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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 16:20 You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/16-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/26_Ezk_16_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 16:20 - Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. 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Was your prostitution not enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. <i>Is this</i> of thy whoredoms a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. <i>Were</i> your <i>acts</i> of harlotry a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Furthermore, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your obscene practices a trivial matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me, and you sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Moreover, you took your sons and daughters, whom you had borne to Me, and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Moreover, you took your sons and your daughters whom you had borne to Me, and you destroyed them as sacrifices [to your man-made gods]. Were your gross immoralities so small a matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“ ‘You even took your sons and daughters you bore to me and sacrificed them to these images as food. Wasn’t your prostitution enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You even took your sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them to these images as food. Wasn&#8217t your prostitution enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But you did something even worse than that--you sacrificed your own children to those idols! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />" 'You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn't your prostitution enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Then you took the sons and the daughters you had borne me and offered them as sacrifices to idols. Wasn't it bad enough to be unfaithful to me, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Then you took your sons and daughters whom you bore for me and sacrificed them for your idols to eat. As though your prostitutions were an insignificant thing, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'You took your sons and your daughters whom you bore to me and you sacrificed them as food for the idols to eat. As if your prostitution not enough,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne to me, and these hast thou sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of thy lewdness a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘“Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And you take your sons and your daughters whom you have born to Me, "" And sacrifice them to them for food. Is it a little thing because of your whoredoms,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And thou dost take thy sons and thy daughters Whom thou hast born to Me, And dost sacrifice them to them for food. Is it a little thing because of thy whoredoms,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And thou wilt take thy sons and thy daughters which thou didst bear to me, and thou wilt sacrifice them for these to eat From thy fornication is it small?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And thou hast taken thy sons, and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne to me: and best sacrificed the same to them to be devoured. Is thy fornication small? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore for me, and you immolated them to be devoured. Is your fornication a small matter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The sons and daughters you bore for me you took and offered as sacrifices for them to devour! Was it not enough that you had become a prostitute?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. As if your whorings were not enough!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you have sacrificed to them for food. These things you did besides your whoredoms,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And you took your sons and your daughters that you bore to me, and you sacrificed them as food, beside your fornications<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto Me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy harlotries a small matter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And thou tookest thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou borest, land didst sacrifice <i>these</i> to them to be destroyed. Thou didst go a-whoring as <i>if that were</i> little,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=3681" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/16.htm">Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>And you set before them as a pleasing aroma the food I had given you—the fine flour, oil, and honey that I had fed you. That is what happened, declares the Lord GOD. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: wat·tiq·ḥî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2fs) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">You even took</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·na·yiḵ (N-mpc:: 2fs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: bə·nō·w·ṯa·yiḵ (N-fpc:: 2fs) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">and daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yā·laḏt (V-Qal-Perf-2fs) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">you bore</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">to Me</a> <a href="/hebrew/2076.htm" title="2076: wat·tiz·bā·ḥîm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2fs:: 3mp) -- To slaughter for sacrifice. A primitive root; to slaughter an animal.">and sacrificed</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">them</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: le·’ĕ·ḵō·wl (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">as food to idols.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8457.htm" title="8457: mit·taz·nu·ṯēḵ (Prep-m:: N-fpc:: 2fs) -- Fornication. Or taznuth; from zanah; harlotry, i.e. idolatry.">Was your prostitution</a> <a href="/hebrew/4592.htm" title="4592: ham·‘aṭ (Art:: Adj-ms) -- A little, fewness, a few. Or miat; from ma'at; a little or few.">not enough?</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Leviticus 18:21</a></span><br />You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-31.htm">Deuteronomy 12:31</a></span><br />You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a></span><br />They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-31.htm">Jeremiah 7:31</a></span><br />They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/19-5.htm">Jeremiah 19:5</a></span><br />They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-35.htm">Jeremiah 32:35</a></span><br />They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-37.htm">Psalm 106:37-38</a></span><br />They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/28-3.htm">2 Chronicles 28:3</a></span><br />Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5</a></span><br />who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13-14</a></span><br />They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. / I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Micah 6:7</a></span><br />Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-24.htm">Romans 1:24-25</a></span><br />Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-20.htm">1 Corinthians 10:20</a></span><br />No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and these have you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of your prostitutions a small matter,</p><p class="hdg">thy sons</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm">Ezekiel 16:21</a></b></br> That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through <i>the fire</i> for them?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/23-4.htm">Ezekiel 23:4</a></b></br> And the names of them <i>were</i> Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus <i>were</i> their names; Samaria <i>is</i> Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/17-7.htm">Genesis 17:7</a></b></br> And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.</p><p class="hdg">and these</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/20-26.htm">Ezekiel 20:26,31</a></b></br> And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through <i>the fire</i> all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I <i>am</i> the LORD… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/23-37.htm">Ezekiel 23:37,39</a></b></br> That they have committed adultery, and blood <i>is</i> in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through <i>the fire</i>, to devour <i>them</i>… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/16-3.htm">2 Kings 16:3</a></b></br> But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.</p><p class="hdg">be devoured [heb] devour </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/8-17.htm">Ezekiel 8:17</a></b></br> Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen <i>this</i>, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-34.htm">Jeremiah 2:34,35</a></b></br> Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/7-11.htm">Behaviour</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-7.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-5.htm">Born</a> <a href="/ezekiel/14-10.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/ezekiel/14-22.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/ezekiel/15-5.htm">Devoured</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-5.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-19.htm">Food</a> <a href="/jeremiah/32-22.htm">Hadst</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Harlotries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-17.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-17.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-11.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-17.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-17.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-35.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/psalms/106-38.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-16.htm">Small</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Whoredoms</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/16-36.htm">Behaviour</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-11.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-22.htm">Born</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-58.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-27.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-3.htm">Devoured</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-28.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-27.htm">Food</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-41.htm">Hadst</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-22.htm">Harlotries</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-22.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/daniel/1-14.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-28.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-22.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-26.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm">Sacrificed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-37.htm">Small</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-22.htm">Whoredoms</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-1.htm">Under the parable of a wretched infant is shown the natural state of Jerusalem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-6.htm">God's extraordinary love toward her,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Her grievous judgment</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-35.htm">Her sin, equal to her mother, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">46. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-46.htm">and exceeding her sisters, Sodom and Samaria, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">59. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-59.htm">calls for judgments</a></span><br><span class="reftext">60. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/16-60.htm">Mercy is promised her in the end</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me</b><br>This phrase highlights the deep betrayal of Israel, as the children are described as being borne to God, indicating a covenant relationship. In the ancient Near Eastern context, children were considered a blessing from God, and the Israelites were expected to raise them in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. The act of taking these children, who were a gift from God, and dedicating them to idols represents a profound violation of their covenant with Him. This echoes the broader biblical theme of Israel's unfaithfulness, as seen in <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">Hosea 1:2</a>, where Israel is depicted as an unfaithful spouse.<p><b>and sacrificed them as food to idols.</b><br>Child sacrifice was a practice associated with pagan worship, particularly among the Canaanites, and was strictly forbidden in Israelite law (<a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Leviticus 18:21</a>, <a href="/deuteronomy/12-31.htm">Deuteronomy 12:31</a>). The reference to "food to idols" underscores the abomination of the act, as it not only involved the murder of innocents but also the perversion of worship meant for God alone. This practice is historically linked to the worship of deities like Molech, where children were offered in sacrificial rituals. The severity of this sin is emphasized in <a href="/jeremiah/7-31.htm">Jeremiah 7:31</a>, where God expresses His abhorrence for such practices.<p><b>Was your prostitution not enough?</b><br>The metaphor of prostitution is frequently used in the Bible to describe Israel's idolatry and unfaithfulness to God (<a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-9</a>, <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12-13</a>). This rhetorical question underscores the gravity of Israel's spiritual adultery, suggesting that their idolatrous practices were already egregious, and yet they compounded their sin by sacrificing their children. The use of "prostitution" conveys the idea of Israel selling itself to foreign gods, abandoning the exclusive relationship they were meant to have with the Lord. This imagery is also a type pointing to the need for a faithful bride, ultimately fulfilled in the Church's relationship with Christ (<a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25-27</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites, often using vivid imagery and allegory.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation chosen by God, depicted metaphorically as an unfaithful wife in this chapter, engaging in idolatry and spiritual adultery.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>False gods that the Israelites worshipped, often involving detestable practices such as child sacrifice.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sons_and_daughters.htm">Sons and Daughters</a></b><br>Refers to the children of Israel, whom they sacrificed to idols, highlighting the depth of their apostasy.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/prostitution.htm">Prostitution</a></b><br>Used metaphorically to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with pagan nations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_gravity_of_idolatry.htm">The Gravity of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of false gods but a betrayal of our covenant relationship with God. It leads to destructive behaviors and spiritual decay.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_life.htm">The Sanctity of Life</a></b><br>God values human life, and practices like child sacrifice are abhorrent to Him. We must uphold the sanctity of life in all aspects of our society.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god.htm">Faithfulness to God</a></b><br>Just as Israel was called to be faithful, we are called to remain true to God, avoiding modern forms of idolatry such as materialism or self-worship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God continually calls His people to repentance and offers restoration. We should seek God's forgiveness and strive to restore our relationship with Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Sin has serious consequences, both spiritually and physically. Understanding this should lead us to live lives that honor God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 16</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_child_sacrifice_in_ezekiel_16_20-21_credible.htm">How credible is the depiction of widespread child sacrifice in Ezekiel 16:20–21, given limited archaeological evidence for such practices in Jerusalem? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_child_sacrifice.htm">What does the Bible say about child sacrifice?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_micah_3_3_align_with_history.htm">In Micah 3:3, the graphic language seems hyperbolic—how can it be reconciled with historical or archeological records of Israelite practices? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_cite_jerusalem's_violence.htm">In Ezekiel 22:2–5, why does God single out Jerusalem’s bloodshed without clear archaeological evidence of such extensive violence? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Hast sacrificed unto them, </span><span class= "ital">i.e., hast sacrificed the children unto the idols. </span>This was a terrible development of the later idolatries of Israel. At first the custom appears to have been a ceremony of passing young children through the fire to thereby consecrate them to Moloch; but afterwards it became an actual sacrifice of them in the fire to the idol. The Lord speaks of them in <a href="/ezekiel/16-20.htm" title="Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and these have you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of your prostitutions a small matter,">Ezekiel 16:20</a>, as "<span class= "ital">thy </span>children whom thou hast borne unto Me;" they were indeed Israel's children, but still children whom God had given to her. Then in <a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm" title="That you have slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?">Ezekiel 16:21</a>, by a most significant change of the pronoun, He calls them "My children," the sin itself being aggravated by giving to the idol that which belonged to Jehovah. The last clause of the verse would be better translated, <span class= "ital">Were thy whoredoms too little</span>?--<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, was not apostacy enough without adding thereto this terrible and unnatural crime?<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - The next stage of idolatry is that of Moloch worship, which never wholly ceased as long as the monarchy of Judah lasted (<a href="/2_kings/16-3.htm">2 Kings 16:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/106-37.htm">Psalm 106:37</a>; <a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/7-32.htm">Jeremiah 7:32</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/19-5.htm">Jeremiah 19:5</a>; <a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Micah 6:7</a>; <a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Leviticus 18:21</a>; <a href="/leviticus/20-2.htm">Leviticus 20:2</a>). It will be noticed that the words, "the fire," are in italics, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> are not in the Hebrew, the verb "to pass through" having acquired so technical a meaning that it was enough without that addition. This, as the closing words indicate, was the crowning point. As though idolatry in itself was a small matter, it was intensified by infanticide. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You even took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּקְחִ֞י</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiq·ḥî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sons</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנַ֤יִךְ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·na·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and daughters</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nō·w·ṯa·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you bore</span><br /><span class="heb">יָלַ֣דְתְּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·laḏt)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Me</span><br /><span class="heb">לִ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">and sacrificed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּזְבָּחִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiz·bā·ḥîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2076.htm">Strong's 2076: </a> </span><span class="str2">To slaughter for sacrifice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them</span><br /><span class="heb">לָהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(lā·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">as food to idols.</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶאֱכ֑וֹל</span> <span class="translit">(le·’ĕ·ḵō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Was your prostitution</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃</span> <span class="translit">(mit·taz·nū·ṯā·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8457.htm">Strong's 8457: </a> </span><span class="str2">Harlotry, idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">not enough?</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמְעַ֖ט</span> <span class="translit">(ham·‘aṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4592.htm">Strong's 4592: </a> </span><span class="str2">A little, fewness, a few</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/16-20.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 16:20 Moreover you have taken your sons (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/16-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 16:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 16:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/16-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 16:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 16:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>