Ezekiel 16:20

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. [Is this] of thy whoredoms a small matter,

Moreover thou hast taken {H3947} thy sons {H1121} and thy daughters {H1323}, whom thou hast borne {H3205} unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed {H2076} unto them to be devoured {H398}. Is this of thy whoredoms {H8457} a small matter {H4592},

"'Moreover, your sons and daughters, whom you bore me, you took and sacrificed for them to devour. Were these fornications of yours a casual matter? -

You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?

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,

Ezekiel 16:20 is a profoundly disturbing verse within an extended allegory where God describes His relationship with Jerusalem (representing Israel) as a once-abandoned infant whom He rescued, nurtured, and made His bride, only for her to commit the most heinous spiritual adultery.

Context

In Ezekiel chapter 16, the prophet Ezekiel delivers a powerful and graphic parable detailing Jerusalem's history from its humble, unwanted beginnings to its rise as a magnificent city, all by God's grace and provision. God paints Himself as the compassionate rescuer and faithful husband, while Jerusalem is depicted as an unfaithful wife who prostitutes herself to various nations and foreign gods. This particular verse highlights the ultimate betrayal: sacrificing children, whom God claims as "borne unto me," to pagan deities. This act was not merely a deviation but the pinnacle of their spiritual "whoredoms" and covenant breaking.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Idolatry and Abomination: The verse reveals the shocking depth of Israel's unfaithfulness. Sacrificing one's own children was the most abhorrent practice in the ancient Near East, directly prohibited by God's law (Leviticus 18:21, Deuteronomy 18:10). This act, often associated with the worship of Molech, involved burning children alive.
  • Covenant Betrayal: The phrase "whom thou hast borne unto me" underscores the profound betrayal. These children were part of the covenant community, belonging to God. Offering them to false gods was a direct assault on God's ownership and the sacred bond He established with Israel (Ezekiel 16:8).
  • God's Indignation: The rhetorical question, "Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter?" expresses God's utter revulsion and indignation. It emphasizes that this act was not a minor transgression but an appalling culmination of their spiritual adultery, demanding severe judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The term "whoredoms" (Hebrew: zanût) is key throughout Ezekiel 16. It primarily refers to spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, depicting Israel's turning away from Yahweh to worship other gods as a profound act of prostitution and betrayal of the divine marriage covenant. The phrase "to be devoured" vividly describes the horrific nature of child sacrifice, where the children were consumed by fire, often in the worship of deities like Molech in places like the Valley of Hinnom (Jeremiah 32:35).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the extreme consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. While we may not literally sacrifice our children to idols today, the principle of placing anything—be it wealth, career, pleasure, or even self-interest—above our devotion to God can become a form of modern idolatry. This passage calls us to examine our priorities and ensure that our lives and resources, including our families, are dedicated to the one true God. It also highlights the sanctity of human life, especially innocent children, and God's absolute opposition to any practice that devalues it.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 23:37

    That they have committed adultery, and blood [is] 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 [the fire], to devour [them].

  • Jeremiah 7:31

    And they have built the high places of Tophet, which [is] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded [them] not, neither came it into my heart.

  • Psalms 106:37

    Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

  • Psalms 106:38

    And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

  • Ezekiel 20:31

    For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

  • Exodus 13:2

    Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.

  • Ezekiel 20:26

    And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.

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