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].

That they have committed adultery {H5003}, and blood {H1818} is in their hands {H3027}, and with their idols {H1544} have they committed adultery {H5003}, and have also caused their sons {H1121}, whom they bare {H3205} unto me, to pass for them through {H5674} the fire, to devour {H402} them.

For they committed adultery, and their hands are dripping with blood. They committed adultery with their idols; and they offered their sons, whom they bore to me, for these idols to eat.

For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols.

For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands; and with their idols have they committed adultery; and they have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass through the fire unto them to be devoured.

Ezekiel 23:37 (KJV) describes the grievous sins of Israel and Judah, personified as two sisters, Aholah (Samaria) and Aholibah (Jerusalem). This verse encapsulates their profound spiritual betrayal and horrific practices that led to God’s severe judgment.

Context

Chapter 23 of Ezekiel is a powerful and graphic allegory depicting the spiritual harlotry of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria, called Aholah) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem, called Aholibah). Both sisters, despite being chosen by God and entering into a covenant relationship with Him, prostituted themselves with foreign nations and their pagan deities. Verse 37 specifically details the depth of their abominations, explaining why divine judgment was imminent. This indictment highlights Israel's repeated pattern of spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry throughout their history.

Meaning of the Verse

Ezekiel 23:37 lays out a triple indictment against God's people:

  • "That they have committed adultery... and with their idols have they committed adultery": This refers to spiritual adultery, where Israel and Judah abandoned their covenant relationship with the Lord, their true "husband," to pursue alliances with and worship the gods of foreign nations. Their devotion to other gods was a direct violation of the first commandment.
  • "blood [is] in their hands": This phrase signifies their guilt not only in idolatry but also in acts of violence, oppression, and possibly the shedding of innocent blood through unjust practices or even the sacrifices mentioned next.
  • "and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through [the fire], to devour [them]": This is a direct and horrifying reference to child sacrifice, a practice associated with the worship of pagan deities like Molech. The chilling detail "whom they bare unto me" emphasizes the profound sacrilege: children consecrated to the Lord were offered as burnt offerings to false gods, an abomination explicitly forbidden by God's law (Leviticus 18:21).

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Spiritual Unfaithfulness: The core sin is their betrayal of God through the worship of false gods and reliance on human alliances rather than divine provision. This is depicted as spiritual harlotry, a recurring metaphor in the prophetic books.
  • The Abomination of Child Sacrifice: The most shocking and morally reprehensible act detailed, revealing the depth of their spiritual depravity and the ultimate disregard for human life and God's holiness.
  • Covenant Betrayal: Israel and Judah broke the covenant God had established with them, leading to the consequences outlined in the Law (Deuteronomy 28:15ff).
  • Divine Justice: The verse underscores God's righteous judgment against persistent and severe sin, particularly when His own people engage in such abominations.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "committed adultery" is zanah (זָנָה), which often describes physical prostitution but is frequently used metaphorically in the Old Testament to denote spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry against God. The phrase "to pass through the fire" (לְהַעֲבִיר בָּאֵשׁ, leha'avir ba'esh) specifically refers to the ritual of child sacrifice, particularly to the Ammonite god Molech, a practice repeatedly condemned by God as an abomination.

Practical Application

While the specific acts described in Ezekiel 23:37 are ancient, the underlying principles remain highly relevant:

  • Exclusive Devotion: The verse calls believers to exclusive devotion to God alone, warning against anything that compromises faith or takes God's rightful place in our lives. Modern "idols" can include materialism, power, pleasure, or self-worship.
  • The Sanctity of Life: The condemnation of child sacrifice emphasizes the profound value God places on human life, especially the innocent. This principle has implications for how we view and protect life today.
  • Consequences of Sin: This passage serves as a stark reminder that persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness to God have severe consequences, both individually and corporately. It highlights the importance of repentance and turning back to God.
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 16:36

    Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto 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.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 32:35

    And they built the high places of Baal, which [are] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through [the fire] unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

  • Ezekiel 16:38

    And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

  • 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,

  • Ezekiel 16:21

    That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through [the fire] for them?

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