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Ezekiel, 13

1. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

1. The word of Yahweh came to me again,

2. Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

2. "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, against those who prophesy on their own initiative. Say: Hear the word of Yahweh!

3. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

3. This is what Yahweh says: Woe to the senseless prophets who follow their own inspiration without having seen anything!

4. O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

4. Your prophets, Israel, are like foxes among the ruins!

5. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

5. They have not gone up to the breaches nor have they built a wall around Israel so that she may hold out in battle on the day of Yahweh.

6. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the word.

6. Their discourse is trickery and lies; they say: word of Yahweh when Yahweh has not sent them and yet they wait for him to fulfill their word.

7. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith [it]; albeit I have not spoken?

7. Is it not a false vision you have seen? Have you not uttered lying divinations? You say: oracle of Yahweh when I have not spoken.

8. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I [am] against you, saith the Lord GOD.

8. But this is what Yahweh says: Because of your false and lying revelations I will oppose you, word of Yahweh.

9. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

9. My hand will strike the prophets whose revelations are delusions, whose predictions are lies. They will not be accepted among my people's assembly nor will they be inscribed in the register of the nation of Israel. They will not reenter the land of Israel - and you will know that I am Yahweh.

10. Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and [there was] no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered [morter]:

10. These prophets have misled my people saying 'Peace!' when there is no peace. The people are building a wall and these prophets daub it with whitewash;

11. Say unto them which daub [it] with untempered [morter], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend [it].

11. but say to those who daub it with whitewash: The wall will fall. I will send torrential rain, huge hailstones and stormy winds, and see:

12. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where [is] the daubing wherewith ye have daubed [it]?

12. the wall will fall! Will they not say to you: Where is the whitewash with which you daubed it?"

13. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend [it] with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in [my] fury to consume [it].

13. That is why Yahweh speaks thus: In my fury I will make a violent wind break out and in my anger I will send a torrential downpour, and my wrath will hurl destructive hailstones.

14. So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [morter], and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

14. I will destroy the wall you daubed with whitewash; I will level it to the ground and its foundation will be laid bare. It will fall and beneath it you will be utterly destroyed and you will know that I am Yahweh.

15. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered [morter], and will say unto you, The wall [is] no [more], neither they that daubed it;

15. I will exhaust my anger against the wall and against those who daubed it with whitewash. Then they will say to you: Where is the wall and where are those who whitewashed it,

16. [To wit], the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and [there is] no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

16. the prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and who had visions of peace when there was no peace?"

17. Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

17. Yahweh then said to me, "As for you, son of man, turn towards the women of your people who prophesy on their own initiative, and prophesy against them.

18. And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the [women] that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive [that come] unto you?

18. You will say: Woe to those who make magic bands for all wrists and veils for every size of head - those women who ensnare souls!

19. And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?

19. For the Lord Yahweh says: You who ensnare the lives of my people, will you preserve your own? You have dishonored me among my people for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. Because of you, people die who should not die, and people live who should not live. For my people listen to you and your lies."

20. Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, [even] the souls that ye hunt to make [them] fly.

20. That is why Yahweh speaks, "I hate the wrist bands with which you ensnare souls like birds.

21. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

21. I will tear your veils and free my people from your hands. No more will they fall into your hands and you will know that I am Yahweh.

22. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

22. You have disheartened with lies the righteous whom I would never dishearten, and you have strengthened the wicked, that he might not turn away from his evil ways and so save his life.

23. Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

23. Because of that I will no longer let you have false visions or practice divinations. I will free my people from your clutches and you will know that I am Yahweh."



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Footnotes:

13:1-7 - The prophet denounces Israel's false prophets, who speak deceptive words and do not have the true word of God. These prophets cause spiritual harm to the people, leading them to destruction (see also Jeremiah 23:16 and Matthew 7:15-20).

13:8-16 - The Lord declares that false prophets will be judged for their lies and deception, and their works will not prosper. This judgment reflects God's holiness and His requirement for faithfulness (see also Jeremiah 14:14 and 2 Peter 2:1-3).

13:17-23 - God also condemns women who practice witchcraft and deceive people with false visions. The sin of divination and witchcraft is seen as a form of idolatry and rebellion against God (see also Leviticus 19:26 and Galatians 5:19-21).

Verses related to Ezekiel, 13:

Ezekiel chapter 13 denounces the false prophets of Israel. What accusations does God make against these deceivers? This incisive text condemns those who prophesy through their own inspiration, offering false hope to the people. The chapter criticizes both the prophets and the prophetesses who lead God's people astray, promising peace when there is no peace. The severity of the divine judgment upon them reflects the seriousness of their offense. Consider with us five biblical passages that illuminate the dangers of false teaching presented in this crucial chapter.

Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." - Jesus warns against false prophets, a central theme in Ezekiel 13.

2 Peter 2:1: "In the past false prophets arose among the people, just as false teachers will also arise among you. These will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign who rescued them, bringing sudden destruction upon themselves." - Peter warns about false teachers, echoing Ezekiel 13's warnings against false prophets.

Jeremiah 23:16: "This is what the Lord of hosts says: 'Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill them with false hopes. They speak of visions they have imagined, and not from the mouth of the Lord.'" - Jeremiah, like Ezekiel, warns against prophets who speak falsely in the name of God.

1 John 4:1: "Beloved, do not believe in any spirit, but examine the spirits to see whether they come from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." - John encourages discernment against false prophets, a theme also present in Ezekiel 13.

James 1:6-8: "But ask in faith, without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let such a person not think that he will receive anything from the Lord; is someone who has a divided mind and is unstable in everything he does." - James describes the instability of those without true faith, similar to the description of false prophets in Ezekiel 13:6-7.

FAQ:

What does God say about false prophets in Ezekiel 13?

God condemns the false prophets of Israel who deceive the people by proclaiming false hopes, and curses them with divine judgment. (Ezekiel 13:1-16)

What does the "wall" built by the false prophets in Ezekiel 13 mean?

The wall that false prophets build symbolizes their false preaching, which cannot withstand God's judgment. (Ezekiel 13:10-15)

How does God condemn women who practice witchcraft in Ezekiel 13?

God condemns them for deceiving the souls of the people with enchantments and sorceries, leading them to destruction. (Ezekiel 13:17-23)

What does the vision of "evils to come" symbolize in Ezekiel 13?

The vision of evils coming with the wind symbolizes God's judgment that will fall on false prophets and their followers. (Ezekiel 13:11-12)

How is false hope dealt with in Ezekiel 13?

God denounces the false promises of salvation made by false prophets, warning that judgment will come for all. (Ezekiel 13:19)


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