Psalms 106:37
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 106:37
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Leviticus 18:21", "connection": "This passage directly prohibits the practice of passing children through the fire to Molech, highlighting the abhorrent nature of what the Israelites were doing and its opposition to God's law." }, { "reference": "Deuteronomy 32:17", "connection": "This verse explicitly states that the Israelites sacrificed to 'demons' that were not God, reinforcing the idea that the objects of their worship were malevolent spiritual entities, not true deities." }, { "reference": "2 Kings 16:3", "connection": "This historical account shows King Ahaz sacrificing his son to foreign gods, illustrating the very real and devastating practice described in the psalm." }, { "reference": "1 Corinthians 10:20", "connection": "Paul connects participation in pagan sacrifices to fellowship with demons, providing a New Testament parallel that explains why sacrificing to idols is viewed as communing with evil spiritual forces." }, { "reference": "Ezekiel 16:20", "connection": "This prophetic judgment against Jerusalem details how the city offered its children as sacrifices to idols, revealing the depth of spiritual corruption that led to such horrific acts." } ] }
The Psalmist is recounting Israel's history of rebellion, highlighting how they failed to drive out the Canaanite nations as commanded. Instead, they adopted the pagan practices of their neighbors, even sacrificing their own children to false gods, which the text identifies as "demons" or "evil spirits," a profound betrayal of their covenant with the Lord. This descent into horrific idolatry directly led to God's judgment and exile, as described in the verses that follow.
The psalm calls these objects of worship 'demons,' but what does that really mean? It points to a terrifying reality behind the idols.
The Hebrew word used here, 'shedim,' is a bit tricky. While it's translated as 'demons' or 'devils,' some scholars suggest it comes from a root word meaning 'lords.' The ancient Israelites likely used this term to refer to the false deities the surrounding nations worshipped, like Baal or Moloch.
But these weren't just any 'lords.' The commentaries highlight that these entities were seen as destructive forces. Satan himself is called a murderer from the beginning, and these so-called gods led people to commit horrific acts, including the ultimate destruction of their own children. This wasn't about serving a benevolent power; it was about appeasing beings associated with waste and ruin.
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How could parents, or any people, sink so low as to offer their own children? This verse isn't just about an event; it's about a spiritual downward spiral.
This verse describes the absolute nadir of Israel's spiritual rebellion. The commentators point out that this atrocity, sacrificing children to Moloch (often by passing them through fire), was a gradual slide into sin.
It began with disobedience – not fully driving out the nations as God commanded. This led to learning their detestable practices. From there, it was a slippery slope: mixing with them, adopting their ways, and finally, embracing their most horrific rituals. The lesson is stark: spiritual compromise doesn't stay static. Allowing sin, even by omission, opens the door to darker and darker deeds, ultimately leading to acts that shock the conscience and destroy the very fabric of family and society.
Understand the original words
shed · Hebrew Noun
Supernatural, malevolent spiritual entities that oppose God and lead humanity into rebellion, idolatry, and destruction. In the Old Testament, these are often associated with the false gods worshipped by pagan nations.
The psalm reflects on Israel's historical pattern of falling into extreme idolatry, even child sacrifice, during periods of exile or intense foreign influence, highlighting their repeated betrayal of God's covenant.
c. 1400-1000 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
The Israelites settled in the land of Canaan, inheriting its cultures and religious practices.
c. 1000-600 BC
Influence of Canaanite Religions
Israelites gradually adopted pagan practices, including child sacrifice to deities like Moloch, despite repeated divine warnings.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many, partly as judgment for religious syncretism and disobedience.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Captivity
The southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon, with multiple deportations of its people, including its leaders and artisans.
c. 597 BC— this verse
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite were exiled to Babylon, a stark consequence of Judah's apostasy.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population.
This passage directly addresses the prohibition against sacrificing children to the pagan god Molech, highlighting the specific practice that the psalmist condemns in chapter 106.
Deuteronomy 32:17This verse speaks of Israel sacrificing to 'demons' instead of God, using the same Hebrew term as in Psalms 106:37, and points to the apostasy of the people.
Ezekiel 16:20The prophet Ezekiel accuses Jerusalem of taking her sons and daughters, whom she bore to him, and sacrificing them to idols, directly paralleling the accusation in the psalm.
1 Corinthians 10:20Paul connects participation in pagan sacrifices with fellowship with demons, reinforcing the idea that worshipping false gods means communing with evil spirits, as implied in the psalm.
jfbPsalms 106:37: "Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,"
- unto devils—Septuagint, "demons" (compare 1Co 10:20), or "evil spirits."
clarkePsalms 106:37: "Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,"
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils - See 2 Kings 16:3 ; Isaiah 57:5 ; Ezekiel 16:20 ; ezekiel E Zechariah 20:26 . That causing their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Moloch did not always mean they burnt them to death in the flames, is very probable. But all the heathen had human sacrifices; of this their history is full. Unto devils, לשדים lashshedim, to demons. Devil…
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Leviticus 18:21", "connection": "This passage directly prohibits the practice of passing children through the fire to Molech, highlighting the abhorrent nature of what the Israelites were doing and its opposition to God's law." }, { "reference": "Deuteronomy 32:17", "connection": "This verse explicitly states that the Israelites sacrificed to 'demons' that were not God, reinforcing the idea that the objects of their worship were malevolent spiritual entities, not true deities." }, { "reference": "2 Kings 16:3", "connection": "This historical account shows King Ahaz sacrificing his son to foreign gods, illustrating the very real and devastating practice described in the psalm." }, { "reference": "1 Corinthians 10:20", "connection": "Paul connects participation in pagan sacrifices to fellowship with demons, providing a New Testament parallel that explains why sacrificing to idols is viewed as communing with evil spiritual forces." }, { "reference": "Ezekiel 16:20", "connection": "This prophetic judgment against Jerusalem details how the city offered its children as sacrifices to idols, revealing the depth of spiritual corruption that led to such horrific acts." } ] }
The Psalmist is recounting Israel's history of rebellion, highlighting how they failed to drive out the Canaanite nations as commanded. Instead, they adopted the pagan practices of their neighbors, even sacrificing their own children to false gods, which the text identifies as "demons" or "evil spirits," a profound betrayal of their covenant with the Lord. This descent into horrific idolatry directly led to God's judgment and exile, as described in the verses that follow.
The Psalmist is recounting Israel's history of rebellion, highlighting how they failed to drive out the Canaanite nations as commanded. Instead, they adopted the pagan practices of their neighbors, even sacrificing their own children to false gods, which the text identifies as "demons" or "evil spirits," a profound betrayal of their covenant with the Lord. This descent into horrific idolatry directly led to God's judgment and exile, as described in the verses that follow.
"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;" — { "references": [ { "reference": "Leviticus 18:21", "connection": "This passage directly prohibits the practice of passing children through the fire to Molech, highlighting the abho…
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