Ezekiel 23:4
“Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.”
What does Ezekiel 23:4 mean?
Ezekiel uses the names of two sisters to tell the heartbreaking story of Israel's unfaithfulness. Oholah represents the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria), and Oholibah represents the southern kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem), and both had been given to God, borne children, and received His care and covenant love. The whole chapter that follows describes how these "sisters" turned away from their relationship with God to pursue other nations and false gods, much like unfaithful spouses. This extended metaphor captures how painful it was for God to watch the people He had chosen and blessed reject Him for idolatry and worldly alliances. If you're reading this in a hard season, the passage reminds us that God grieves when we turn from Him, but that grief itself shows how deeply He loves us.