ScriptureDepth's study of Ezekiel 13
“‘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
Yahweh speaks to the false prophets of Israel, declaring His opposition to them for their falsehoods, which establishes His judgment against their deceptive prophecies.
What Ezekiel 13 is about
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).
Yahweh declares that His people will no longer be misled by false prophecies or deceptive practices.
Ezekiel 13 at a glance
- Ezekiel 13:1–7Condemnation of False Prophets
- Ezekiel 13:8–16Divine Judgment Announced
- Ezekiel 13:17–23Woe to Deceptive Practices
Key verse: Ezekiel 13:8
One thing to notice
Verses 17-23 mention the 'daughters of your people' who prophesy from their own hearts. This addresses a specific group of false prophets and describes their deceptive practices, which seek profit at the expense of the souls of the people.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Ezekiel 13 (WEB)
Condemnation of False Prophets Ezekiel 13:1–7
1Verse 1. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2Verse 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: 3Verse 3. Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4Verse 4. Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places. 5Verse 5. You 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. 6Verse 6. They 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.
7Verse 7. Haven’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?”
Divine Judgment Announced Ezekiel 13:8–16
8Verse 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. 9Verse 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” 10Verse 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.
11Verse 11. Tell 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. 12Verse 12. Behold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?” 13Verse 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. 14Verse 14. So 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.
15Verse 15. Thus 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; 16Verse 16. to 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.’”
Woe to Deceptive Practices Ezekiel 13:17–23
17Verse 17. You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them, 18Verse 18. and 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? 19Verse 19. You 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.’
20Verse 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. 21Verse 21. I 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. 22Verse 22. Because 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.
23Verse 23. Therefore 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)
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Main themes in Ezekiel 13
False Prophecy
In verses 2-7, Ezekiel delivers a strong condemnation against the prophets of Israel, calling them 'foolish' for prophesying out of their own hearts. These prophets have 'seen nothing' and have misled the people by claiming that 'Yahweh says' when He has not spoken. The text portrays these false prophets as irresponsible and deceptive, failing to provide true guidance during a time of crisis.
Divine Judgment
Verses 8-16 reveal God's decisive judgment against the false prophets, declaring, 'My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions.' God announces that He will dismantle the wall they have built with 'whitewash,' emphasizing that it will not withstand His wrath. He proclaims that the consequences of their actions will lead to their exclusion from the community of Israel, making it clear that judgment will fall upon them.
Truth vs. Deception
In verses 17-23, Ezekiel addresses the deceptive practices of women who prophesy lies, stating, 'Woe to the women who sew pillows.' Their actions involve misleading the people for personal gain, thus profaning God. God condemns these practices, promising to expose their falsehoods and deliver His people from their grasp, asserting that the people will recognize Him as Yahweh.
Accountability
In this chapter, accountability is evident as God speaks against the false prophets in verses 19-20. They have 'grieved the heart of the righteous' and have led others astray, resulting in dire consequences for their actions. God declares that He will take decisive action against these false prophets, stating, 'I will deliver my people out of your hand,' emphasizing that they will be held responsible for their misleading words.
Chapter outline
How Ezekiel 13 unfolds
Ezekiel 13:1–7 Condemnation of False Prophets
Yahweh commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the 'foolish prophets' of Israel for following 'their own spirit' and for failing to 'stand in the battle in Yahweh’s day' (vv. 2-5). These prophets are condemned for promoting falsehood and misleading the people.
Ezekiel 13:8–16 Divine Judgment Announced
Yahweh declares judgment on those who speak lies and false visions (vv. 8-9). He compares their deceit to a weak wall that will ultimately collapse under His wrath, ensuring that the false security they provide will be destroyed (vv. 10-16).
Ezekiel 13:17–23 Woe to Deceptive Practices
Ezekiel is instructed to confront the women who deceive the people with false hopes (vv. 17-18). Yahweh promises to free His people from their manipulative grasp and to put an end to their misleading practices (vv. 20-23).
Key verses
Ezekiel 13:8Yahweh speaks to the false prophets of Israel, declaring His opposition to them for their falsehoods, which establishes His judgment against their deceptive prophecies.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Ezekiel 13
- observeWhat does God call the prophets in v3 who prophesy out of their own heart?
- observeIn v10, what is implied about the wall that is being built up?
- interpretIn v19, why does God say the false prophets have profaned Him for ‘handfuls of barley’?
- interpretIn v22, what does it mean that the false prophets ‘grieved the heart of the righteous’?
- applyWhen have you encountered a situation where false assurances, like ‘peace’, were misleading?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Ezekiel 13
- Jeremiah 23Ezekiel 13:3 and Jeremiah 23:1Both declare woe: Ezekiel 13:3 says, 'Woe to the foolish prophets,' while Jeremiah 23:1 states, 'Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep.'
- Ezekiel 22Ezekiel 13:5 and Ezekiel 22:30Both call for defense: Ezekiel 13:5 says, 'You have not gone up into the gaps,' while Ezekiel 22:30 states, 'I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall.'
- Jeremiah 28Ezekiel 13:2 and Jeremiah 28:15Both reject false prophets: Ezekiel 13:2 says, 'Prophesy against the prophets of Israel,' while Jeremiah 28:15 states, 'Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.'
- Jeremiah 14Ezekiel 13:6 and Jeremiah 14:14Both denounce lies: Ezekiel 13:6 states, 'They have seen falsehood,' while Jeremiah 14:14 says, 'The prophets prophesy lies in my name.'
- Jeremiah 6Ezekiel 13:10 and Jeremiah 6:14Both address false peace: Ezekiel 13:10 says, 'They have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;”' while Jeremiah 6:14 states, 'They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, “Peace, peace!”'.
- Matthew 7Ezekiel 13:10 and Matthew 7:27Both describe collapse: Ezekiel 13:10 states, 'When one builds up a wall,' while Matthew 7:27 says, 'The rain came down, the floods came...and it fell.'
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