1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
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 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
The thirteenth chapter of the book of Ezekiel is a compelling passage that serves as a strong critique against false prophets and prophetesses, who are misleading the people of Israel with their deceitful visions and predictions. This chapter is a powerful testament to God’s disdain for false prophecy and the subsequent punishments that follow for those who engage in such deceptive practices. The main themes of this chapter include divine judgment, idolatry, false prophecy, and God’s fidelity to His covenant.
The chapter begins with God commanding Ezekiel to prophesy against the false prophets of Israel, who are misleading the people with their false visions and divinations. They are described as "foolish prophets" who follow their own spirits and have seen nothing. This strong denouncement of false prophets is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, as God continually reinforces His authority and the importance of true prophecy. The false prophets are accused of being like jackals among ruins, causing more destruction rather than helping to rebuild.
Ezekiel is told to speak against these false prophets who say, "Thus says the Lord,' when the Lord has not spoken". This is a direct violation of the Third Commandment, which prohibits taking the Lord’s name in vain. This also underscores the gravity of the offense, as these false prophets are not only misleading the people but also misrepresenting God Himself.
The chapter further elaborates on the divine judgment that will befall these false prophets. Their false visions are compared to whitewashing or plastering a flimsy wall, which will inevitably fall. When it does, it will be asked, "Where is the whitewash you daubed on it?" This metaphor serves to illustrate the transient and deceptive nature of the false prophets' promises and the eventual exposure of their deceit.
God's wrath is described in vivid terms as an overflowing rain, great hailstones, and a stormy wind that will break down the wall. This wrath is not arbitrary or capricious, but a response to the false prophets' actions, which have led the people astray and caused them to trust in lies. The destruction of the wall signifies the collapse of the false prophets' influence and the exposure of their falsehoods.
The latter part of the chapter shifts its focus to the false prophetesses, who are also leading the people of Israel astray with their magic charms and veils. They are accused of ensnaring the souls of the people for their own gain, while profaning God amongst His people. The prophetesses' actions are depicted as particularly egregious, as they exploit the vulnerable and kill those who should not die, while sparing those who should not live.
Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against these women and declare God's judgment upon them. They will be punished by having their magic charms torn from their arms and their veils ripped away, exposing them and freeing the people they have ensnared. This punishment is not only a response to their deceit, but also a means of restoring the people's relationship with God.
Despite the bleak picture painted by the false prophets and prophetesses' actions, the chapter concludes on a hopeful note. God promises that He will put an end to false prophecy and divination in Israel and will deliver His people from their influence. This reaffirms God’s fidelity to His covenant and His commitment to guide and protect His people. It is a reminder that even in the face of falsehood and deceit, God's truth will prevail.
In conclusion, Ezekiel Chapter 13 serves as a powerful indictment against false prophecy and a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His people. It underscores the importance of discerning truth from falsehood, and the dire consequences that follow when God's name is misused and His people are misled. The chapter reminds us of the transient nature of falsehood and the enduring power of God's truth.
Share this page