Ezekiel 20:26 And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts--the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire--so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

◄ Ezekiel 20:26 ►

New International Version
I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’

New Living Translation
I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to their gods—so I might devastate them and remind them that I alone am the LORD.

English Standard Version
and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the LORD.” ’

New American Standard Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

NASB 1995
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."’

NASB 1977
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their first-born to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

Legacy Standard Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’

Amplified Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their offerings [to their idols], in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire [as pagan sacrifices], so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’

Christian Standard Bible
When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the LORD.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they made every firstborn pass through the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.”

American Standard Version
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 Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
and I let them offer me unacceptable sacrifices, including their first-born sons. I did this to horrify them and to let them know that I, the LORD, was punishing them.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts [to their false gods]. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the LORD.'

Good News Translation
I let them defile themselves with their own offerings, and I let them sacrifice their first-born sons. This was to punish them and show them that I am the LORD.

International Standard Version
I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they'll know that I am the LORD."

Majority Standard Bible
And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts?the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire?so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

NET Bible
I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices--they caused all their first born to pass through the fire--so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the LORD.'

New Heart English Bible
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD."'

Webster's Bible Translation
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all the first-born, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

World English Bible
I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And I defile them by their own gifts, "" By causing every opener of a womb to pass away, "" So that I make them desolate, "" So that they know that I [am] YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
And I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I am Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I will defile them in their gifts in causing to pass through all bursting open the womb, so that I shall make them desolate, that they shall know that I am Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. And they shall know that I am the Lord.

New American Bible
I let them become defiled by their offerings, by having them make a fiery offering of every womb’s firstborn, in order to ruin them so they might know that I am the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
I defiled them through their very gifts, in their offering up all their firstborn, in order that I might horrify them, so that they might know that I am the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And I let them defile themselves through their own gifts, when they offered their first-born as sacrifices: that I might destroy them and that they might know that I am the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I defiled them in their gifts when they were offering the first born ones, and I shall destroy them, and they shall know that I AM LORD JEHOVAH

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they set apart all that openeth the womb, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will defile them by their own decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Israel's Rebellion in the Wilderness
…25I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. 26And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts— the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire — so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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.

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?

Romans 1:24-28
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. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...

Romans 11:8
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

1 Corinthians 5:5
hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

1 Timothy 4:2
influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

Treasury of Scripture

And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

polluted

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 inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.

Isaiah 63:17
O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Romans 11:7-10
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded …

in that

Ezekiel 16:20,21
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, …

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.

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.

all that

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.

Luke 2:23
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

to the end

Ezekiel 6:7
And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Jump to Previous

Apart Caused Causing Child Defile Defiled Desolate Destroy Devoted End Fill Fire First Firstborn First-Born Gifts Horror Making Offer Offerings Opened Openeth Opens Order Polluted Pronounced Sacrifice Unclean Womb

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Ezekiel 20

1. God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel
4. He shows the story of their rebellions in Egypt
19. in the desert
27. and in the land
33. He promises to gather them by the Gospel
45. Under the name of a forest he shows the destruction of Jerusalem

Berean Study Bible

And I pronounced them unclean
The Hebrew word for "unclean" is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which signifies a state of ritual impurity. In the context of ancient Israel, being unclean meant being separated from the community and the worship of God. This phrase indicates a divine judgment where God declares the people impure due to their actions. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' deviation from God's laws, leading to spiritual and communal consequences. The pronouncement of uncleanness serves as a reminder of the holiness required by God and the severe implications of disobedience.

through their gifts
The term "gifts" here refers to offerings or sacrifices that were meant to honor God. However, the Israelites corrupted these gifts by offering them to idols or in a manner not prescribed by God. The Hebrew word "מַתָּנָה" (mattanah) can mean a present or offering, but in this context, it is tainted by idolatrous practices. This highlights the importance of the heart's intention behind offerings and the danger of external religious acts devoid of true devotion.

the sacrifice of every firstborn
The "sacrifice of every firstborn" is a direct reference to a practice that was abominable to God. The Hebrew word "בְּכוֹר" (bekhor) means firstborn, and the sacrifice of firstborns was a pagan ritual adopted by some Israelites, contrary to God's commands. Historically, this practice was associated with the worship of false gods like Molech. The firstborn were meant to be consecrated to God, symbolizing the nation's dedication to Him. This perversion of a sacred act underscores the depth of Israel's apostasy and the need for repentance.

that I might devastate them
The phrase "devastate them" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁמֵם" (shamem), meaning to lay waste or desolate. This reflects God's righteous judgment upon Israel for their persistent idolatry and rebellion. The devastation is both a consequence of their sin and a means to bring them back to the realization of their need for God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which God will go to restore His people to Himself.

and that they would know that I am the LORD
This phrase is a recurring theme in Ezekiel, emphasizing God's desire for His people to recognize His sovereignty and holiness. The Hebrew "יְהוָה" (YHWH) is the sacred name of God, often translated as "LORD." The knowledge of God here is not merely intellectual but relational and experiential, calling the Israelites to acknowledge His authority and return to covenant faithfulness. This ultimate purpose of divine actions is to lead the people to a deeper understanding and relationship with God, highlighting His mercy even in judgment.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) To pass through the fire.--The word "fire" here, as in Ezekiel 16:21; Ezekiel 23:37, is not in the original, but is rightly supplied from Ezekiel 20:31. The custom referred to was probably that of consecrating their seed to Moloch, expressly forbidden in Leviticus 20:1-5. (Comp. also Acts 7:43.) The causing children to pass through the fire continued a common sin even to the later days of the monarchy (2Kings 17:17; 2Kings 21:6). . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 26. - I polluted them through their own gifts. The noun includes all forms of blessing bestowed on Israel - its corn and wine and oil (see Ezekiel 16:19, 20), even its sons and daughters, the fruit of the womb, as well as the increase of the earth. (For the prevalence of Moloch worship, and for the phrase, "pass through," see notes on Ezekiel 16:21.) The sins were to bring desolation as their punishment, and then men would learn to know Jehovah as indeed he is.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And I pronounced them unclean
וָאֲטַמֵּ֤א (wā·’ă·ṭam·mê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

through their gifts—
בְּמַתְּנוֹתָ֔ם (bə·mat·tə·nō·w·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4979: A present, a sacrificial offering, a bribe

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

of every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

firstborn {in the fire}—
פֶּ֣טֶר (pe·ṭer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6363: That which separates or first opens

so that
לְמַ֣עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

I might devastate them,
אֲשִׁמֵּ֔ם (’ă·šim·mêm)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

in order that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they would know
יֵֽדְע֔וּ (yê·ḏə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

that
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD.’
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:26 And I polluted them in their own (Ezek. Eze Ezk)