The Church Fathers on this verse

Ezekiel 23:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And girded with girdles about their reins, and with dyed turbans on their heads, the resemblance of all the captains, the likeness of the sons of Babylon, and of the land of the Chaldeans wherein they were born,

Douay-Rheims

חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

You shall commit acts of unfaithfulness, and behold the men inscribed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans depicted with artistry, adorned in embellished garments around their waists, and the crowns illustrated upon their heads, representing the various forms embodying the sons of Babylon, the Chaldeans, from their homeland. He fixed his gaze upon me with an intense look. This vividly illustrates the impotence of idols, revealing them to be mere hues, shapes, and crafted entities. The reference to various forms signifies the multitude of idols. However, Simmachus rendered it as the appearance of thieves. In observing them, God notes that all you see are mere representations of artistic expression, yet you cherished associating with them. In all of this, He alludes to idolatry.

Read more (89 words)

He dispatched messengers to the territory of the Chaldeans. The sons of Babylon approached her upon the bed of the tumultuous ones, and corrupted her through their immorality, leading her to defile herself in the process, and her spirit withdrew from them. She herself sought them for aid, embracing their wickedness as she mingled with them, only to separate from them once more. Here, God perceives her departure not from demons, but from the Babylonians themselves, as Joachim, Jechoniah, and Zedekiah breached the pacts they established with the Babylonians.

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