Ezekiel 16:20

18 And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.

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,

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

22 And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?
KJV
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,
WEB
“‘“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,
ASV
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,
DARBY
And thou didst take thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hadst borne unto me, and these didst thou sacrifice unto them, to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,
BLB
And you took your sons and your daughters, those whom you bore to Me, and you sacrificed them to them to be devoured! [Was] your prostitution too little?
ÅB
Du tok dine sønner og dine døtre, som du hadde født meg, og ofret dem til mat for dem. Var det ikke nok at du drev hor,
OTB
‘Dessuten tok du dine sønner og døtre som du fødte til meg og ofret dem til avguder for å bli fortært. Var ikke dine obskøne praksiser nok?
B1930
Du tok dine sønner og dine døtre, som du hadde født mig, og ofret dem til mat for dem. Var det ikke nok at du drev hor,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 106:37–38

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

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 13:12

    That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:21

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

    Read in context