Ezekiel 23:33 warns that those who follow the path of spiritual adultery, like Samaria, must bear a bitter cup of judgment marked by desolation and sorrow.
“You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, The cup of horror and desolation, The cup of your sister Samaria.” (v.33) In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of divine judgment, portraying it as a “cup” that those who practice idolatry and unfaithfulness must drink. The imagery of the cup often symbolizes God’s wrath upon sin, and here that wrath is described as “horror and desolation.” Though “drunkenness” can be literal, it also conveys the idea of being overwhelmed and disoriented by consequences. The prophets used a cup or drink as a recurring metaphor for God’s judgment on unrepentant nations (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Ezekiel 23:31-34), showing that those who choose rebellion experience an inescapable bitterness and sorrow in place of blessing and joy.The allusion to Samaria in this verse serves as a stark reminder of the judgment that already befell the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was the capital city of that kingdom, a once-prominent stronghold eventually destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC.When Ezekiel references “the cup of your sister Samaria,” he underscores that, just as Samaria reaped destruction through idol worship and betrayal of the covenant, so, too, would others who persisted in similar acts of unfaithfulness. The mention of “horror and desolation” also foreshadows the utter ruin that mirrors Samaria’s fate, reinforcing the severe nature of choosing idolatry over devotion to the one true God.
Ezekiel’s message throughout this passage connects spiritual adultery (turning away from God to worship false gods) with unavoidable, dire consequences. Much like drinking from a cup of bitterness, those who commit spiritual infidelity end up reaping tragic results of their behavior. This theme of God’s righteous judgment upon sin echoes throughout the scriptures, ultimately leading to the New Testament’s revelation that Jesus offers us a way out of that “cup,” having taken it upon Himself for our sake (Matthew 26:39). Nevertheless, the solemn warning remains that turning to idols and neglecting God’s commands leads to sorrow and destruction, made starkly visible in Samaria’s downfall.
God’s judgment on unfaithfulness is certain and dreadful, but His ultimate desire is for people to repent and return to Him.
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Ezekiel 23:33 meaning
“You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, The cup of horror and desolation, The cup of your sister Samaria.” (v.33) In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of divine judgment, portraying it as a “cup” that those who practice idolatry and unfaithfulness must drink. The imagery of the cup often symbolizes God’s wrath upon sin, and here that wrath is described as “horror and desolation.” Though “drunkenness” can be literal, it also conveys the idea of being overwhelmed and disoriented by consequences. The prophets used a cup or drink as a recurring metaphor for God’s judgment on unrepentant nations (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Ezekiel 23:31-34), showing that those who choose rebellion experience an inescapable bitterness and sorrow in place of blessing and joy.The allusion to Samaria in this verse serves as a stark reminder of the judgment that already befell the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was the capital city of that kingdom, a once-prominent stronghold eventually destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC.When Ezekiel references “the cup of your sister Samaria,” he underscores that, just as Samaria reaped destruction through idol worship and betrayal of the covenant, so, too, would others who persisted in similar acts of unfaithfulness. The mention of “horror and desolation” also foreshadows the utter ruin that mirrors Samaria’s fate, reinforcing the severe nature of choosing idolatry over devotion to the one true God.
Ezekiel’s message throughout this passage connects spiritual adultery (turning away from God to worship false gods) with unavoidable, dire consequences. Much like drinking from a cup of bitterness, those who commit spiritual infidelity end up reaping tragic results of their behavior. This theme of God’s righteous judgment upon sin echoes throughout the scriptures, ultimately leading to the New Testament’s revelation that Jesus offers us a way out of that “cup,” having taken it upon Himself for our sake (Matthew 26:39). Nevertheless, the solemn warning remains that turning to idols and neglecting God’s commands leads to sorrow and destruction, made starkly visible in Samaria’s downfall.
God’s judgment on unfaithfulness is certain and dreadful, but His ultimate desire is for people to repent and return to Him.