יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק מ״ד

A popular proverb is directed at Jerusalem, drawing a sharp comparison between the city's current behavior and the actions of those who came before. Those who naturally craft parables, riddles, and clever sayings will look at the state of the city and apply a timeless concept. The idea is simple: a daughter will inevitably follow the exact path and habits of a mother. Rather than referring to a specific family, this is meant as a general truth about human nature. Just as any mother behaves, so does the daughter [רש״י, רד״ק, מנחת שי].

The primary approach among commentators is that the mother in this scenario represents the ancient people of Canaan, while the daughter symbolizes the Israelites and the city of Jerusalem. The message presents a harsh reality. Just as the Canaanites lived corruptly and were ultimately driven out of the land, the Israelites who took their place learned their ways and copied their destructive behavior [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Offering a different perspective, another approach connects this proverb to the severe consequences of extreme immorality. In this view, the metaphor describes a tragic situation where the entire nation has fallen into sin. Because a mother and daughter engaged in immorality together, they are held equally responsible. Just as they shared in the crime, they are judged as one and face the exact same punishment of being consumed by fire [מלבי״ם].