Ezekiel Chapter 13

At a Glance

  • Ezekiel 13 turns with a sharp critique of the false prophets in Israel who rely on their own hearts and imagine God’s word apart from God’s true message.
  • The imagery intensifies as God promises to rend the daubed wall with stormy wind and great hailstones—destruction that cannot be covered by counterfeit security.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter belongs to Ezekiel’s early lament and critique of corrupt religious leadership.
  • As a part of Ezekiel’s larger message, the false prophets stand in contrast to true prophetic witness.

EZEKIEL CHAPTER 13

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 13 turns with a sharp critique of the false prophets in Israel who rely on their own hearts and imagine God’s word apart from God’s true message. The Lord denounces prophets who prophesy out of their own minds, who claim “Thus saith the Lord,” when in fact the Lord has not spoken. They are likened to foxes in the desert—clever, but deceptive and dangerous. The prophet’s oracles expose vanity, lying divination, and the manipulation of the people through false reassurance of peace. They daubed walls with untempered mortar, promising security where there is none. The prophet then pronounces a bold judgment: the Lord will be against the prophets who see vanity and speak lies, and the faithful will not be written in Israel’s writing; the false prophets shall not enter the land.

The imagery intensifies as God promises to rend the daubed wall with stormy wind and great hailstones—destruction that cannot be covered by counterfeit security. The chapter climaxes in fierce declarations that the prophets’ falsehoods will be exposed, and the community will experience the consequences of trusting those who have not stood in the council of the Lord. Yet behind the severity, there remains a thread of corrective aim: the exposure of deceit seeks to lead Israel back to truth and fidelity.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter belongs to Ezekiel’s early lament and critique of corrupt religious leadership. The genre is prophetic oracles of indictment against false prophets who exploited religious authority for personal gain. The metaphor of daubing walls with untempered mortar intensifies the critique of counterfeit stability—promises of peace without repentance.

As a part of Ezekiel’s larger message, the false prophets stand in contrast to true prophetic witness. The book consistently emphasizes the need for faithful hearing of God and obedience to divine instruction, linking the spiritual leaders’ integrity with the nation’s fate.

Key Themes

- False prophecy vs. true word of the Lord: the accountability of leaders who misrepresent God.

- The danger of false security: “peace” proclaimed without repentance.

- Exposure and judgment: God will expose deceit and render it impotent.

- The integrity of spiritual leadership: prophetic faithfulness is essential for communal life.

Modern Application

For readers today, Ezekiel 13 calls for discernment in hearing religious messages. It challenges communities to test what they hear against Scripture and to resist comforting lies that ease moral accountability. It urges leaders to reject manipulation and false assurances that avoid addressing injustice or sin.

Practically, the chapter invites congregations and communities to cultivate transparent leadership, critical reflection on teachings, and a commitment to truth that respects God’s statutes. It also underscores the ethical risk of using religion to downplay responsibility before God and neighbor.

- Jeremiah 23:16-32 (false prophets)

- Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (prophetic test)

- 2 Peter 2:1-3 (false teachers and their ruin)

- Isaiah 30:10 (refusal to listen to truth)

- Jesus (the true prophet who fulfills the Word of God)

- Paul (warning against false teachers in the church)

- John the Baptist (testimony to true repentance)

- Nathan (confronting kings with truth)

Chapter Text

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.

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