For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
Parallel translations
- WEB For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and behold, thus have they done in the middle of my house.
- BSB On the very day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it. Yes, they did this inside My house.
- NKJV For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house.
- NASB For when they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary on the same day to profane it; and behold, this is what they did within My house.
- NLT On the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After murdering their children for idols, they entered God's house the same day to profane it. The shocking juxtaposition reveals utter spiritual blindness.
Overview
The verse intensifies the previous charge: the people came straight from child sacrifice into the temple, profaning 'the middle of my house.' This appalling contradiction shows how sin deadens conscience until the holy and the abominable are mingled without shame. It is a stark warning against a religion that tolerates secret wickedness while keeping up sacred appearances.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Kgs 21:4And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
- Ezek 44:7In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
- Jer 23:11For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
- 2 Chr 33:4–7Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
- John 18:28Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
- Isa 3:9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
- Jer 7:8–11Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
- Jer 11:15What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
- Ezek 23:38Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.
- Mic 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 23:39 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.