Psalms 106:37

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Yea, they sacrificed {H2076} their sons {H1121} and their daughters {H1323} unto devils {H7700},

Complete Jewish Bible

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

Berean Standard Bible

They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:37 starkly recounts a horrifying low point in Israel's history of apostasy, revealing that "they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils." This verse exposes the profound depth of Israel's spiritual decline, where, in direct defiance of God's explicit commands, they adopted the abominable practices of the pagan nations around them, culminating in the ultimate act of moral depravity: offering their own children as burnt offerings to malevolent spiritual entities behind the false gods. It serves as a chilling testament to the severe consequences of abandoning the one true God for idolatry.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, a national confession of sin that chronicles Israel's persistent rebellion against God' from the Exodus through their settlement in Canaan and subsequent exile. It functions as a lament and a prayer for restoration, consistently contrasting God's enduring faithfulness with Israel's repeated unfaithfulness. Verse 37 is situated within a section (verses 34-39) that details Israel's failure to obey God's command to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants upon entering the Promised Land. Instead, they "mingled with the heathen, and learned their works" (verse 35), leading to the adoption of their idolatrous and morally repugnant practices, with child sacrifice being presented as the zenith of their defilement before God. The preceding verses lament their failure to destroy the pagan altars, while the subsequent verses describe the defilement of the land by their actions and the consequent divine judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of child sacrifice, particularly to deities like Molech, was a horrific aspect of ancient Canaanite religion, prevalent among nations such as the Ammonites and Phoenicians. These rituals often involved burning children alive as propitiatory offerings to ensure fertility, prosperity, or military success. God's Law explicitly and vehemently prohibited this practice, condemning it as an "abomination" and a defilement of the land and the sanctuary, punishable by death (e.g., [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice") and [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - God's Abhorrence of Child Sacrifice")). Despite these clear prohibitions and the Lord's miraculous deliverance, Israel succumbed to the pervasive influence of the surrounding cultures, demonstrating a profound spiritual amnesia and a failure to maintain their distinct identity as God's covenant people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 106 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Profound Idolatry and Apostasy**, illustrating the extreme lengths to which Israel departed from their covenant with Yahweh, violating the very first commandment against having other gods ([Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")). Secondly, it highlights **Moral Depravity**, showcasing the ultimate defilement and degradation that results when a people abandon divine truth and embrace practices that utterly reject the sanctity of human life. Thirdly, the mention of "devils" introduces the theme of **Spiritual Warfare**, revealing that these pagan gods were not inert idols but were backed by malevolent spiritual forces, making idolatry a direct engagement with demonic entities. Finally, the verse serves as a stark example of the **Consequences of Disobedience**, demonstrating how Israel's mingling with foreign nations and adoption of their sins inevitably led to divine judgment and ultimately, their exile, a pattern reiterated throughout the psalm.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sacrificed (Hebrew, _zavach'_):** This verb typically refers to the act of slaughtering an animal for an offering, whether for food or as part of a religious ritual, often to God. Its use here for human sacrifice underscores the perversion of a sacred act. Instead of offering acceptable sacrifices to the Lord, Israel offered the most precious of human lives to false gods, thereby desecrating the very concept of sacrifice and revealing the depth of their spiritual corruption.
* **Sons and their daughters (Hebrew, _banim u-venot'_):** The explicit mention of "sons and daughters" emphasizes the horrific nature of the act. It was not merely a general human sacrifice, but the offering of one's own offspring, the future generation, to pagan deities. This highlights the unnatural, anti-life, and utterly depraved character of the practice, which violated the most fundamental parental bonds and God's design for the family.
* **Devils (Hebrew, _shedim'_):** The King James Version's translation of "devils" for the Hebrew word _shedim_ (שֵׁדִים) is significant. This term does not refer to Satan himself, but rather to "demons," "evil spirits," or "false gods" that are empowered by malevolent spiritual forces. It indicates that the pagan deities to whom the Israelites sacrificed were not merely human constructs or inert idols, but were associated with genuine, active, and destructive spiritual powers. This emphasizes the truly demonic nature of the worship of Molech and similar idols, revealing that the Israelites were engaging with entities directly opposed to God and His life-giving purposes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yea, they sacrificed":** This phrase identifies the perpetrators as "they," referring to the Israelites, the very people whom God had delivered and covenanted with. The word "Yea" (or "Indeed") adds emphasis, highlighting the shocking reality and undeniable truth of their actions, despite their privileged relationship with God.
* **"their sons and their daughters":** This specifies the victims of these sacrifices – the children of Israel themselves. This clause underscores the profound tragedy and moral horror, indicating a complete abandonment of natural affection and divine law in favor of abominable pagan practices.
* **"unto devils":** This final clause identifies the recipients of these horrific offerings. It reveals the spiritual dimension of their idolatry, indicating that their worship was directed not merely to inert statues, but to malevolent spiritual entities, the _shedim_, who stood in opposition to the one true God and His benevolent rule.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its chilling message. **Contrast** is paramount, as the psalmist juxtaposes God's life-giving covenant and His abhorrence of child sacrifice with Israel's adoption of this death-dealing pagan practice. The very act of sacrificing "sons and daughters" serves as potent **Symbolism** for the ultimate spiritual apostasy and moral degradation; it represents the complete rejection of God's sanctity of life and the perversion of the family unit. The term "devils" (shedim) functions as a **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the demonic powers are used to represent the false gods and the spiritual reality behind the idolatry. The psalmist's direct and unvarnished statement of this heinous act also contributes to the psalm's overall tone of **Lament** and **Confession**, underscoring the depth of Israel's sin and the righteousness of God's subsequent judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:37 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of idolatry and its ultimate consequences. It reveals that the abandonment of the one true God invariably leads to moral depravity, as humanity, in its fallen state, will always seek to fill the void of God's absence with something else, often something destructive and dehumanizing. The act of child sacrifice highlights the absolute antithesis between the God of Israel, who values and preserves life, and the pagan deities, who demand the most precious of human offerings. This verse underscores the exclusivity of God's claim on His people's worship and the severe spiritual dangers of syncretism, where mixing divine truth with worldly practices inevitably leads to corruption and spiritual death. It reminds us that behind all false worship lies a spiritual battle against forces opposed to God's kingdom.

* [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice")
* [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - God's Abhorrence of Child Sacrifice")
* [1 Corinthians 10:20](/1_corinthians/10-20 "1 Corinthians 10:20 - Sacrifices to Demons")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While literal child sacrifice to physical idols is not a common practice in most modern societies, the underlying principles of Psalms 106:37 remain profoundly relevant, serving as a potent warning against contemporary forms of idolatry and the subtle ways we might "sacrifice" what is precious for lesser gods. This verse challenges us to examine what truly holds ultimate allegiance in our lives. Are we, perhaps inadvertently, sacrificing our children's spiritual well-being, their innocence, or their future for the sake of career advancement, material possessions, social status, or even ideological commitments that subtly contradict God's truth? The horror of child sacrifice underscores the sanctity of human life, particularly the most vulnerable, calling believers to actively protect and advocate for the unborn, the young, and the defenseless, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy. Our devotion to the Lord must be wholehearted and exclusive, recognizing that anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives can become an idol, demanding our "sacrifice" in ways that ultimately lead to spiritual and moral degradation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what subtle ways might modern "idols" (e.g., career, money, social media, personal ambition) demand "sacrifices" from us, potentially impacting our families or spiritual health?**
* **How can I ensure my devotion to God is undivided, preventing syncretism with worldly values that might dilute or distort my commitment to Him?**
* **What practical steps can I take to uphold the sanctity of life in my sphere of influence, especially for the most vulnerable members of society?**

### FAQ

**What does "devils" mean in Psalms 106:37?**

Answer: In Psalms 106:37, the King James Version translates the Hebrew word _shedim_ (שֵׁדִים) as "devils." This term does not refer to Satan himself, but rather to "demons" or "evil spirits." It signifies that the pagan deities, such as Molech, to whom the Israelites sacrificed their children, were not merely inert idols or human constructs. Instead, they were associated with genuine, malevolent spiritual powers. This highlights the truly demonic nature of the worship of these false gods, emphasizing that the Israelites were engaging with spiritual forces directly opposed to the one true God. The New Testament similarly connects pagan worship with demonic activity, as seen in [1 Corinthians 10:20](/1_corinthians/10-20 "1 Corinthians 10:20 - Sacrificing to Demons").

**Was child sacrifice a common Israelite practice, or was it adopted from other cultures?**

Answer: Child sacrifice was emphatically not an original or sanctioned Israelite practice; it was a horrific abomination strictly forbidden by God's Law (e.g., [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice"), [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - God's Abhorrence of Child Sacrifice")). It was a deeply ingrained practice among the Canaanite nations whom Israel was commanded to dispossess. Psalms 106:37 highlights Israel's tragic failure to obey this command, leading them to "mingle with the heathen, and learned their works" (Psalms 106:35). This verse, therefore, describes Israel's adoption of a foreign, abhorrent practice as a sign of their profound apostasy and moral degradation, rather than an indigenous custom. Some kings, like Ahaz and Manasseh, later engaged in this practice, bringing severe divine judgment upon Judah (e.g., [2 Kings 16:3](/2_kings/16-3 "2 Kings 16:3 - Ahaz's Child Sacrifice"), [2 Kings 21:6](/2_kings/21-6 "2 Kings 21:6 - Manasseh's Child Sacrifice")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The horror of Psalms 106:37, where Israel sacrificed their innocent children to demonic powers, finds its ultimate and redemptive fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's repeated pattern of human failure, culminating in such heinous acts, underscores humanity's desperate need for a perfect sacrifice and a complete deliverance from the power of sin and death. While Israel offered their sons and daughters to death-dealing "devils," God, in His infinite love, offered His own Son, Jesus, as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus is the true [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose once-for-all sacrifice on the cross (as described in [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")) rendered all other sacrifices, especially human ones, obsolete and unnecessary. Through His death and resurrection, Christ triumphed over the very "devils" or demonic powers that held humanity captive through idolatry and sin ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Demonic Powers")). He came to destroy the works of the devil ([1 John 3:8](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - The Son of God Appeared to Destroy the Works of the Devil")) and offers true life and freedom to all who believe, redeeming us from the futility of worshipping false gods and establishing us in a covenant of grace where no human sacrifice is ever again required.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 16:3

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.

2 Kings 17:17

And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

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.

Deuteronomy 32:17

They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

1 Corinthians 10:20

But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

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].

Deuteronomy 12:30

Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.