Ezekiel 16:21
New International Version
You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.

New Living Translation
Must you also slaughter my children by sacrificing them to idols?

English Standard Version
that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them?

Berean Standard Bible
You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.

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

New King James Version
that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?

New American Standard Bible
You slaughtered My children and offered them to idols by making them pass through the fire.

NASB 1995
“You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire.

NASB 1977
“You slaughtered My children, and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire.

Legacy Standard Bible
You slaughtered My children and gave them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire.

Amplified Bible
You slaughtered My children and offered them up to [worthless] idols, forcing them to pass through the [hideousness of the] fire.

Christian Standard Bible
You slaughtered my children and gave them up when you passed them through the fire to the images.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You slaughtered My children and gave them up when you passed them through the fire to the images.

American Standard Version
that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire unto them?

Contemporary English Version
You slaughtered my children, so you could offer them as sacrifices.

English Revised Version
that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire unto them?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You slaughtered my children and presented them as burnt offerings to idols.

Good News Translation
without taking my children and sacrificing them to idols?

International Standard Version
you also slaughtered my sons and offered them to idols, incinerating them in fire.

Majority Standard Bible
You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.

NET Bible
you slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.

New Heart English Bible
that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?

Webster's Bible Translation
That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

World English Bible
that you have slain my children and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that you slaughter My sons, "" And give them up in causing them to pass over to them?

Young's Literal Translation
That thou dost slaughter My sons, And dost give them up in causing them to pass over to them?

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou wilt slaughter my sons and give them in causing them to pass through for them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou hast sacrificed and given my children to them, consecrating them by fire.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You have immolated my sons, and you have consecrated and delivered my sons to them.

New American Bible
You slaughtered and immolated my children to them, making them pass through fire.

New Revised Standard Version
You slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering to them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That you have slaughtered my children, and offered them to the idols after you had been ravished by them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you slaughtered my children and you offered them up, after you had ravished them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that thou hast slain My children, and delivered them up, in setting them apart unto them?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and didst slay thy children, and gavest them up in offering them to them for an expiation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jerusalem's Unfaithfulness
20You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? 21You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols. 22And in all your abominations and acts of prostitution, you did not remember the days of your youth when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your own blood.…

Cross References
Leviticus 18:21
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.

Deuteronomy 12:31
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.

2 Kings 17:17
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.

2 Kings 21:6
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.

Jeremiah 7:31
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.

Jeremiah 19:5
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.

Jeremiah 32:35
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.

Psalm 106:37-38
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.

2 Chronicles 28:3
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.

2 Chronicles 33:6
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.

Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

Micah 6:7
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?

Acts 7:43
You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

Romans 1:23-25
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. / 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.

1 Corinthians 10:20
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.


Treasury of Scripture

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

my children

Psalm 106:37
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

to pass

Leviticus 18:21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 20:1-5
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Deuteronomy 18:10
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

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Ezekiel 16
1. Under the parable of a wretched infant is shown the natural state of Jerusalem
6. God's extraordinary love toward her,
15. Her grievous judgment
35. Her sin, equal to her mother,
46. and exceeding her sisters, Sodom and Samaria,
59. calls for judgments
60. Mercy is promised her in the end














You slaughtered
The Hebrew word used here is "טָבַח" (tabach), which means to kill or slaughter, often in a sacrificial context. This word choice underscores the gravity of the Israelites' actions, as they were not merely killing but performing acts that were intended to be sacrificial, yet were abominable in the eyes of God. Historically, this reflects the heinous practices of child sacrifice that were prevalent among some ancient Near Eastern cultures, which Israel was explicitly commanded to avoid (Leviticus 18:21).

My children
The phrase "My children" emphasizes the personal relationship and ownership God has over the people of Israel. In a broader theological context, it highlights the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where the Israelites are seen as God's chosen people, His "firstborn" (Exodus 4:22). This makes their actions even more grievous, as they are not just harming any children, but those who belong to God Himself.

and delivered them up
The Hebrew root "נָתַן" (natan) means to give or deliver. This phrase indicates a deliberate action of handing over, suggesting a betrayal of trust. In the context of ancient Israel, this act of delivering their children to false gods was a profound violation of their covenant with Yahweh, who had delivered them from Egypt and given them the Promised Land.

through the fire
This phrase refers to the practice of passing children through fire as a form of sacrifice to pagan deities, such as Molech. Archaeological findings and historical records from the ancient Near East confirm that such practices were indeed part of the religious rituals of surrounding nations. The fire symbolizes both the literal and spiritual destruction that comes from turning away from God to follow idolatrous practices.

to idols
The Hebrew word for idols is "גִּלּוּלִים" (gillulim), which often carries a derogatory connotation, implying something worthless or detestable. In the biblical context, idols represent the false gods of the nations surrounding Israel, which were often associated with immoral and destructive practices. The use of this term underscores the futility and abomination of idolatry, contrasting sharply with the worship of the one true God, who is living and holy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You slaughtered
וַֽתִּשְׁחֲטִ֖י (wat·tiš·ḥă·ṭî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat

My children
בָּנָ֑י (bā·nāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and delivered them up
וַֽתִּתְּנִ֔ים (wat·tit·tə·nîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

through the fire to idols.
בְּהַעֲבִ֥יר (bə·ha·‘ă·ḇîr)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 16:21 That you have slain my children (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 16:20
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