Ezekiel 22:28 kjv
And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
Ezekiel 22:28 nkjv
Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD had not spoken.
Ezekiel 22:28 niv
Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says'?when the LORD has not spoken.
Ezekiel 22:28 esv
And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.
Ezekiel 22:28 nlt
And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, 'My message is from the Sovereign LORD,' when the LORD hasn't spoken a single word to them.
Ezekiel 22 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 22:28 | “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the Lord has not spoken.” | Directly addresses false prophecy. |
| Jeremiah 6:14 | “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” | Echoes the theme of false reassurance. |
| Jeremiah 8:11 | “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” | Repeats the sentiment of superficial healing. |
| Micah 3:5 | “Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry ‘Peace’ when they have something to eat, but declare war on him who puts nothing in their mouths.” | Condemns prophets who seek personal gain. |
| Isaiah 30:10 | “who say to the seers, ‘Do not see visions,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right, but tell us pleasant things, give us illusions.’” | Describes people who prefer comforting lies. |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” | The people’s desire for palatable falsehoods. |
| Matthew 7:15 | “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” | Warns against deceptive religious figures. |
| 2 Corinthians 11:14 | “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” | Illustrates the deceptive nature of evil. |
| 1 Kings 22:22 | “And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You are to entice him, and you will succeed; go out and do so.’” | A lying spirit influences prophets. |
| Proverbs 26:28 | “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” | The destructive power of deceptive words. |
| Romans 1:25 | “because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” | People turning away from truth to lies. |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:10 | “and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth, and so be saved.” | The perishing due to rejection of truth. |
| Acts 20:29 | “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” | Pastoral warning of internal threats. |
| Isaiah 9:15 | “The elders and the honored men are the head, and the prophets who teach lies are the tail.” | Identifies deceptive prophets as a source of disgrace. |
| Jeremiah 5:31 | “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests hold sway in their own hands. And my people love it so! But what will you do when the end of it comes?” | Describes people's complicity in falsehood. |
| Acts 5:36 | "For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. But he was put to death, and all who followed him were dispersed." | Example of a false leader attracting followers. |
| 2 Peter 2:1 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." | Direct comparison to false teachers. |
| Romans 16:18 | "For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive hearts that are simple." | Highlights motives of deceitful people. |
| Ezekiel 13:10 | “Because they have led astray my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when they see a breaking in the wall, they plaster it with whitewash.” | Specifically describes the false prophets' methods. |
| Deuteronomy 18:20 | “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.” | God's judgment on false prophecy. |
Ezekiel 22 verses
Ezekiel 22 28 Meaning
Ezekiel 22:28 describes a prophecy about the false prophets in Jerusalem who deceitfully coated the truth with falsehood. Their actions led the people astray, making them believe in something that was not true. They practiced deception, masking the severity of sin with smooth words, and offered a false sense of security to the city and its inhabitants, ultimately leading to its downfall. This verse highlights the destructive nature of false prophecy and deceit within religious leadership.
Ezekiel 22 28 Context
This verse is situated within Ezekiel chapter 22, which paints a grim picture of Jerusalem's pervasive corruption and sinfulness. The entire chapter is a detailed accusation against the city for its transgressions, highlighting the moral decay of its leaders, priests, and prophets. Specifically, verses 23-29 enumerate the various crimes and sinful practices that have made Jerusalem like dross. Ezekiel 22:28 serves as a summary of the particular failure of the prophets, whose duty was to guide the people with divine truth but instead led them into error through their deceitful pronouncements. The historical context is during the Babylonian exile, when Jerusalem's destruction was imminent, and these prophetic failures contributed to the people's spiritual blindness and impending doom.
Ezekiel 22 28 Word Analysis
- וּפִ֣ישֶׁיהָ (u-fīshei-hā):
- וְ (wə-): And; Connects this statement to the previous accusations.
- פִ֣י (pī): Mouth; Denotes speech, utterance.
- שֶׁ֠֠יהָ (shei-hā): Its prophets; Pertains to the prophets of Jerusalem.
- נִקּ֜וּ (niqqū): Smear, daub, plaster.
- Implies covering up or disguising something, often with whitewash, to make it appear clean or sound when it is not. This directly relates to the act of beautifying a corrupt reality.
- סִ֣יד (sīd): Whitewash, lime.
- A material used to cover walls, making them appear white and clean. Figuratively, it means to cover up faults or sins with a veneer of respectability. This word powerfully conveys the idea of superficial correction or the masking of corruption.
- חָ֘זוֹן (ḥāzōn): Vision.
- Refers to a divine revelation or prophecy, a sight from God. The verse states these prophets had "false visions."
- שֶׁ֠֠קֶר (še‧quer): Falsehood, lie, deceit.
- What is untrue or deceptive. They prophesy lies, not divine truth.
- מְנַחֲמִ֞ים (mənacha mim): Divining, foretelling, interpreting omens.
- The practice of seeking to know the future or interpret events, often through non-divine means. Here, it's coupled with falsehood.
- לָ֠֠הֶם (lahm): To them.
- Directly indicates that the deceit and false visions were directed at the people.
- כֹּ֧ה (kō): Thus, so.
- Indicates the manner of speech, imitating God's prophetic formula.
- אָמַ֥ר (āmar): Says.
- The verb of speaking.
- אֲדֹנָֽי (Adonay): LORD; The covenant name of God, YHWH.
- This highlights the audacity of the false prophets: they attributed their false messages to God Himself.
- יֱהֹוִ֖ה (YHWH): LORD.
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר (ăsher): Who, which.
- Relative pronoun.
- לֹ֤א (lō): Not.
- Negation.
- שָׁלַח֙ (shalach): Sent.
- God did not send them or their messages.
Word Groups
- "Smear whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them": This phrase captures the essence of the false prophets' modus operandi. The "whitewash" signifies an attempt to disguise the ugliness of sin and corruption with a deceptive covering of "peace" or legitimacy. The "false visions" and "divining lies" indicate their pronouncements were not from God but from their own minds or, more nefariously, influenced by a lying spirit. The interconnectedness implies a deliberate and systematic process of misleading the people through fabricated prophecies.
- "Saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the Lord has not spoken": This is the gravest accusation. The prophets stole God's authority and name to lend credibility to their falsehoods. By claiming to speak for the LORD when He had not sent them, they committed the ultimate blasphemy, directly undermining God's word and character, and deceiving those who relied on their pronouncements.
Ezekiel 22 28 Bonus Section
The imagery of "smearing whitewash" (Hebrew: sīd) is particularly potent. In ancient times, whitewash was a common method to clean and beautify walls. However, it could also be used to cover up cracks or blemishes without truly repairing them. This vividly portrays how these prophets offered a superficial remedy to deep-seated spiritual rot, making things look good on the surface while the underlying sin festered. This same prophetic malpractice is condemned in Ezekiel 13:10, which states: "Because they have led astray my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when they see a breaking in the wall, they plaster it with whitewash." The false prophets' pronouncements led the people to believe they were in a secure relationship with God, making them oblivious to the impending judgment, and thus unprepared for its arrival. This disconnect between a perceived sense of security and the grim reality of divine judgment is a recurring theme throughout the prophetic books.
Ezekiel 22 28 Commentary
The prophets of Jerusalem were complicit in the city's spiritual sickness. Instead of confronting sin, they beautified it. They covered over the decay with comforting words and fabricated visions, proclaiming peace where there was no peace. This practice was not a passive mistake but an active deception. By attributing these false messages to God ("Thus says the Lord GOD"), they stole divine authority for their own purposes, leading the people further into delusion and judgment. This highlights the severe spiritual danger of false teachers who prioritize pleasing their audience or serving their own interests over speaking God's unvarnished truth. The consequence of such actions is divine wrath and the complete downfall of those who follow them.