The big picture
Ezekiel 13 opens in verse 1 with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing…”, and closes in verse 23 with “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, people, souls, Israel, prophesy. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Ezekiel · King James Version · 23Ezekiel 13:1-8
1–8: The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 13:1–8 opens with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” and reaches “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 13 develops its own movement around LORD, people, souls, Israel, prophesy, with particular weight carried by LORD, seen, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Ezekiel 13:1-8
King James Version1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD ;
3Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD .
6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD .
Ezekiel 13:9-16
9–16: Mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine…
Ezekiel 13:9–16 opens with “And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not…” and reaches “To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 13 develops its own movement around LORD, people, souls, Israel, prophesy, with particular weight carried by daubed, wall, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say…” The line’s distinctive content terms include daubed, wall, accomplish. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
Ezekiel 13:9-16
King James Version9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD .
10Because, 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:
11Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD .
15Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD .
Ezekiel 13:17-23
17–23: Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy…
Ezekiel 13:17–23 opens with “Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out…” and reaches “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Ezekiel 13 develops its own movement around LORD, people, souls, Israel, prophesy, with particular weight carried by souls, people, hunt.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart…” Naming Likewise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Ezekiel 13:17-23
King James Version17Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
18And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
19And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21Your 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 .
22Because 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:
23Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ezekiel 13:1 begins with “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Ezekiel 13:12 forms a natural hinge: “Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?”
The final note
Ezekiel 13:23 leaves the reader with “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, people, souls, Israel, prophesy, daubed help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.