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Ezekiel 13

Read Ezekiel 13 (WEB)+

1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: 3Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places. 5You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in Yahweh’s day. 6They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but Yahweh has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed. 7Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but I have not spoken?” 8“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh. 9“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither will they enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh” 10“‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash. 11Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, will fall. A stormy wind will tear it. 12Behold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?” 13“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. 14So will I break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 15Thus will I accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, neither those who plastered it; 16to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord Yahweh.’” 17You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them, 18and say, “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves? 19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’ 20“Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls go, even the souls whom you hunt to make them fly. 21I will also tear your kerchiefs, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they will be no more in your hand to be hunted. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 22Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive. 23Therefore you shall no more see false visions, nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”

World English Bible (public domain)

Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.'

Ezekiel 13:8

Summary

Ezekiel 13 addresses the false prophets of Israel, who have misled the people with deceptive visions and false divinations. God condemns these prophets for proclaiming messages from their own hearts rather than from Him. Their prophecies are compared to whitewashed walls, which appear sturdy but are unstable, symbolizing the false sense of security they provide to the people. Furthermore, God denounces the women who practice magic and ensnare lives through deceptive means. The chapter underscores the theme of accountability, as God promises to expose these fraudulent leaders and their practices, ensuring they will not be found in the records of Israel. The theological significance lies in emphasizing the importance of authenticity in prophecy and the dire consequences of misleading God's people. It serves as a warning against trusting false assurances and highlights God's desire for truth and integrity.

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Chapter outline

How Ezekiel 13 unfolds

  1. Ezekiel 13:1–7 Condemnation of False Prophets

    Yahweh commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the false prophets of Israel, who mislead the people with deceptive visions and empty promises.

  2. Ezekiel 13:8–16 Divine Judgment Announced

    God declares His judgment against these prophets, indicating they will not be part of His people and will face dire consequences for their lies.

  3. Ezekiel 13:17–23 Woe to Deceptive Practices

    Ezekiel is instructed to confront women who use charms and lies to deceive the people, highlighting their exploitation of vulnerable souls.

Key verses

  • Ezekiel 13:8Ezekiel 13:8 captures the essence of the chapter, highlighting God's direct opposition to falsehoods spoken in His name.

Main themes in Ezekiel 13

False Prophecy

False prophecy is a central theme as Ezekiel condemns prophets for speaking from their own hearts in verses 2-7. The chapter illustrates how their deceptive messages mislead the people and create a false sense of security. This theme underscores the need for genuine divine guidance and the dangers inherent in failing to discern true prophecy.

Divine Judgment

Divine judgment is pronounced against the false prophets in verses 8-16, where God vows to oppose them for their deceptions. The text elaborates on the consequences of their actions, showing that their misleading prophecies will lead to their exclusion from the community of Israel. This theme emphasizes God's commitment to justice and the seriousness of misleading His people.

Truth vs. Deception

The theme of truth versus deception is woven throughout, particularly in God's declaration against false visions in verses 8-23. The juxtaposition highlights the critical need for truth in spiritual leadership and the destructive nature of lies. In this chapter, the emphasis on truth serves as a reminder of God's desire for integrity among His people.

Accountability

Accountability is evident in God's promise to hold the false prophets responsible for their actions, as seen in verses 8-23. The text illustrates that these leaders will face consequences for their misleading teachings, ensuring they cannot escape judgment. This theme reinforces the notion that spiritual leaders are accountable for their influence on others.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Ezekiel 13

Study questions

Questions for studying Ezekiel 13

  1. Who are the main figures condemned in this chapter?
  2. What metaphor is used to describe the false security of the prophets' messages?
  3. How does God plan to expose the false prophets' lies?
  4. What practices are attributed to the women mentioned in verses 17-23?
  5. What does the term 'whitewashed wall' symbolize in this context?
  6. How does accountability play a role in God's judgment of the prophets?

Ezekiel 13: frequently asked questions

What is Ezekiel 13 about?+
Ezekiel 13 addresses the false prophets of Israel, who have misled the people with deceptive visions and false divinations. God condemns these prophets for proclaiming messages from their own hearts rather than from Him. Their prophecies are compared to whitewashed walls, which appear sturdy but are unstable, symbolizing the false sense of security they provide to the people. Furthermore, God denounces the women who practice magic and ensnare lives through deceptive means. The chapter underscores the theme of accountability, as God promises to expose these fraudulent leaders and their practices, ensuring they will not be found in the records of Israel. The theological significance lies in emphasizing the importance of authenticity in prophecy and the dire consequences of misleading God's people. It serves as a warning against trusting false assurances and highlights God's desire for truth and integrity.
What is the key verse in Ezekiel 13?+
Ezekiel 13:8: "“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh."
What are the main themes of Ezekiel 13?+
The main themes of Ezekiel 13 are False Prophecy, Divine Judgment, Truth vs. Deception, Accountability.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Ezekiel 13

Study Notes