Ezekiel 13
World English Bible
WEB1Yahweh’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: 3The Lord Yahweh says, “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 the Lord Yahweh says: “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 the Lord Yahweh says: “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 I will 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 I will accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, nor 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, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils 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 the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls fly free, even the souls whom you ensnare like birds. 21I will also tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand; and they will no longer be in your hand to be ensnared. 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, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Ezekiel Chapter 13 addresses the issue of false prophets in Israel, highlighting God's disapproval of those who mislead His people. The chapter begins with a strong declaration from the Lord to Ezekiel, commanding him to prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are speaking out of their own imaginations rather than from the Spirit of God. These false prophets are described as those who have not been sent by God, yet they claim to speak on His behalf, leading the people astray with their deceptive visions and prophecies (#falseprophets). The Lord emphasizes that these prophets are like untempered mortar, providing no real strength or protection to the people, and their messages are empty and without substance (Ezekiel13:1-12).
The chapter continues with a stern warning about the consequences of their actions. God declares that He will be against these prophets, and they will face judgment for their misleading words. The Lord promises to remove their false visions and prophecies, exposing their lies and bringing them to shame (Ezekiel13:13-16). Furthermore, the chapter condemns the practices of those who sew magic charms and make veils for the people, which symbolize their reliance on superstitions rather than on the true power of God. The Lord asserts that He will not allow these practices to continue, as they undermine His authority and lead His people away from the truth (Ezekiel13:17-23).
In summary, Ezekiel 13 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of discernment in spiritual matters and the need for true prophetic voices that align with God's will. It calls believers to be vigilant against false teachings and to seek the truth found in God's Word, ensuring that they are not led astray by those who do not speak for Him.
Referenced by
- Jeremiah 6:14v10Jeremiah 6:14 criticizes false prophets who declare 'Peace, peace' when there is no peace, similar to Ezekiel 13:10, where false prophets are condemned for misleading the people with false assurances. Both passages highlight the danger of false prophecy and the false sense of security it brings.
- Jeremiah 8:11v10Jeremiah 8:11 criticizes the false prophets and priests for superficially healing the wounds of the people by proclaiming 'Peace, peace' when there is no peace. Ezekiel 13:10 similarly condemns false prophets for misleading the people with false assurances of peace.
- Jeremiah 14:14v6Jeremiah 14:14 warns against false prophets who speak lies in God's name, similar to Ezekiel 13:6, where false prophets are condemned for claiming false visions and divinations.
Topics in this chapter
- False Prophets
- Judgment
- Truth
- Deception
- Discernment
- Peace
- Foundation
- Prophet
- Accountability
- Covenant
- Ezekiel
- False Visions
- Leadership
- Prophecy
- Righteousness
- Art and Faith
- Babylonian Exile
- Christ
- Community
- Divination
- Divine Judgment
- Divine Warning
- Exploitation
- Faith
- Faithfulness
- False Assurance
- False Peace
- False Prophecy
- False Prophetesses
- Holiness
- Hypocrisy
- Integrity
- Israel
- Jerusalem
- Justice
- Moral Confusion
- Prophetic Imagery
- Prophetic Vision
- Scripture
- Shalom
- Spiritual Warfare
- Temple
- True Prophecy
- Truth Prevails
- Truth Revealed
- Truth vs. Deception
- Untempered Mortar
- Vigilance
- Vision
- Whitewashed Walls
- Wickedness
- Women Prophets
Related chapters
- Jeremiah 23False ProphecyFalse ProphetsDeception
- Jeremiah 6False PeaceFalse ProphecyDeception
- Matthew 7HypocrisyFoundationFalse Prophets
- Jeremiah 8False ProphetsDeceptionShalom
- Micah 3False ProphetsDeception
- Jeremiah 27False AssuranceTrue ProphecyProphetic Imagery
- Jeremiah 14False ProphecyFalse ProphetsDeception
- Jeremiah 28True ProphecyProphetic ImageryFalse Prophecy
- Matthew 23Hypocrisy
- Deuteronomy 18DivinationFalse Prophets
- 2 Peter 2False ProphetsArt and FaithDeception
- 1 Kings 22True ProphecyFalse ProphetsVision
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