Ezekiel 16:20

Analysis

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, The allegory reaches its most horrific accusation: child sacrifice. This represents the ultimate perversion of covenant relationship—offering God own children to foreign deities, the most abominable practice imaginable.

Thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters emphasizes the victims—covenant children, the next generation who should have inherited promises. Whom thou hast borne unto me identifies them as God children through covenant relationship. Israel children belonged to God as covenant people; sacrificing them to other gods represented theft and murder of divine possession.

These hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured describes child sacrifice to foreign deities, particularly Molech worship (Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5). This was explicitly forbidden and punishable by death. The phrase to be devoured indicates actual killing and possibly burning alive, as suggested by the word "pass through fire" used elsewhere (2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 7:31).

Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter? is rhetorical question emphasizing the enormity of the crime. Spiritual adultery was bad enough; murdering covenant children for idols exceeds all bounds. From Reformed perspective, this represents total depravity depth—humans will sacrifice even their own children to idolatry.

Historical Context

Child sacrifice to Molech occurred in the Valley of Hinnom (Tophet) outside Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5-6, 32:35). Archaeological evidence from Carthage and other Phoenician sites confirms this practice existed in ancient Near East, though its extent in Israel remains debated.

Biblical texts indicate kings Ahaz and Manasseh engaged in child sacrifice (2 Kings 16:3, 21:6). Jeremiah condemns the practice repeatedly, indicating it was not isolated but systematic during late monarchy. Josiah reform desecrated the Tophet to prevent further sacrifices (2 Kings 23:10), but the practice evidently resumed afterward.

The metaphor works on multiple levels: literal child sacrifice occurred; additionally, dedicating children to pagan cults through syncretistic religious education sacrificed them spiritually to false gods. Either way, covenant children who should have been raised in Yahweh worship were given to idols.

For Ezekiel audience, this accusation explained judgment severity. Child sacrifice represented crossing a red line that made divine wrath inevitable. God would not tolerate His covenant children being murdered for false gods.

Reflection

• What does child sacrifice teach about the extremes of human depravity when following idolatry?
• How do modern societies sacrifice children (abortion, exploitation, neglect) for idolatrous ends?
• In what ways does failing to raise covenant children in the faith constitute spiritual sacrifice to other gods?
• What is God righteous anger toward those who harm children entrusted to His people (Matthew 18:6)?
• How does Christ offering Himself as sacrifice end the need for any other sacrificial victims?