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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 21:4He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.”
- Ezek 44:7in that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant, to add to all your abominations.
- Jer 23:11for both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.
- 2 Chr 33:4–7He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
- John 18:28They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
- Isa 3:9The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Jer 7:8–11Behold, you trust in lying words, that can’t profit.
- Jer 11:15What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.”
- Ezek 23:38Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths.
- Mic 3:11Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on Yahweh, and say, “Isn’t Yahweh among us? No disaster will come on us.”
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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.