Ezekiel Chapter 13 — Condemnation of False Prophets
God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against false prophets and prophetesses who mislead Israel with lies and false promises of peace.
1The LORD’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 the LORD’s word:
3The Lord GOD 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 the LORD’s day.
6They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘The LORD says;’ but the LORD 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, ‘The LORD says;’ but I have not spoken?”
8“ ‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord GOD.
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 GOD.”
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 GOD 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 the LORD.
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 GOD.’ ”
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 GOD 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 GOD 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 the LORD.
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 the LORD.’ ”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezekiel 13:10
“Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, ‘Peace;’ and there is no peace.”
This verse highlights the central theme of the chapter: the danger of false leaders providing empty comfort during a time of crisis.
Ezekiel 13:11
“Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall.”
God uses the metaphor of a whitewashed wall to show that superficial appearances cannot withstand His judgment.
Chapter Summary
In Ezekiel Chapter 13, the Lord directs Ezekiel to speak out against the false prophets of Israel who claim to speak for God but follow their own spirits. God compares these deceptive leaders to foxes in ruins and accuses them of failing to protect or repair the house of Israel. He specifically highlights their false promises of peace, likening their deceptive words to whitewash applied to a poorly built wall. God declares that He will send a storm of wrath—hailstones and wind—to knock down this wall, revealing its weak foundation. The chapter then shifts focus to false prophetesses who use magic bands and veils to exploit and manipulate the people for profit. God promises to tear away these charms and deliver His people from their influence, ensuring that the righteous are no longer grieved by lies and the wicked no longer encouraged in their ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
The whitewashed wall represents the false messages of peace given by deceptive prophets. While the wall looks sturdy on the outside, it is built poorly; God uses this metaphor to show that false security will collapse when the storm of His judgment arrives.
The 'daughters' refers to false prophetesses in Israel who practiced divination and used magic charms to exploit the people. Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against them because they manipulated others for personal gain and spread lies.
God compares the false prophets to 'foxes in the waste places' because they scavenged for their own benefit among the ruins of Israel. Instead of helping to rebuild the nation's spiritual 'walls' or standing in the gaps, they only looked for what they could take for themselves.
Study Note
The 'magic bands' and 'veils' mentioned in the latter half of the chapter likely refer to specific occult tools or ritualistic garments used in ancient Near Eastern folk magic.
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