What is the meaning of Ezekiel 16:20? “You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me” • God reminds Jerusalem that every child is ultimately His gift and possession (Psalm 127:3; Isaiah 43:6–7). • By saying “bore to Me,” the LORD stresses His covenant claim: He had made Israel fruitful for His own glory (Deuteronomy 7:13; Malachi 2:15). • The words expose a tragic reversal—what was meant to be dedicated to the LORD was handed over to darkness instead (Romans 12:1; 1 Samuel 1:27–28). “and sacrificed them as food to idols” • The charge points to literal child sacrifice, commonly offered to Molech and other Canaanite deities (Leviticus 18:21; 2 Kings 16:3; Jeremiah 7:31). • “Food to idols” shows the grotesque nature of idolatry: it consumes what is precious and innocent (Psalm 106:37–38). • Such sacrifices were a direct violation of the first two commandments and a betrayal of exclusive worship (Exodus 20:3–5; Deuteronomy 12:31). • The practice revealed how far the people had drifted from the LORD’s heart—trading living children for lifeless gods (Jeremiah 19:5; 1 Corinthians 10:20). “Was your prostitution not enough?” • God calls their idolatry “prostitution,” underscoring that spiritual unfaithfulness parallels marital infidelity (Hosea 1:2; James 4:4). • The question conveys grief and indignation: spiritual adultery had already been outrageous, but now it escalated to taking innocent life (Ezekiel 6:9; Revelation 17:1–2). • It highlights a downward spiral—sin left unchecked grows more destructive, moving from unfaithfulness to violence (Romans 1:25–32). • The rhetorical tone presses the audience to recognize that idolatry never satisfies; it always demands more (Proverbs 27:20; John 10:10). summary Ezekiel 16:20 confronts Jerusalem with the stark reality of her sin: God-given children, meant to be raised for His glory, were slaughtered on pagan altars. The verse exposes the depth of covenant betrayal—spiritual adultery progressed to the ultimate desecration of life. By tying child sacrifice to “prostitution,” the LORD shows that idolatry is never merely a private lapse; it devours what is most precious. The passage calls readers to wholehearted devotion, guarding against any compromise that diminishes God’s rightful claim on every aspect of life. |
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