Ezekiel uniquely condemns prophets who "prophesy out of their own heart" using the architectural metaphor of whitewashing flimsy walls—imagery that transforms construction fraud into spiritual deception.
Ezekiel 13
Against False Prophets
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.’”
Against False Prophetesses
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.’”
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Theme
God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against false prophets and prophetesses who speak from their own hearts rather than divine revelation. These deceptive leaders have misled Israel with promises of peace when judgment is coming, compared to builders who cover a weak wall with whitewash that will not withstand God's storm. The chapter condemns both male prophets who give false hope and female practitioners who use magic and divination to manipulate people's souls for personal gain.
Context
Following chapters condemning Israel's leaders and elders, this chapter specifically targets religious deception before moving to individual responsibility in chapter 14.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Commission Against False Prophets God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.
- 4-9 Condemnation of Lying Prophets False prophets are like foxes in waste places, speaking lies while claiming divine authority, facing exclusion from Israel.
- 10-16 The Whitewashed Wall Metaphor False prophets who promise peace are like those who cover a weak wall with whitewash that God's storm will destroy.
- 17-23 Judgment on False Prophetesses God condemns women who practice magic and divination, manipulating souls for profit while perverting justice.
Against False Prophets
13:1–13:16 prophecy wrathful
God condemns false prophets who speak from their own hearts rather than divine revelation, promising judgment upon them. The passage uses the metaphor of whitewashing a weak wall to illustrate how false prophets give empty assurances of peace.
person_contrast
Ezekiel uniquely condemns prophets who "prophesy out of their own heart" using the architectural metaphor of whitewashing flimsy walls—imagery that transforms construction fraud into spiritual deception.
Against False Prophetesses
13:17–13:23 prophecy wrathful
God pronounces judgment against false prophetesses who practice magic and divination, deceiving people for personal gain. He promises to tear away their magical implements and deliver His people from their deceptive practices.
person_contrast
Ezekiel uniquely targets female practitioners of magic here, using the rare Hebrew term "kesatot" (magic bands) found nowhere else in Scripture, highlighting gender-specific occult practices in ancient Israel.
Insights
Ezekiel uniquely targets female practitioners of magic here, using the rare Hebrew term "kesatot" (magic bands) found nowhere else in Scripture, highlighting gender-specific occult practices in ancient Israel.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Ezekiel 13:3 1 reference
Ezekiel 13:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 22:30 Lexical
“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not…
Isaiah 58:12 Lexical
Those who will be of you will build the old waste places. You will raise up the foundations of many generations. You wil…
Amos 9:11 Lexical
In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, an…
Ezekiel 13:6 1 reference
Ezekiel 13:7 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
Numbers 24:4 Lexical
he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
Numbers 24:16 Lexical
he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, fall…
Ezekiel 12:24 Lexical
For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 13:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
Ezekiel 36:6 Lexical
Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains, the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, ‘…
Ezekiel 22:19 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the middle of…
Ezekiel 16:43 Lexical
“‘“Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, beh…
Ezekiel 15:8 Lexical
I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 13:9 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
Amos 3:7 Lexical
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
Zechariah 10:2 Lexical
For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in…
Lamentations 2:14 Lexical
Your prophets have seen false and foolish visions for you. They have not uncovered your iniquity, to reverse your captiv…
Ezekiel 13:10 1 reference
Ezekiel 13:11 2 references
Ezekiel 13:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 38:22 Lexical
I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. I will rain on him, on his hordes, and on the many p…
Ezekiel 38:18 Lexical
It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that my wrath will come up i…
Jeremiah 7:20 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man, on animal, on the…
Ezekiel 25:14 Lexical
I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will do in Edom according to my anger and accordin…
Zechariah 9:14 Lexical
The LORD will be seen over them. His arrow will flash like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and will go wi…
Ezekiel 13:14 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 30:4 Lexical
A sword will come on Egypt, and anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt. They take away her multitude,…
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
1 Kings 6:27 Lexical
He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one to…
Ezekiel 13:15 1 reference
Ezekiel 13:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
Ezekiel 38:17 Lexical
“‘The Lord GOD says: “Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in th…
Ezekiel 12:27 Lexical
“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesi…
Jeremiah 14:13 Lexical
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets tell them, ‘You will not see the sword, neither will you have famine; b…
Jeremiah 23:16 Lexical
The LORD of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They spe…
Ezekiel 13:18 2 references
Ezekiel 13:20 1 reference
Ezekiel 13:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 23:14 Lexical
In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen t…
Exodus 23:7 Lexical
“Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.
Proverbs 13:5 Lexical
A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Ezekiel 3:21 Lexical
Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he will surely live, becaus…
Ezekiel 33:15 Lexical
if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had taken by robbery, walk in the statutes of life, committin…
Ezekiel 13:23 4 references
Lexicals 4
Zechariah 10:2 Lexical
For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in…
Ezekiel 22:28 Lexical
Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord…
2 Kings 17:17 Lexical
They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselv…
Deuteronomy 18:10 Lexical
There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divina…
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