American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Ezekiel 13
1
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say you to them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear you the word of the LORD;
Reference
3
Thus said the Lord GOD; Woe to the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 15:14
Prophecy
Lamentations 2:14
Ezekiel 34:2
References Lord
Jeremiah 23:1
Spirit
Hosea 9:7
4
O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Reference
Prophecy
Revelation 19:20
5
You 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 22:30
Isaiah 58:12
Psalm 106:23
Jeremiah 23:22
Revelation 6:17
Revelation 16:14
References Lord
Isaiah 13:9
Isaiah 13:6
2 Peter 3:10
Jeremiah 27:18
6
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD said: and the LORD has not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 37:19
Ezekiel 21:29
Zechariah 10:2
References Lord
Jeremiah 29:8
Jeremiah 28:15
Ezekiel 22:28
Jeremiah 14:14
7
Have you not seen a vain vision, and have you not spoken a lying divination, whereas you say, The LORD said it; albeit I have not spoken?
8
Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Because you have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, said the Lord GOD.
Reference
References God
Ezekiel 5:8
Ezekiel 26:3
Ezekiel 35:3
Ezekiel 28:22
References Lord
Ezekiel 21:3
Nahum 2:13
9
And my hand shall be on 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 you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 69:28
Daniel 12:1
References Israel
Ezra 2:59
References Lord
Psalm 87:6
Ezekiel 20:38
10
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, see, others daubed it with untempered mortar:
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 22:28
2 Kings 21:9
Peace
Ezekiel 13:16
Jeremiah 14:13
Jeremiah 6:14
Jeremiah 8:11
11
Say to them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
Reference
12
See, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said to you, Where is the daubing with which you have daubed it?
13
Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 148:8
References God
Revelation 11:19
Revelation 16:21
References Lord
Isaiah 30:30
14
So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the middle thereof: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Reference
15
Thus will I accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on them that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say to 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, said the Lord GOD.
Reference
17
Likewise, you son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy you against them,
Reference
18
And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs on the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive that come to you?
Reference
19
And will you 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?
Reference
20
Why thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you 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 you hunt to make them fly.
Reference
References God
Ezekiel 13:18
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 you shall know that I am the LORD.
22
Because with lies you 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:
Reference
23
Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 12:24
Micah 3:6
Revelation 12:11
Revelation 12:9
References Lord
Ezekiel 13:21
Zechariah 13:3
Ezekiel 34:10
Summary of Ezekiel 13
Ezekiel 13 confronts false prophets and deceptive spiritual leaders who reassure the people with messages that God has not given, comparing their comforting predictions to plaster placed over a weak wall, because their words create an appearance of security without addressing the deep spiritual corruption and injustice that have left Jerusalem vulnerable to judgment.
The chapter begins with God commanding Ezekiel to speak against the prophets who are following their own imagination rather than receiving God's word, exposing the danger of people who confidently present their personal ideas as divine revelation.
These prophets have failed in their fundamental responsibility because instead of confronting the nation's sin, warning the people about the coming consequences, and helping them return to God, they have given messages that make people feel safe when genuine danger is approaching.
The strongest image in the chapter is the comparison between their ministry and a weak wall covered with plaster.
The wall appears repaired from the outside, but underneath it remains structurally unsound.
In the same way, the false prophets cover Judah's spiritual problems with reassuring words about peace, security, and prosperity without dealing with the idolatry, violence, injustice, and rebellion that have weakened the nation.
When the storm comes, the wall collapses and the plaster is exposed as useless.
This imagery explains why false reassurance can be more dangerous than an openly hostile message: it prevents people from recognizing the danger they are actually facing.
The chapter then expands its criticism to women who claim prophetic or supernatural authority through practices involving magical bands and veils.
God condemns them because they are not simply mistaken; they are using spiritual claims to influence and manipulate other people, while presenting themselves as possessing knowledge and power that God has not given them.
Their deception has serious consequences because they discourage righteous people while encouraging those who are doing wrong, effectively reversing moral reality by giving confidence to people who should be warned and distress to people who should be encouraged.
The central concern throughout the chapter is therefore truth versus false reassurance.
God's true message may be difficult, uncomfortable, or frightening, but it has the purpose of bringing people into reality and confronting the consequences of their actions.
The false message may sound comforting, but it ultimately leaves people unprepared for what is coming.
The central message is that Ezekiel 13 condemns the false prophets and deceptive spiritual practitioners who claim to speak for God while actually following their own imagination, giving the people comforting assurances of peace when judgment is approaching and covering the nation's deep spiritual problems with reassuring words that are compared to plaster placed over a structurally weak wall, because when God's judgment arrives the false security will collapse and expose the emptiness of their claims, while the chapter also condemns those who use supposed supernatural authority for personal influence and gain, misleading people by discouraging the righteous and encouraging the wicked, so that Ezekiel's message emphasizes the serious responsibility of anyone who claims to speak for God and warns that false reassurance can be spiritually destructive because it prevents people from recognizing their wrongdoing, responding to God's warnings, and preparing themselves honestly for the consequences of their actions.
The chapter begins with God commanding Ezekiel to speak against the prophets who are following their own imagination rather than receiving God's word, exposing the danger of people who confidently present their personal ideas as divine revelation.
These prophets have failed in their fundamental responsibility because instead of confronting the nation's sin, warning the people about the coming consequences, and helping them return to God, they have given messages that make people feel safe when genuine danger is approaching.
The strongest image in the chapter is the comparison between their ministry and a weak wall covered with plaster.
The wall appears repaired from the outside, but underneath it remains structurally unsound.
In the same way, the false prophets cover Judah's spiritual problems with reassuring words about peace, security, and prosperity without dealing with the idolatry, violence, injustice, and rebellion that have weakened the nation.
When the storm comes, the wall collapses and the plaster is exposed as useless.
This imagery explains why false reassurance can be more dangerous than an openly hostile message: it prevents people from recognizing the danger they are actually facing.
The chapter then expands its criticism to women who claim prophetic or supernatural authority through practices involving magical bands and veils.
God condemns them because they are not simply mistaken; they are using spiritual claims to influence and manipulate other people, while presenting themselves as possessing knowledge and power that God has not given them.
Their deception has serious consequences because they discourage righteous people while encouraging those who are doing wrong, effectively reversing moral reality by giving confidence to people who should be warned and distress to people who should be encouraged.
The central concern throughout the chapter is therefore truth versus false reassurance.
God's true message may be difficult, uncomfortable, or frightening, but it has the purpose of bringing people into reality and confronting the consequences of their actions.
The false message may sound comforting, but it ultimately leaves people unprepared for what is coming.
The central message is that Ezekiel 13 condemns the false prophets and deceptive spiritual practitioners who claim to speak for God while actually following their own imagination, giving the people comforting assurances of peace when judgment is approaching and covering the nation's deep spiritual problems with reassuring words that are compared to plaster placed over a structurally weak wall, because when God's judgment arrives the false security will collapse and expose the emptiness of their claims, while the chapter also condemns those who use supposed supernatural authority for personal influence and gain, misleading people by discouraging the righteous and encouraging the wicked, so that Ezekiel's message emphasizes the serious responsibility of anyone who claims to speak for God and warns that false reassurance can be spiritually destructive because it prevents people from recognizing their wrongdoing, responding to God's warnings, and preparing themselves honestly for the consequences of their actions.