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Ezekiel, 13

1. The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,

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

2. 'Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel; prophesy, and say to those who make up prophecies out of their own heads, "Hear what Yahweh says:

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;

3. The Lord Yahweh says this: Disaster is in store for the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

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

4. Your prophets, Israel, are like ruin-haunting jackals!

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

5. "You have not ventured into the breach; you have not built up the wall round the House of Israel, to hold fast in battle on the Day of Yahweh.

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.

6. Theirs are futile visions and false predictions, who say: A prophecy from Yahweh, when Yahweh has not sent them; yet they expect their words to come true.

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.

7. Have not the visions you see been futile, have not the predictions you make been false, although you say: A prophecy of Yahweh, when I have not spoken?

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?

8. "Very well, the Lord Yahweh says this: Because of your futile words and false predictions, I am now against you -- declares Lord Yahweh.

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.

9. My hand will be against the prophets who have futile visions and give false predictions; they will not be admitted to the council of my people, their names will not be entered in the roll of the House of Israel, they will not set foot on the soil of Israel; and they will know that I am the Lord 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.

10. This is because they have misled my people by saying Peace! when there is no peace. When my people were repairing a wall, these men came and plastered it over!

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]:

11. Tell these plasterers: It will rain hard, it will hail, it will blow a gale,

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].

12. and down will come the wall! Will not people ask you: What has become of the plaster you slapped on it?

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

13. Well then, the Lord Yahweh says this: I am going to unleash a stormy wind in my fury, torrential rain in my anger, hailstones in my destructive fury,

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].

14. and I shall shatter the wall you plastered and knock it down and lay its foundations bare. It will fall and you will perish under it; then you will know that I am Yahweh."

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.

15. 'When I have sated my anger on the wall and those who plastered it, I shall say to you, "The wall is gone, and so are those who plastered over it,

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;

16. the prophets of Israel who prophesy about Jerusalem and have visions of peace for her when there is no peace -- declares the Lord Yahweh."

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.

17. 'Also, son of man, turn to the women of your people who make up prophecies out of their own heads; prophesy against them.

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,

18. Say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: Disaster is in store for women who sew ribbons round each wrist and make head-cloths for people of all sizes, in their hunt for souls! Are you to hunt the souls of my people and keep your own souls safe?

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?

19. You dishonour me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley, a few bits of bread, killing those who ought not to die and sparing those who ought not to live, lying to my people who love listening to lies.

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?

20. "Very well, the Lord Yahweh says this: Look, I am now against your ribbons, with which you hunt souls like birds, and I shall tear them off your arms and free those souls whom you hunt like birds.

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.

21. I shall tear your head-cloths to pieces and rescue my people from your clutches; no longer will they be fair game for you to ensnare. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

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.

22. "For having intimidated with lies the heart of the upright whom I had done nothing to alarm, and for having encouraged the wicked not to give up wicked ways and so be saved,

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:

23. very well, you will have no more futile visions and make no more predictions, for I shall rescue my people from your clutches, and you will know that I am Yahweh." '

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.



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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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