God Condemns False Prophets and Prophetesses

13:1 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 13:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to the prophets who prophesy from their imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 13:3 This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing! 13:4 Your prophets have become like jackals among the ruins, O Israel. 13:5 You have not gone up in the breaks in the wall, nor repaired a wall for the house of Israel that it would stand strong in the battle on the day of the Lord. 13:6 They see delusion and their omens are a lie. They say, “the Lord declares,” though the Lord has not sent them; yet they expect their word to be confirmed. 13:7 Have you not seen a false vision and announced a lying omen when you say, “the Lord declares,” although I myself never spoke? 13:8 “‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because you have spoken false words and forecast delusion, look, I am against you, declares the sovereign Lord. 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see delusion and announce lying omens. They will not be included in the council of my people, nor be written in the registry of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord. 13:10 “‘This is because they have led my people astray saying, “All is well,” when things are not well. When anyone builds a wall without mortar, they coat it with whitewash. 13:11 Tell the ones who coat it with whitewash that it will fall. When there is a deluge of rain, hailstones will fall and a violent wind will break out. 13:12 When the wall has collapsed, people will ask you, “Where is the whitewash you coated it with?” 13:13 “‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: In my rage I will make a violent wind break out. In my anger there will be a deluge of rain and hailstones in destructive fury. 13:14 I will break down the wall you coated with whitewash and knock it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed. When it falls you will be destroyed beneath it, and you will know that I am the Lord. 13:15 I will vent my rage against the wall, and against those who coated it with whitewash. Then I will say to you, “The wall is no more and those who whitewashed it are no more – 13:16 those prophets of Israel who would prophesy about Jerusalem and would see visions of peace for it, when there was no peace,” declares the sovereign Lord.’ 13:17 “As for you, son of man, turn toward the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their imagination. Prophesy against them 13:18 and say ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to those who sew bands on all their wrists and make headbands for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives! Will you entrap my people’s lives, yet preserve your own lives? 13:19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You have put to death people who should not die and kept alive those who should not live by your lies to my people, who listen to lies! 13:20 “‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Take note that I am against your wristbands with which you entrap people’s lives like birds. I will tear them from your arms and will release the people’s lives, which you hunt like birds. 13:21 I will tear off your headbands and rescue my people from your power; they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 13:22 This is because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (although I have not grieved him), and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil conduct and preserve his life. 13:23 Therefore you will no longer see false visions and practice divination. I will rescue my people from your power, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Ezekiel warns that prophets and prophetesses who speak from themselves, not from the Lord, are lying to the people. They promise peace when judgment is coming. God says he will expose them, bring down their false security, judge their deception, and rescue his people from it.

God speaks against the false prophets in Israel. They claim to speak for him, but they have not received his word. They follow their own ideas and mislead the people with false visions and empty promises.

Ezekiel says they are like a weak wall covered with whitewash. It looks safe for a moment, but it will collapse when God’s judgment comes. Their message of peace is false because there is no peace. God will send the storm that destroys their lies and shows the truth.

The warning also includes the prophetesses. The text does not make the exact historical details of their bands and headbands clear, so they should be described carefully. What is clear is that they used deceptive practices that trapped people and served their own interests. They disheartened the righteous and encouraged the wicked to keep sinning.

The Lord says he is against them. He will tear away their power, end their false visions, and rescue his people from their hands. In the end, the people will know that the Lord alone is God.

• God rejects speech that falsely claims his authority.
• False prophets can comfort people with lies instead of warning them about sin and judgment.
• A message of peace is not true just because it sounds hopeful.
• God will expose false teaching and bring down what is built on deception.
• The Lord rescues his people from manipulative religious leaders.
• The passage condemns false prophecy and exploitation, not women in general.

• Warning: Do not trust prophets who speak from their own imagination.
• Warning: False peace will collapse under God's judgment.
• Warning: Lies in God's name can harm the righteous and embolden the wicked.
• Promise: God will expose the false prophets and prophetesses.
• Promise: God will rescue his people from their power.

This passage belongs to the covenant warning messages given to Israel before Jerusalem’s fall. It shows that the Lord judges false prophecy and protects his people from deception.

Do not accept a message just because it sounds peaceful or confident. Measure teaching by Scripture, not by charm, popularity, or ease. Leaders should help people stand strong in truth, not cover weakness with smooth words. God’s people must reject lies and cling to what the Lord truly says.

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