Ezekiel 20:26

26 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.’

Ezekiel 20:26 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
26 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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
26 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 .
The Message Bible (MSG)
26 I abandoned them. Filthy in the gutter, they perversely sacrificed their firstborn children in the fire. The very horror should have shocked them into recognizing that I am God.'
American Standard Version (ASV)
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 Jehovah.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
26 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.'
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
26 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 the Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
26 I let them become polluted by offering sacrifices to other gods. They even sacrificed the first male child who was born in each family. I wanted to fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the Lord." '

Ezekiel 20:26 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:26

And one polluted them in their own gifts
Suffered them to defile themselves; or declared them to be, and treated them as polluted persons, in the gifts and sacrifices which they offered to idols, particularly their firstborn: as the next clause explains it: in that they caused to pass though [the fire] all that openeth the
womb;
this very likely they did, when they sacrificed to Baalpeor, the same with Molech, ( Numbers 25:3 ) ; that I might make them desolate;
their families, by stripping them of their children, their firstborn, and strength: to the end that they might know that I [am] the Lord;
a righteous God, in punishing men for sin, in a way it deserves. Some interpret this, not of causing the firstborn to pass through fire to an idol; but of causing them to pass, or of setting them apart, to the Lord, according to the law in ( Exodus 13:12 ) ; where the same word is used as here; and the sense is that God declared them to be impure in or with all their gifts, by commanding them to cause their firstborn to pass to him, which they were obliged to redeem; which sense is approved of by Gussetius F12; and so Abendana, taking the words to refer to both, gives this sense of them,

``I pronounced them impure, and removed them far from me, instead of sanctifying them; because they caused everyone that opens the womb to pass from me, whom I commanded to give to me for holiness, but they have given them to idolatry;''
rather, according to Braunius F13, the words may be understood of God's rejecting and causing the firstborn to pass from him, and not suffering them to offer gifts and sacrifices unto him; which may be meant by pronouncing them impure, or polluting them in their gifts; this was after the worship of the golden calf; when he took Aaron and his sons in their room.
FOOTNOTES:

F12 Ebr. Comment. p. 576, 939.
F13 Selecta Sacra, l. 4. c. 11. p. 522.

Ezekiel 20:26 In-Context

24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols.
25 So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;
26 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.’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:
28 When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Leviticus 18:21
  • 2. Leviticus 20:2-5; 2 Kings 17:17
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