Ezekiel 16:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-34

In these verses we have an account of the great wickedness of the people of Israel, especially in worshipping idols, notwithstanding the great favours that God had conferred upon them, by which, one would think, they should have been for ever engaged to him. This wickedness of theirs is here represented by the lewd and scandalous conversation of that beautiful maid which was rescued from ruin, brought up and well provided for by a kind friend and benefactor, that had been in all respects as a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:20

Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters ,.... Their own flesh and blood; which were more than to take their clothes, and cover their idols with them, and their food, and set it before them to part with them was much, but to part with these, and that in such a shocking manner as after mentioned, was so irrational and unnatural, as well as impious and wicked, as is not to be paralleled; and what increased their wickedness was, that these were not only their own, but the Lord's: ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 16:20

Verse 20 Here God blames them for another crime, that of sacrificing their offspring to idols. This was a very blind superstition, by which parents put off the sense of humanity. It is indeed a detestable prodigy when a father rejects his children, and has no regard or respect for them. Even philosophers place among the principles of nature those affections which they call natural affections. (98) When, therefore, the affection of a father towards his children ceases, which is naturally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:1-63

The thought that underlies Ezekiel's parable, that Israel was the bride of Jehovah, and that her sin was that of the adulterous wife, was sufficiently familiar. Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:21 ) had spoken of the "faithful city that had become a harlot." Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 2:2 ) had represented Jehovah as remembering "the kindness of her youth, the love of her espousals." What is characteristic of Ezekiel's treatment of that image is that he does not recognize any period in which Israel had been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-34

A picture of flagrant apostasy from God. "But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown," etc. The prophet row passes from what God had done for his people Israel to set forth how they had requited him. He had shown how, under his fostering care, the outcast child had grown into a beautiful maiden, whom he had espoused and arrayed in robes and ornaments of beauty, until she had become renowned amongst the nations. Now he exhibits the apostasy of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-59

Inexcusable infidelity. Universal consent accounts that woman vile who, married to a kind and honourable husband, in order to gratify her own unchastened desires, commits adultery with her neighbours and acquaintances, and expends her husband's substance in rewarding her numerous and profligate admirers. The guilt of Jerusalem must indeed have been great if it could only be adequately set forth under the similitude of guilt so flagrant and abominable as that described in this most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:20

The next stage of idolatry is that of Moloch worship, which never wholly ceased as long as the monarchy of Judah lasted ( 2 Kings 16:3 ; Psalms 106:37 ; Isaiah 57:5 ; Jeremiah 7:32 ; Jeremiah 19:5 ; Micah 6:7 ; Le 18:21; 20:2). It will be noticed that the words, "the fire," are in italics, i.e. are not in the Hebrew, the verb "to pass through" having acquired so technical a meaning that it was enough without that addition. This, as the closing words indicate, was the crowning... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:20-34

Idolatry is spiritual adultery. Imagery borrowed from nature and human society, to set forth Israel's sin, is at the best feeble and imperfect. If it is possible for God to make some impression on man's guilty conscience, he will do it. What is more abominable among men than adultery? Yet connivance with idolatry is a sin blacker yet. It is adultery, ingratitude, robbery, treason, rolled into one crime! I. MARK THE ROOTS OF THIS SIN . 1 . The first root mentioned is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 16:20-21

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. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 16:20-22

Ezekiel 16:20-22. Thou hast taken thy sons, &c., whom thou hast borne unto me Being married to me by a spiritual contract, Ezekiel 16:8. The children, with whom I blessed thee, were mine, being entered into covenant with me, as thou wast, Deuteronomy 29:11; Deuteronomy 29:22. These thou hast sacrificed unto them to be devoured These very children of mine hast thou destroyed by consuming them with fire. These inhuman sacrifices were offered to the idol Moloch, in the valley of Hinnom. ... read more

Group of Brands