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Aholibah

biblical_proper_name theological_term standard

The symbolic name for Jerusalem in Ezekiel 23, where Aholibah represents Judah’s covenant unfaithfulness and coming judgment.

At a Glance

Symbolic name for Jerusalem in Ezekiel 23.

Represents the southern kingdom of Judah.

Used in a prophetic allegory of covenant unfaithfulness.

Key Points

Description

Aholibah is a figurative proper name used by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 23 for Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. In the allegory of two sisters, Oholah represents Samaria and Aholibah represents Jerusalem. The image portrays both kingdoms as unfaithful to the Lord, but Aholibah is especially singled out for Judah’s persistent idolatry and reliance on ungodly political relationships. Ezekiel’s language is intentionally severe, using the imagery of marital unfaithfulness to expose covenant breach and to announce divine judgment. Aholibah is therefore not a general theological concept but a symbolic biblical name tied to a particular prophetic message.

Biblical Context

Ezekiel 23 presents a sustained allegory in which two sisters symbolize the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. Aholibah is Jerusalem, the city associated with Judah, and her sin is set against the Lord’s prior covenant care. The chapter uses this symbol to show that Judah’s privilege did not lessen its accountability.

Historical Context

The imagery reflects the divided monarchy and the political-religious pressures that shaped Israel and Judah before the exile. Ezekiel speaks to a people who had experienced covenant judgment and loss, interpreting that history as the result of persistent rebellion rather than mere military misfortune.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Near Eastern prophets commonly used marriage and adultery imagery to describe covenant loyalty and infidelity. Ezekiel’s readers would have understood the force of such language as an indictment of idolatry and covenant breaking, not as a literal accusation of sexual behavior in the nation’s history.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The name reflects a Hebrew wordplay tied to Ezekiel’s sister imagery. Its precise sense is commonly explained as something like “my tent is in her,” though the focus in the passage is symbolic rather than etymological.

Theological Significance

Aholibah illustrates the covenant holiness of God and the seriousness of idolatry. The symbol shows that God’s people are accountable for unfaithfulness even when they possess covenant privileges. It also reinforces the prophetic theme that judgment is not arbitrary but responsive to persistent rebellion.

Philosophical Explanation

The term functions as an allegorical proper name rather than as a metaphysical or doctrinal category. Its meaning is carried by the literary context: a prophetic symbol can communicate moral and covenant truth without requiring a separate abstract definition.

Interpretive Cautions

Ezekiel 23 uses graphic prophetic imagery that should be read as covenant indictment, not as license for speculation or sensationalism. The chapter is symbolic and rhetorical; readers should avoid flattening the metaphor into literal biography or overextending the allegory beyond the text.

Major Views

Interpretation is straightforward in mainstream evangelical reading: Aholibah represents Jerusalem/Judah in Ezekiel’s allegory. Debate usually concerns details of the imagery, not the basic identification of the symbol.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Aholibah is a biblical symbol, not a separate person, deity, or doctrinal doctrine. The entry should be read within Ezekiel’s prophetic context and not used to build theology apart from the passage’s clear message about covenant faithfulness, sin, and judgment.

Practical Significance

The entry reminds readers that spiritual privilege does not excuse disobedience. It also warns against mixing covenant loyalty to the Lord with idols, compromised alliances, or divided allegiance.

Related Entries

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Data

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