Ezekiel 13 22

Ezekiel 13:22 kjv

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:

Ezekiel 13:22 nkjv

"Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.

Ezekiel 13:22 niv

Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,

Ezekiel 13:22 esv

Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life,

Ezekiel 13:22 nlt

You have discouraged the righteous with your lies, but I didn't want them to be sad. And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.

Ezekiel 13 verses

Ezekiel 13 22 Meaning

Ezekiel 13:22 directly condemns false prophets and prophetesses for two grave sins. First, they sadden or afflict the righteous, whom God himself intended to comfort or not distress. Second, they strengthen the hands of the wicked, preventing them from turning from their sinful ways and repenting to save their lives. Their deceptions had a perverted spiritual impact, creating despair among the faithful and false assurance among the unrighteous.

Ezekiel 13 22 Context

Ezekiel chapter 13 focuses entirely on God's indictment against the false prophets and prophetesses of Israel. They are accused of prophesying "out of their own spirit" (v. 2) rather than from God, uttering worthless visions and flattering predictions to the people. This verse, in particular, condemns the destructive spiritual consequences of their deceitful messages: they disheartened the genuinely faithful by giving them grief or causing distress with their falsehoods, while simultaneously providing false comfort and encouraging continued sin among the wicked, effectively hindering their path to repentance and salvation. Historically, this occurred during a time of national crisis (the Babylonian exile), where true prophets like Ezekiel were delivering messages of judgment and future hope that often brought immediate discomfort, while false prophets promised peace and prosperity, leading people further astray. The verse highlights a reversal of divine intent: God intended comfort for the righteous and a call to repentance for the wicked, but the false prophets achieved the opposite.

Ezekiel 13 22 Word analysis

• Because (יַעַן): Marks the reason or justification for the condemnation. It connects their actions directly to their judgment.
• with lies (בְּשֶׁקֶר / bə·šeqer): "Lies" (שֶׁקֶר / sheqer) signifies falsehood, deception, and delusion. These were not mere mistakes but deliberate deceptions, stemming from self-interest or a lack of true divine inspiration. This implies a conscious manipulation of spiritual truth for their own agenda, rejecting God's authentic message.
• you have grieved (הוֹגֵיתֶם / hogetem): "Grieved" (הוֹגָה / hogah) means to cause pain, vexation, or sorrow; to wound or oppress. The false prophets inflicted emotional and spiritual distress upon the righteous through their false teachings, sowing confusion and doubt where clarity and comfort were needed.
• the heart (לֵב / lev): Represents the inner person, the seat of emotions, will, and understanding. Grieving the heart implies deep, profound emotional and spiritual wounding, affecting one's core being and faith.
• of the righteous (צַדִּיק / tzaddiq): Refers to those who live in conformity with God's commands, seeking truth and justice. They were already walking uprightly, but the false prophets caused them distress through conflicting messages or false accusations.
• whom I have not grieved (וַאֲנִי לֹא־כִהִיתִים / wa’aní lo-khijitím): This is a critical divine declaration. God asserts that His intention was not to grieve the righteous. The verb here is kahah, meaning to be dim, faint, or to diminish light or spirit. God implies He meant to preserve or comfort them, not cause distress, making the prophets' actions a direct contradiction of His divine will.
• and you have encouraged (וַתְּחַזְּקוּ / watəkhazzəqu): "Encouraged" (חָזַק / chazaq) means to strengthen, make firm, confirm, uphold. This signifies bolstering or validating the wicked in their sinful choices, giving them false hope or permission to continue.
• the hands (יְדֵי / yədey): A common idiom referring to one's actions or ability to act. "Strengthening the hands" means empowering, emboldening, or confirming them in their behavior.
• of the wicked (רָשָׁע / rasha): Refers to those who are guilty, wrongdoers, unrighteous, estranged from God. The false prophets supported their sinful actions.
• so that he does not turn (לְבִלְתִּי־שׁוּב / ləvilti-shuv): "Turn" (שׁוּב / shuv) implies repentance, turning back from one's wicked ways to God. The actions of the false prophets actively prevented this essential spiritual act.
• from his wicked way (מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה / məd·darkó hārā‘áh): "Wicked way" describes a lifestyle or course of action characterized by evil and rebellion against God. The false prophets ensured the wicked remained in this state.
• in order to save his life (לְהַחֲיֹותוֹ / ləhachayotó): Literally "to cause him to live" or "to make his life live." The ultimate consequence of not repenting is spiritual and physical death. Repentance, on the other hand, leads to life. The false prophets tragically hindered this path to genuine life and salvation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous: This phrase reveals the spiritual abuse perpetrated by the false prophets. Their deceptive messages inflicted pain and despair upon those seeking God, directly contradicting divine intent for the faithful to find comfort and strength in truth.
• whom I have not grieved: This crucial clause underscores the heinousness of the false prophets' actions. They directly countered God's will and character by afflicting those whom God Himself sought to preserve or comfort, effectively acting in opposition to the Divine shepherd.
• and you have encouraged the hands of the wicked: This phrase describes how false teachings provided validation or false security to sinners. Instead of confronting their sin and calling them to repentance, the prophets gave them affirmation, allowing them to continue in their rebellion.
• so that he does not turn from his wicked way: This highlights the profound spiritual obstruction caused by the false prophets. Their message of "peace where there is no peace" removed the urgency for the wicked to acknowledge their sin and seek genuine change, trapping them in a destructive path.
• in order to save his life: This emphasizes the eternal stakes. Repentance is not just about moral correction but about securing true life—spiritual and ultimate salvation. The false prophets, by preventing repentance, endangered the very lives of those they deceived, leading them towards judgment.

Ezekiel 13 22 Bonus section

The phrase "save his life" in the Hebrew can encompass both physical preservation and spiritual life. While repentance from a wicked way often leads to temporal well-being and avoidance of direct judgment, the deeper theological implication for the wicked is rescue from eternal consequence. The false prophets, by blocking repentance, effectively obstructed the path to both forms of salvation. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of any teaching that destabilizes the faithful or comforts the unrepentant, whether explicitly or implicitly. It underscores the profound responsibility of those who claim to speak for God, emphasizing that their message must align with God's truth to foster true life and repentance. The imagery reflects the stark contrast between God's restorative justice and the false prophets' deceptive chaos.

Ezekiel 13 22 Commentary

Ezekiel 13:22 lays bare the ethical and spiritual perversion of false prophecy. These individuals actively disrupt God's moral order. They wound the tender hearts of the righteous, inflicting unnecessary spiritual anguish by contradicting the comfort and truth God offers. Simultaneously, they confirm and embolden the unrighteous in their destructive ways, essentially providing divine sanction for sin through their false assurances. This creates a twisted moral landscape where truth brings pain and lies bring false comfort, profoundly hindering the vital process of repentance necessary for life. The verse portrays God's strong condemnation of those who manipulate truth to obstruct His saving work and abuse His people's trust, leading to spiritual chaos and the tragic loss of souls. Their actions are diametrically opposed to God's heart, which seeks to preserve the righteous and bring the wicked to repentance and life.