Ezekiel 23:37 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:37 mean?

Ezekiel 23:37 says that the people have been unfaithful to God, committing spiritual adultery by worshiping idols, and have also committed violence by sacrificing their own children to these idols. The verse accuses them of both idolatry and shedding innocent blood, showing the seriousness of their actions.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, specifically using the image of adultery to describe their betrayal. The setting is a prophetic warning, where God lists the charges against Israel for turning to other gods and practicing child sacrifice, which was common in some surrounding cultures but strictly forbidden in Israel.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:37

• The word for "adultery" is נאף (na’af), which means both literal and spiritual unfaithfulness. Here, it highlights Israel’s broken relationship with God by chasing after other gods.
• "Blood" is דָּם (dam), pointing to the violence and guilt of child sacrifice, not just metaphorical wrongdoing.
• "Idols" is גִּלּוּל (gillul), a word often used in Ezekiel for detestable or disgusting idols, underlining how offensive these practices are to God.
• "To devour" is אָכַל (akal), which literally means to eat or consume, making the horror of child sacrifice very vivid.

Why Ezekiel 23:37 matters

• This verse clears up that the accusation is not just about worshiping idols, but also about the extreme violence of child sacrifice, which was a real historical practice.
• The language links idolatry and violence, showing that turning from God leads to destructive actions, not just private beliefs.
• Ezekiel 23:37 is part of a larger passage where God uses strong imagery to confront Israel’s sin, helping readers understand the depth of betrayal and the seriousness of the charges.