Ezekiel 20:26

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Yea I let them defile themselves with their gifts, when they caused every firstborn to pass through the fire,-.that I might make them desolate. To the end they might know that, I, am Yahweh.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the Lord.’

Hebrew Names Version
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

King James Version
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
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 American Standard Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."'

New Century Version
I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire. I wanted to terrify them so they would know that I am the Lord .'

Amplified Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their offerings [to their idols], in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire [as pagan sacrifices], so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD."'

World English Bible
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I polluted them in their owne giftes in that they caused to passe by the fire all that first openeth ye wombe, that I might destroy them, to the ende, that they might know that I am ye Lord.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."'

Legacy Standard Bible
and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am Yahweh."'

Berean Standard Bible
And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts-the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire-so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.'

Contemporary English Version
and I let them offer me unacceptable sacrifices, including their first-born sons. I did this to horrify them and to let them know that I, the Lord , was punishing them.

Complete Jewish Bible
and I let them become defiled by their own gifts, in that they offered up their firstborn sons, so that I could fill them with revulsion, so that they would [finally] realize that I am Adonai .'

Darby Translation
and I defiled them by their own gifts, in that they devoted all that opened the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] Jehovah.

Easy-to-Read Version
I let them make themselves filthy with their gifts. They even began to sacrifice their own firstborn children. In this way I would destroy them. Then they would know that I am the Lord .'

George Lamsa Translation
And I let them defile themselves through their own gifts, when they offered their first-born as sacrifices: that I might destroy them and that they might know that I am the LORD.

Good News Translation
I let them defile themselves with their own offerings, and I let them sacrifice their first-born sons. This was to punish them and show them that I am the Lord .

Lexham English Bible
And I defiled them through their gifts in sacrificing all of the first offspring of the womb, in order that I will cause them to be stunned, so that they will know that I am Yahweh.

Literal Translation
And I defiled them by their own gifts, by making all that open the womb to cross the fire , so that I might waste them, to the end that they might know that I am Jehovah.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& I vnhalowed them in their owne giftes: (when I appoynted for my self all their first borne) to make them desolate: that they might knowe, how that I am the LORDE.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
I made them unclean in the offerings they gave, causing them to make every first child go through the fire, so that I might put an end to them.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they set apart all that openeth the womb, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

King James Version (1611)
And I polluted them in their owne gifts, in that they caused to passe through the fire all that openeth the wombe, that I might make them desolate, to the end, that they might know that I am the Lord.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I defiled them in their owne giftes, in that they caused all that openeth the wombe to passe, that I might destroy them, that they might knowe howe that I am the Lorde.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will defile them by their own decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.

English Revised Version
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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y defoulide hem in her yiftis, whanne thei offriden to me for her trespassis al thing that openeth the wombe; and thei schulen wite, that Y am the Lord.

Update Bible Version
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all the first-born, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.

New English Translation
I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices—they caused all their first born to pass through the fire—so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the Lord .'

New King James Version
and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the LORD."'

New Living Translation
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 .

New Life Bible
And I let them become sinful because of their gifts. I let them give all their first-born sons as burnt gifts. This was to punish them and show them that I am the Lord."'

New Revised Standard
I defiled them through their very gifts, in their offering up all their firstborn, in order that I might horrify them, so that they might know that I am the Lord .

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
and I defiled them through their very gifts in making them offer by fire all their first-born, that I might horrify them; I did it that they might know that I am the LORD.

Young's Literal Translation
And I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I [am] Jehovah.

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ Therefore brought I them forth out of the land of Egypt, - and caused them to come into the desert. ¹¹ Then gave I unto them my statutes, And my regulations, caused I them to know,- By the which the man that doeth them shall live. ¹² Moreover also my sabbaths, gave I unto them, to become a sign betwixt me and them, - that it might be known that, I, Yahweh, was hallowing them. ¹³ But the house of Israel rebelled against reel in the desert In ray statutes, walked they not. And my regulations, they rejected By the which the man that doeth them shall live, my sabbaths also, they profaned exceedingly. Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them in the desert, to make an end of them. ¹⁴ Howbeit I wrought with effect for the sake of mine own Name, - that it should not b profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose eyes I had brought them forth. ¹⁵ Yet even l lifted up my hand to them. in the desert, - That I would not b1ing them into the land which I had given to them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was. of all lands: ¹⁶ Because my regulations, they had rejected. And as for my statutes, they had not walked therein, My sabbaths also, had they profaned; or after their manufactured gods, their heart had been going. ¹⁷ Nevertheless mine eye threw a shield over them that they should not be destroyed; So I made not of them a full end in the desert. ¹⁸ But I said unto their children in the desert, In the statutes of your fathers, let it not be that ye walk, And their regulations, let it not be that ye observe, - And with their manufactured gods, let it not be that ye defile yourselves. ¹⁹ I, Yahweh, am your God, In my statutes, walk ye, - And my regulations, observe ye and do them;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

polluted: Ezekiel 20:31, Isaiah 63:17, Romans 11:7-10

in that: Ezekiel 16:20, Ezekiel 16:21, Leviticus 18:21, 2 Kings 17:17, 2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 32:35

all that: Exodus 13:12, Luke 2:23

to the end: Ezekiel 6:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:2 - that ye Leviticus 20:2 - giveth 2 Samuel 12:11 - I will take 2 Kings 16:3 - made his son 2 Kings 23:10 - might make Psalms 106:37 - they sacrificed Isaiah 57:5 - slaying Jeremiah 19:5 - to burn Ezekiel 20:25 - I gave Ezekiel 20:39 - Go ye Ezekiel 23:37 - have also

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 l; 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 m, 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.

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

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The probation in the wilderness. The promise was forfeited by those to whom it was first conditionally made, but was renewed to their children.

Ezekiel 20:11

The “statutes” were given on Mount Sinai, and repeated by Moses before his death (Exodus 20:1 ff; Deuteronomy 4:8).

In them - Or, through them: and in Ezekiel 20:13.

Ezekiel 20:12

See Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath was a sign of a special people, commemorative of the work of creation, and hallowed to the honor of Yahweh, the covenant-God. As man honored God by keeping the Sabbath holy, so by the Sabbath, God “sanctified” Israel and marked them as a holy people. Therefore to profane the Sabbath was to abjure their Divine Governor.

Ezekiel 20:13

My sabbaths they greatly polluted - Not by actual non-observance of the sabbatical rest in the wilderness, but in failing to make the day holy in deed as well as in name by earnest worship and true heart service.

Ezekiel 20:18

The book of Deuteronomy contains the address to “the children” of those who perished in the wilderness. The whole history of Israel was a repetition of this course. The covenant was made with one generation, broken by them, and then renewed to the next.

Ezekiel 20:25

The “judgments whereby they should not live” are those spoken of in Ezekiel 20:18, and are contrasted with the judgments in Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:21, laws other than divine, to which God gives up those whom He afflicts with judicial blindness, because they have willfully closed their eyes, Psalms 81:12; Romans 1:24.

Ezekiel 20:26

To pass through - The word also means to “set apart,” as the firstborn to the Lord Exodus 13:12. They were bidden to “set apart” their firstborn males to the Lord. They “caused them to pass through the fire” to Moloch. An instance of their perversion of God’s laws.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 20:26. I polluted them in their own gifts — I permitted them to pollute themselves by the offerings which they made to their idols. Causing their children to pass through the fire was one of those pollutions; but, did God ever give them a statute or judgment of this kind? No. He ever inveighs against such things, and they incur his heaviest displeasure and curse. See on Ezekiel 20:31.