Ezekiel 13:10 kjv
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:
Ezekiel 13:10 nkjv
"Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace?and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar?
Ezekiel 13:10 niv
"?'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,
Ezekiel 13:10 esv
Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,
Ezekiel 13:10 nlt
"This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, 'All is peaceful' when there is no peace at all! It's as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!
Ezekiel 13 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 6:14 | They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, "Peace, peace!" When there is no peace. | False peace proclaimed by prophets. |
| Jer 8:11 | For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, Saying, "Peace, peace!" When there is no peace. | Repeating the warning of false comfort. |
| Jer 14:13-14 | Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'" And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision..." | False prophecy of peace from human desires. |
| Jer 23:16-17 | Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you... They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD... To those who despise Me they say, "The LORD has said, 'You shall have peace.' " | Prophets speaking their own deceptive words. |
| Jer 27:14-15 | Do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you... | Misleading the people with false prophecies. |
| Jer 29:8-9 | For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you... for they prophesy falsely to you in My name. | Warning against deception by false prophets. |
| Ezek 13:11-15 | Say to those who daub it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, great hailstones, and a stormy wind... | Immediate context of God's judgment on the wall. |
| Lam 2:14 | Your prophets have seen for you False and misleading visions; They have not exposed your iniquity... but have seen for you false oracles and seductions. | False prophets failing to call for repentance. |
| Micah 3:5 | Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make My people go astray; Who chant "Peace!" while they chew with their teeth, But who declare war against him Who does not put anything into their mouths. | Prophets misleading people for personal gain. |
| 1 Thess 5:3 | For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman; and they shall not escape. | False sense of security preceding judgment. |
| Deut 18:20-22 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak... shall die... | Divine judgment for unauthorized prophecy. |
| Isa 30:10-11 | Who say to the seers, "Do not see!" And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way..." | People preferring pleasing lies over truth. |
| Matt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. | Warning from Jesus about false prophets. |
| Matt 7:26-27 | But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand... | Illustrates the danger of flimsy foundations. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... | False teachers exploiting people. |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. | The need to discern and test messages. |
| Rom 16:18 | For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetite, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. | Deception through flattery. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. | Danger of following deceptive paths. |
| Prov 29:18 | Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. | Emphasizes the need for true divine guidance. |
| Isa 28:15-17 | Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement... we have made lies our refuge..." | Relying on lies for security will lead to judgment. |
| 1 Cor 3:10-15 | If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear... | The lasting quality of work built with truth. |
Ezekiel 13 verses
Ezekiel 13 10 Meaning
Ezekiel 13:10 condemns the false prophets because their deceptive messages offered the people a false sense of security and well-being. They pronounced "peace" when, in God's judgment, there was no true peace to be found. This verse employs a vivid metaphor: while one of these false prophets would "build up a wall" of false hope, others would reinforce this fragile structure by "daubing it with untempered mortar," signifying a superficial, unsound, and ultimately collapsing form of spiritual and national reassurance.
Ezekiel 13 10 Context
Ezekiel chapter 13 focuses entirely on God's condemnation of false prophets and prophetesses among Israel. These individuals claimed to speak for the Lord but delivered messages born from their own imaginations, dreams, or desire to please the people. During the period of the Babylonian exile, when Ezekiel prophesied, the people yearned for reassuring news of a swift return and an end to their suffering. False prophets capitalized on this desire, speaking words of "peace" (shalom - wholeness, well-being, prosperity) even as God's judgment for sin continued and was, in fact, the cause of their present plight. The chapter exposes their motives, their methods of deception, and the certain judgment God will bring upon them and their misleading prophecies. Verse 10 specifically articulates the reason for God's anger, using the powerful metaphor of a flimsy wall hastily covered with ineffective mortar. This metaphor vividly portrays the superficiality and impending collapse of the false hopes and assurances they offered.
Ezekiel 13 10 Word analysis
- because, even because (יַעַן וּבְעֵקֶב, ya'an u-v'eikev): This emphatic repetition intensifies the reason for God's judgment. It underscores the severity of the false prophets' sin. The use of "even" (or "and in consequence of") stresses the direct and undeniable link between their actions and God's forthcoming retribution.
- they have seduced (הִטְעוּ, hit'u from טָעָה, ta'ah): The verb implies leading astray, causing to err, deceiving. It signifies a deliberate act of deception, actively pulling the people away from truth and into falsehood. It highlights the culpable nature of their actions.
- my people (עַמִּי, ammi): This possessive term emphasizes the intimate relationship God has with Israel. It highlights the gravity of the false prophets' sin as they exploited and misled those whom God calls His own. They preyed upon God's chosen.
- saying, Peace (לֵאמֹר שָׁלוֹם, le'mor shalom): "Shalom" encompasses more than just absence of war; it signifies wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and security. The prophets promised comprehensive well-being, an ultimate state of human flourishing, despite the reality of impending divine judgment.
- and there was no peace (וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם, v'ein shalom): This stark contradiction reveals the complete falsehood of the prophets' message. Their pronouncements were devoid of truth, creating a dangerous delusion for the people. It contrasts divine reality with human deception.
- one built up a wall (וְהוּא בּוֹנֶה גָדֵר, v'hu boneh gader): "Gader" typically means a fence or hedge, often a protective enclosure. Here it metaphorically represents a flimsy, hastily constructed barrier, a system of false assurance or hope built by a single false prophet or a school of thought. It suggests an effort to provide security where none truly exists.
- and, lo, others daubed it (וְהִנֵּה אַחֵרִים טָחִים אֹתָהּ, v'hinneh acherim tachim otah): "Lo" (hinneh) draws immediate attention to the continuous, ongoing nature of this action. "Daubed" (tach) refers to smearing or plastering, often used for covering surfaces. It suggests a superficial cosmetic treatment, not a structural reinforcement. Other prophets participated in covering up the fundamental flaws of the false hope.
- with untempered mortar (טִיחַ תָּפֵל, tiach tafel): "Tafel" means tasteless, insipid, unseasoned, or foolish. Applied to mortar, it signifies a poorly mixed, inadequate material lacking the necessary binding properties. This indicates that the "strengthening" they offered was itself intrinsically flawed and utterly ineffective, guaranteeing collapse.
Ezekiel 13 10 Bonus section
The metaphor of the "untempered mortar" is particularly potent in an ancient society reliant on sturdy construction for survival. Good mortar binds bricks into a lasting, protective structure; bad mortar ensures inevitable decay and collapse, especially when exposed to the elements. This familiar imagery would have immediately communicated the imminent danger facing those who trusted the false prophets. The passage serves as a polemic not only against the prophets themselves but also against the people's desire to hear comforting lies over uncomfortable truths. This desire fostered an environment where false prophets thrived, making both the speaker and the listener culpable in creating an unsound spiritual and social "structure."
Ezekiel 13 10 Commentary
Ezekiel 13:10 powerfully dissects the destructive nature of false prophecy. The dual "because" highlights God's unreserved condemnation of these prophets who deliberately "seduced" His people. Their fundamental deceit was proclaiming "Peace!" (shalom), a comprehensive state of well-being, when in God's eyes, no such peace existed. This was not merely an error of judgment, but a wilful obscuring of divine truth, preventing repentance and inviting further calamity. The architectural metaphor of the "wall" and "untempered mortar" vividly illustrates their method and its futility. One prophet might construct a fragile edifice of false hope or a national policy based on lies, and others would come along, applying a superficial coating of pleasing words or justifications to make it appear secure. However, this "untempered mortar" (flimsy, inadequate material) reveals the intrinsic hollowness of their message. It offers no genuine protection or stability. Ultimately, this falsely secured "wall" could not withstand the storm of God's judgment (as the subsequent verses show), leading to utter collapse and the greater ruin of those who trusted in it. The verse serves as an enduring warning against any message, religious or otherwise, that offers comfort and security without addressing the root issues or aligning with divine truth.