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Ezekiel 16:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 16:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through [the fire] unto them?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through [the fire] unto them?
Ezekiel 16:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18and thou tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them, and didst set mine oil and mine incense before them.
19My bread also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou didst even set it before them for a sweet savor; and [thus] it was, saith the Lord Jehovah.
20Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,
21that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through [the fire] unto them?
22And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast weltering in thy blood.
23And it is come to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord Jehovah,)
24that thou hast built unto thee a vaulted place, and hast made thee a lofty place in every street.
← Ezekiel 16:20Ezekiel 16:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That thou hast slain my children, &c.] By creation, as all born into the world are; and by national adoption, as all the Jewish children were; and particularly the firstborn were eminently his, and which are here designed, as Jarchi interprets it; for they were the children that were slain and sacrificed to Molech; (see <262026>Ezekiel 20:26); and delivered, them to cause them to pass through [the fire] for them? for the sake of idols, for the worship of them; this they did before they were slain; they first caused them to pass through between two fires, and so dedicated them to the idol, and then slew them; or slew them by burning them in the fire, or by putting them into the arms of the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Borne unto me - me is emphatic. The children of Yahweh have been devoted to Moloch. The rites of Moloch were twofold; (1) The actual sacrifice of men and children as expiatory sacrifices to, false gods. (2) The passing of them through the fire by way of purification and dedication. Probably the first is alluded to in Ezekiel 16:20; the two rites together in Ezekiel 16:21. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For them - For the idols. Ezekiel 16:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“my children: Psa 106:37 to pass: Lev 18:21, Lev 20:1-5; Deu 18:10; Kg2 17:17, Kg2 21:6, Kg2 23:10 Ezekiel 16:22”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification