Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
6They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
9My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
11tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.
13Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury.
14I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
15And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it—
18and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?
19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.
20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds.
21I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
22Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,
23therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
Ezekiel 13 is a stern indictment against false prophets in Israel who speak from their own hearts rather than from God's Word. The Lord confronts both male prophets (verses 1-16) and prophetesses (verses 17-23) who deceive the people with visions of false peace and comfort when judgment is coming. This chapter emphasizes that true prophecy must come from God alone, and those who presume to speak for Him without His commission face His judgment. The imagery is vivid and powerful: false prophets are like foxes that fail to protect the flock, and their deceptive words are like a flimsy wall built with untempered mortar that will inevitably collapse.
God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the prophets of Israel—a direct confrontation with those who claim to speak God's word but do not. The Lord describes them as "foolish prophets" who follow their own spirit and have "seen nothing" (verse 3). This is the core problem: they operate out of personal inclination and imagination rather than divine revelation. The image of foxes in the desert (verse 4) suggests cunning destructiveness; these prophets are like scavengers that prowl and harm rather than shepherd. Verse 5 captures their greatest failure: they have not "gone up into the gaps" or "made up the hedge" for God's house. In biblical terms, a prophet's role was to stand in the breach—to intercede, warn of danger, and strengthen God's people for spiritual battle. Instead, these false prophets abandon their post entirely.
The Lord identifies the specific sin: these prophets speak "vanity and lying divination" while claiming divine authority ("The LORD saith," verse 6). They give false hope, making people believe a word that God never spoke. This is spiritual malpractice of the gravest sort—it leads the vulnerable astray and prevents them from repenting. God's response is clear: "I am against you" (verse 8). The consequences are severe (verse 9): they will be excluded from God's assembly, their names will be struck from Israel's register, and they will be barred from entering the promised land. To "know that I am the Lord" appears repeatedly throughout Ezekiel—judgment itself becomes a means of revelation, forcing both the false prophets and the watching nation to recognize God's true authority.
This extended metaphor describes the false prophets' deception as a hastily built wall with crumbling mortar. They cry "Peace" when there is no peace (verse 10)—a refusal to warn Israel of coming judgment. When God's judgment comes like rain, hail, and wind (verses 11, 13), this insubstantial wall will collapse completely (verse 14). The false prophets will be exposed and consumed along with their own lies. Verse 16 clarifies the specific target: prophets who "see visions of peace for" Jerusalem when no peace exists. Comfort without truth is cruel; hope without reality is damnation.
False prophetesses use magical apparatus—pillows and kerchiefs—to "hunt souls" (verses 18, 20). They profit from people's desperation, accepting payment ("handfuls of barley and pieces of bread," verse 19) while pronouncing false verdicts that contradict God's will. They doom those who should live and spare those who should die. Their lies make "the heart of the righteous sad" and strengthen the wicked in their rebellion (verse 22). God promises to tear away their instruments and deliver His people from their grasp (verses 20-21).
Application for Today
This chapter warns us against spiritual manipulation and false comfort. Today's false prophets may not use ancient divination tools, but they operate on the same principle: speaking smooth things people want to hear rather than God's hard truth. We must test all spiritual teaching against Scripture, demand accountability from leaders, and remember that true prophecy always aligns with God's written Word and His character. The best defense against deception is deep familiarity with the Bible itself.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 13
5 sectionsEzekiel 13 is a stern indictment against false prophets in Israel who speak from their own hearts rather than from God's Word. The Lord confronts both male prophets (verses 1-16) and prophetesses (verses 17-23) who deceive the people with visions of false peace and comfort when judgment is coming. This chapter emphasizes that true prophecy must come from God alone, and those who presume to speak for Him without His commission face His judgment. The imagery is vivid and powerful: false prophets are like foxes that fail to protect the flock, and their deceptive words are like a flimsy wall built with untempered mortar that will inevitably collapse.
God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the prophets of Israel—a direct confrontation with those who claim to speak God's word but do not. The Lord describes them as "foolish prophets" who follow their own spirit and have "seen nothing" (verse 3). This is the core problem: they operate out of personal inclination and imagination rather than divine revelation. The image of foxes in the desert (verse 4) suggests cunning destructiveness; these prophets are like scavengers that prowl and harm rather than shepherd. Verse 5 captures their greatest failure: they have not "gone up into the gaps" or "made up the hedge" for God's house. In biblical terms, a prophet's role was to stand in the breach—to intercede, warn of danger, and strengthen God's people for spiritual battle. Instead, these false prophets abandon their post entirely.
The Lord identifies the specific sin: these prophets speak "vanity and lying divination" while claiming divine authority ("The LORD saith," verse 6). They give false hope, making people believe a word that God never spoke. This is spiritual malpractice of the gravest sort—it leads the vulnerable astray and prevents them from repenting. God's response is clear: "I am against you" (verse 8). The consequences are severe (verse 9): they will be excluded from God's assembly, their names will be struck from Israel's register, and they will be barred from entering the promised land. To "know that I am the Lord" appears repeatedly throughout Ezekiel—judgment itself becomes a means of revelation, forcing both the false prophets and the watching nation to recognize God's true authority.
This extended metaphor describes the false prophets' deception as a hastily built wall with crumbling mortar. They cry "Peace" when there is no peace (verse 10)—a refusal to warn Israel of coming judgment. When God's judgment comes like rain, hail, and wind (verses 11, 13), this insubstantial wall will collapse completely (verse 14). The false prophets will be exposed and consumed along with their own lies. Verse 16 clarifies the specific target: prophets who "see visions of peace for" Jerusalem when no peace exists. Comfort without truth is cruel; hope without reality is damnation.
False prophetesses use magical apparatus—pillows and kerchiefs—to "hunt souls" (verses 18, 20). They profit from people's desperation, accepting payment ("handfuls of barley and pieces of bread," verse 19) while pronouncing false verdicts that contradict God's will. They doom those who should live and spare those who should die. Their lies make "the heart of the righteous sad" and strengthen the wicked in their rebellion (verse 22). God promises to tear away their instruments and deliver His people from their grasp (verses 20-21).
This chapter warns us against spiritual manipulation and false comfort. Today's false prophets may not use ancient divination tools, but they operate on the same principle: speaking smooth things people want to hear rather than God's hard truth. We must test all spiritual teaching against Scripture, demand accountability from leaders, and remember that true prophecy always aligns with God's written Word and His character. The best defense against deception is deep familiarity with the Bible itself.