Ezekiel 23:39

39 and when they slaughtered their children for their idols, they came to my sanctuary on that day to profane it. And look, {this is what they did in my house}!

Ezekiel 23:39 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 23:39

For when they had slain their children to their idols
This explains more clearly what is before said, that by causing their children to pass through the fire was a slaying them; and that their passing through it "for them" was for their idols, and unto them; see ( Ezekiel 23:37 ) , and how when they had been guilty of such shocking wickedness, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it;
not that they came into the temple on purpose to profane it; but coming into it, being themselves defiled with the murder of their infants, and offering sacrifices to idols, or performing a hypocritical service to the Lord, this was in the event a profanation of the sanctuary: and, lo, thus they have done in the midst of mine house;
set up idols there, and worshipped them; as they did in the temple itself, in the times of Ahaz and Manasseh; see ( Jeremiah 7:30 ) .

Ezekiel 23:39 In-Context

37 For they committed adultery, and blood [is] on their hands, and they committed adultery with their idols, and even their children that they had borne for me--they sacrificed them as food!
38 Also they did this to me: they defiled my sanctuary on that day, and they profaned my Sabbaths
39 and when they slaughtered their children for their idols, they came to my sanctuary on that day to profane it. And look, {this is what they did in my house}!
40 {What is worse}, they sent for men {who come} from a distant place, [to] whom a messenger [was] sent to them, and look! They came! [Men] for whom you bathed and painted your eyes, and you adorned yourself [with] an ornament.
41 And you sat on a magnificent couch and a table prepared {before her}, and my incense and my olive oil you put on her.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "thus they did in the midst of house my"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.