Ezekiel 13
Ezekiel 13 is composed of God rebuking false prophets and false prophetesses through the prophet Ezekiel. This chapter can mainly be divided into two parts: verses 1 through 16 mention male false prophets, and verses 17 through 23 mention female false prophetesses. Overall, during the time of the Babylonian exile, it deals with a situation in which those who claim that they are delivering words truly given by God are in fact speaking what arises from their own hearts, thereby leading the people astray.
1verseThe LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2verse“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:
3verseThe Lord GOD says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4verseIsrael, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
5verseYou 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.
6verseThey 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.
7verseHaven’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?”
8verse“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord GOD.
9verse“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.”
10verse“‘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.
11verseTell 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.
12verseBehold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?”
13verse“‘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.
14verseSo 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.
15verseThus 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—
16verseto 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.’”
17verseYou, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,
18verseand 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?
19verseYou 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.’
20verse“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.
21verseI 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.
22verseBecause 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.
23verseTherefore 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.’”
Main Flow and Overall Meaning
- Judgment on false prophecy (verses 1–16): In the opening of the passage, God strongly rebukes those who mislead the people with words that come from 'their own hearts,' not from His Spirit. In circumstances that are not peaceful, they cry out, 'Peace,' and they deceive the people into a false sense of security by pretending that what is broken is solid.
- Warning to female false prophetesses (verses 17–23): God then speaks to the female prophetesses as well. They appear to have pursued their own interests through sorcery, superstition, and idolatrous practices, and they caused confusion such as killing innocent people and keeping guilty people alive.
Overall, this chapter emphasizes the harm caused by 'false spiritual leaders,' God's serious accountability toward them, and the importance of listening and living according to God's will.
Meditation Points
- Let me reflect on what my standard for faith and life is, and whether it is truly based on God's Word.
- Think about what criteria can distinguish a true leader from a false one.
- Check whether I might be, toward others, speaking out ungrounded certainty or words meant to comfort them without basis.
Apply to Myself
- When I seek to hear God's will in my life, I renew my attitude of discerning based on the Word, not on my wishes or emotions.
- When I influence people around me, I examine whether my words are true and responsible, and whether I might be misleading someone with false certainty.
- Every day, I stand humbly before God's truth, build spiritual discernment, and practice living in which we share God's true Word together within the community.
