Ezekiel 13: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Ezekiel 13 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the prophets of Israel who speak from their own hearts (vv. 2-3). These prophets are compared to foxes in waste places and are criticized for failing to protect Israel and prepare it for battle (vv. 4-5). They have misled the people with false claims of peace, leading to divine judgment announced by Yahweh (vv. 6-8). Yahweh declares that He will oppose these prophets, ensuring they will not belong to His people (vv. 9-10). The imagery of a wall plastered with whitewash illustrates the fragility of their false assurances (vv. 11-16). Ezekiel is then instructed to prophesy against deceitful women who exploit the vulnerable for personal gain (vv. 17-19). Yahweh promises to remove their deceptive practices, liberating His people from their influence (vv. 20-23).

Key verse

“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh.”
Ezekiel 13:8 (WEB)

Outline

Ezekiel 13:1–7 Condemnation of False Prophets
Ezekiel 13:8–16 Divine Judgment Announced
Ezekiel 13:17–23 Woe to Deceptive Practices

Discussion questions

What does God call the prophets in v3 who prophesy out of their own heart?
In v10, what is implied about the wall that is being built up?
In v19, why does God say the false prophets have profaned Him for ‘handfuls of barley’?
In v22, what does it mean that the false prophets ‘grieved the heart of the righteous’?
When have you encountered a situation where false assurances, like ‘peace’, were misleading?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Ezekiel 13: Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 22, Jeremiah 28.

Before next time: read Ezekiel 14.