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Then the word of the LORD came to me:
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“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel; prophesy and say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts: Hear the word of the LORD!
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Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.
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Like jackals among ruins are your prophets, O Israel!
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You have not gone up into the breaches in the wall, nor built up a wall around the house of Israel, so that they might stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD.
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Their visions are false and their divinations are lies; they say, ‘Thus says the LORD,’ though the LORD has not sent them, and they wait for the fulfillment of the word.
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Have you not seen false visions and spoken lying divinations when you say, ‘Thus says the LORD,’ though I have not spoken?
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Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you speak falsehood and see lies, behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
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My hand will be against the prophets who see false things and who utter lying divinations; they shall not be in the council of My people, nor be written in the register of the house of Israel, nor enter again into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
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Because, yes because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace—and when one builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over—
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say to those who plaster it over, ‘A heavy rain will pour down, and hailstones will fall, and a storm wind will blow!’
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When the wall has fallen, will people not say to you, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’
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Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: In My wrath I will make a storm wind break out, and in My anger a heavy rain will pour down, and in My wrath hailstones that destroy will fall.
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I will break down the wall that you plastered over and cast it to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare; the city wall will fall, and you will perish within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
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Thus I will spend My wrath upon the wall and upon those who plastered it over, and I will say to you: The wall is gone, and those who plastered it are gone,
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that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw for her a vision of peace, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.”
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“Son of man, set your face against the women of your people who prophesy out of their own heart, and prophesy against them.
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Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and keep your own souls alive?
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You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls that should not die, and keeping alive souls that should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.
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Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt souls there like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls go, the souls that you hunt like birds.
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I will tear off your veils and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.
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Because you have disheartened the righteous with lies, though I did not grieve him, and have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he should not turn from his wicked way and live,
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therefore you shall no more see false visions or practice divination; I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
🧱❌📢 Summary of Ezekiel 13 – False Prophecy and a Crumbling Wall
Ezekiel 13 is a stern rebuke from God to the false prophets and prophetesses in Israel. They spoke in the name of the Lord though the Lord had never sent them. They gave false hope, covered sin with a “thin plaster,” and led the people away from true repentance. God swears to oppose them: their prophecies will collapse, and they will be put to shame.
📌 1. The Male Prophets Who Lead Astray (verses 1–16)
➡️ Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against the prophets of Israel who imagine vain things and speak lies.
➡️ They say, “The Lord says,” though the Lord has not spoken to them.
➡️ They give false assurance, like building a weak wall and coating it with a thin plaster.
➡️ The Lord will send driving rain and a storm that will tear down that wall – a symbol of the collapse of their system of lies.
🎯 False teaching gives false peace, but it cannot stand the test.
📌 2. The Prophecy of the Women Who Trap Souls (verses 17–23)
➡️ The Lord opposes the women prophets who make charms and head coverings to “catch souls” — perhaps a form of sorcery or spiritual manipulation.
➡️ They toy with human lives for personal gain.
➡️ The Lord promises to set free the souls they have caught and expose their lies.
🎯 Manipulative spirits and spiritual occultism are an abomination in the Lord’s sight.
📖 Main Teaching
- False prophecy is a serious evil because it uses the Lord’s name
- A sense of security not grounded in truth is spiritual deception
- Spiritual leaders who lead the people astray will be judged more severely
- The Lord notices every soul that is oppressed and spiritually manipulated
- Spiritual lies will collapse when the storm of judgment comes
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets…”
➡️ Just as in Ezekiel’s day, false prophets exist in every generation.
📖 2 Timothy 4:3–4
“People will turn their ears away from the truth and open them to myths.”
➡️ Teaching that pleases the ear but misleads the heart.
📖 2 Peter 2:1
“False teachers will arise… who will bring ruin to many.”
➡️ Doctrinal error can destroy life and faith.
📖 Ephesians 4:14–15
“No longer be like children… tossed about by every wind of teaching.”
➡️ We are called to hold fast to the truth in love.
🕊️ “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit.” – Ezekiel 13:3
🕊️ “They build a weak wall and cover it with whitewash.” – Ezekiel 13:10
🕊️ “I will tear down the wall… and you will vanish with your false dreams.” – Ezekiel 13:14
🕊️ “You profane My name among My people for a handful of barley and a piece of bread.” – Ezekiel 13:19
