfection, Horsemen, riding on horses, Desirable young men all of them.

Darby: She lusted after the children of Asshur her neighbours, governors and rulers, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them attractive young men.

ASV: She doted upon the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

She doted  upon the Assyrians  [her] neighbours,  captains  and rulers  clothed  most gorgeously,  horsemen  riding  upon horses,  all of them desirable  young men. 

What does Ezekiel 23:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 23

1  The unfaithfulness of Aholah and Aholibah
23  Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers
36  The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both
45  and shows their judgments

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 23:12 mean?

For the Assyrians Assyria she lusted Captains and rulers neighboring Clothed most gorgeously Horsemen riding on horses young men desirable all of them
אֶל־ בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם

בְּנֵי֩  the  Assyrians 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אַשּׁ֨וּר  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
עָגָ֜בָה  she  lusted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: עָגַב  
Sense: (Qal) to have inordinate affection or lust.
פַּח֨וֹת  Captains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פֶּחָה  
Sense: governor.
וּסְגָנִ֤ים  and  rulers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֶגֶן  
Sense: ruler, prefect, governor, a subordinate ruler.
קְרֹבִים֙  neighboring 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.
לְבֻשֵׁ֣י  Clothed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct
Root: לָבַשׁ  
Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
מִכְל֔וֹל  most  gorgeously 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִכְלֹול  
Sense: perfection, gorgeous attire adv.
פָּרָשִׁ֖ים  Horsemen 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פָּרָשׁ 
Sense: horse, steed, warhorse.
רֹכְבֵ֣י  riding  on 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: רָכַב  
Sense: to mount and ride, ride.
סוּסִ֑ים  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
בַּח֥וּרֵי  young  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: youth, young man.
חֶ֖מֶד  desirable 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶמֶד  
Sense: desire, delight, beauty, desirable, pleasant.
כֻּלָּֽם  all  of  them 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.