Bible Strands
Ezekiel 23:39
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — YHWH speaks through Ezekiel to the personified sisters of Jerusalem and Samaria during a period of active covenant violation. The prophecy confronts their simultaneous participation in child sacrifice and temple desecration.
The words — שַׁחֲטָם (sha.cha.Ta/m) translates literally to "they slaughtered," and מִקְדָּשִׁי (mik.da.Sh/i) means "My sanctuary." These terms anchor the verse’s accusation of coordinated sacrilege.
The thread — The pattern of defiling the sanctuary appears in 2 Kings 21:4 where altars are erected in the temple, Jeremiah 23:11 where wickedness is found in God’s house, and Ezekiel 44:7 where uncircumcised foreigners occupy the sacred space. Each reference documents the progressive violation of holy boundaries.
Why it lands — The text states that idolatrous slaughter and sanctuary intrusion occurred on the same day, establishing a direct link between pagan rites and temple profanation. It requires readers to reject any attempt to merge worship with idolatry and to recognize that physical access to sacred space does not legitimize moral corruption.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 21:4 Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.”
- Jeremiah 23:11 “For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
- Ezekiel 44:7 In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant.
- 2 Chronicles 33:4 Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”
- Isaiah 3:9 The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Jeremiah 7:8 But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.
- Jeremiah 11:15 What right has My beloved in My house, having carried out so many evil schemes? Can consecrated meat avert your doom? When you are wicked, then you rejoice.
- Ezekiel 23:38 They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths.
- Micah 3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
- John 18:28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.