Ezechiel 16:21
Thou hast sacrificed and given my children to them, consecrating them by fire.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Immolasti filios meos, et dedisti, illos consecrans, eis.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καὶ ἔσφαξας τὰ τέκνα σου καὶ ἔδωκας αὐτὰ ἐν τῷ ἀποτροπιάζεσθαί σε αὐτὰ αὐτοῖς.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- וַֽתִּשְׁחֲטִ֖י אֶת בָּנָ֑י וַֽתִּתְּנִ֔ים בְּהַעֲבִ֥יר אוֹתָ֖ם לָהֶֽם
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Matthew XXIV. 1, 2
And from the equality of the offenses themselves, “It is not marvellous if one be taken stealing;”and again, “Thou didst slay thy sons and thy daughters; this is beyond all thy whoredoms, and thine abominations.”
St John Chrysostom Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily XXVI
“And if it be given her for a covering,” say you, “wherefore need she add another covering?” That not nature only, but also her own will may have part in her acknowledgment of subjection. For that thou oughtest to be covered nature herself by anticipation enacted a law. Add now, I pray, thine own part also, that thou mayest not seem to subvert the very laws of nature; a proof of most insolent rashness, to buffet not only with us, but with nature also. This is why God accusing the Jews said, ( Ezek. xvi. 21, 22 .) “Thou hast slain thy sons and thy daughters: this is beyond all thy abominations.”
The Fathers are given as they wrote. Where a passage lays the Passion on the Jewish people, the Church teaches that it cannot be charged against all the Jews then living, nor against the Jews of today, and that all sinners were its authors (CCC 597, 598).