Ezekiel 13 21

Ezekiel 13:21 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 13:21 nkjv

I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:21 niv

I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:21 esv

Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:21 nlt

I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from your grasp. They will no longer be your victims. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 13 verses

Ezekiel 13 21 Meaning

God declares He will forcibly remove the instruments of spiritual deception (the "veils" or "magic bands") used by the false prophetesses. His purpose is to liberate His chosen people from their grasp, ensuring they will no longer be victimized or exploited by these deceivers. This powerful act of deliverance will unequivocally reveal His ultimate authority and identity as the LORD, even to the very prophetesses He is judging.

Ezekiel 13 21 Context

Ezekiel chapter 13 focuses entirely on the denunciation of false prophets and prophetesses in Israel, particularly those active during the Babylonian exile. They are condemned for speaking their "own spirit" rather than God's (13:3), predicting peace when judgment is coming, and misleading the people with false hope (13:10). They "whitewash" over sin, creating an illusion of security (13:10-16). Verses 17-23 specifically target prophetesses who prey on the vulnerable, 'hunting' souls for selfish gain, defiling God's name, and creating lies for personal profit. They use peculiar practices like sewing magic bands (or armbands) on arms and creating veils for heads of various sizes (13:18) to ensnare people, giving false assurances to the righteous and false comfort to the wicked. Ezekiel 13:21 is a direct declaration of God's judgment against these deceptive practices, promising to dismantle their tools and liberate His people. This aligns with God's overarching covenant commitment to protect His people and uphold truth.

Ezekiel 13 21 Word analysis

• I will tear off (וּקְרַעְתִּי ūqəra‘tî): From the Hebrew verb קָרַע (qāra‘), meaning to rend, tear, or rip open. This is a strong verb indicating forceful and decisive action, not merely a gentle untying or removal. It implies destruction of the instruments of deception. God's intervention is powerful and leaves no room for the implements to be reused.
• your veils (מִסְפְּחוֹתֵיכֶם mispəḥôṯêḵem): A unique Hebrew term (from the root ספח sāphaḥ, to bind/join) appearing only in Ezekiel 13. While translated as "veils," scholars debate the precise meaning, often understanding them as magic bands, amulets, or head coverings/sash-like ornaments tied for divinatory or magical purposes. They were instruments of spiritual manipulation and control, used by the false prophetesses to 'hunt' and capture souls, likely associated with their occult practices described in the preceding verses. The suffix -khem specifically denotes "your" (feminine plural), addressing the prophetesses directly.
• and deliver (וְהִצַּלְתִּי wəhiṣṣaltî): From the Hebrew verb נָצַל (nāṣal), meaning to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save. This highlights God's role as rescuer and protector of His people, actively intervening to free them from spiritual bondage and exploitation. It is a salvific act demonstrating His covenant faithfulness.
• my people (עַמִּי ‘ammî): The possessive suffix -î denotes "my," emphasizing God's intimate relationship and ownership of Israel. Despite their waywardness and susceptibility to deception, they remain His treasured possession, prompting His intervention to save them.
• from your hand (מִיֶּדְכֶן mîyaḏken): The Hebrew word יָד (yāḏ, "hand") represents power, authority, control, and often malicious grip. To be delivered "from your hand" signifies release from the oppressive power, influence, and exploitation exercised by the false prophetesses.
• and they will no longer be (וְלֹא יִהְיוּ עוֹד wəlō’ yihyû ‘ôḏ): This phrase denotes cessation and permanence. The former state of being exploited will irrevocably end.
• prey (לְמַסָּה ləmassâ): The Hebrew word מַסָּה (massâ) means spoil, plunder, prey, or victims. It indicates those who are captured, hunted down, and devoured for gain. The false prophetesses were treating God's people as commodities to be exploited.
• in your hand (בְּיֶדְכֶן bəyaḏken): Reiterates the control and possession held by the prophetesses over their victims. It emphasizes their power to exploit and benefit from the people's vulnerability.
• Then you will know (וִידַעְתֶּן wîḏa‘ten): From the Hebrew verb יָדַע (yāda‘), meaning to know, perceive, recognize, acknowledge. This is a profound experiential knowledge, not just intellectual understanding. Through God's decisive actions, the false prophetesses themselves will be forced to acknowledge His ultimate power and truth, debunking their own false claims. The -ten suffix specifies "you" (feminine plural).
• that I am the LORD (כִּי אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה kî ’ănî YHWH): This is the signature theological declaration throughout the book of Ezekiel. It is God's self-identification, revealing His unique, sovereign, and covenantal identity (YHWH, the personal name of God). His actions prove His incomparable power, authority, and righteousness, especially against those who usurp His name.

Ezekiel 13 21 Bonus section

The forceful nature of God's action against the "veils" can be interpreted as not just nullifying their magical power, but publicly disgracing and exposing the false prophetesses. The removal of their instruments is a symbolic stripping of their authority and an end to their deceptive trade. The theme of God identifying Himself through His actions (the "know that I am the LORD" motif) runs throughout Ezekiel and underscores that true knowledge of God comes not through human speculation or false prophecy, but through experiencing His righteous judgments and faithful deliverances. This verse powerfully illustrates the pastoral heart of God, who rescues His flock from spiritual predators. It also contains an implicit warning for believers to seek divine counsel through His revealed word, rather than through enticing but deceptive human or demonic sources.

Ezekiel 13 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 13:21 encapsulates God's unwavering commitment to His people and His uncompromising opposition to spiritual deception. The "tearing off" of the veils signifies a violent and complete dismantling of the false prophetesses' spiritual arsenal and their influence. These "veils" were not innocent adornments but instruments used in their manipulative divinations, acting as symbols or tools of their unholy power, by which they ensnared, intimidated, and spiritually 'hunted' the vulnerable. God's direct intervention demonstrates that no human-made system of spiritual manipulation, however elaborate or persuasive, can ultimately withstand His sovereign will. He takes back His people, removing them from being "prey"—mere victims to be exploited and consumed by lies. The final declaration, "Then you will know that I am the LORD," is paramount. It emphasizes that God's actions serve not only to deliver His people but also to assert His supreme authority over all creation and against all rivals, forcing even those who defied Him to acknowledge His true identity and power. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of divine justice, protection for the elect, and the inevitable triumph of truth over falsehood.