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17 “Now as for you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are (A)prophesying (B)from their own heart. Prophesy against them 18 and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on [a]all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to (C)hunt down [b]souls! Will you hunt down My people’s souls, but preserve your own souls? 19 (D)For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death souls who should not die and to (E)keep other souls alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’”

20 Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am against your magic bands by which you hunt souls there as [c]birds, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let their souls go, the very souls whom you hunt as [d]birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and (F)deliver My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands to be hunted; and you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 Because you (G)disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have (H)strengthened the hands of the wicked not to (I)turn from his evil way and preserve his life, 23 therefore, you women will no longer see (J)worthless visions or practice divination, and I will (K)deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will (L)know that I am Yahweh.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:18 Lit all joints of the hand; M.T. of my hands
  2. Ezekiel 13:18 Or lives, so in ch
  3. Ezekiel 13:20 Or flying ones
  4. Ezekiel 13:20 Or flying ones

17 “As for you, son of man, turn toward[a] the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their imagination.[b] Prophesy against them 18 and say ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to those who sew bands[c] on all their wrists[d] and make headbands[e] for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives![f] Will you entrap my people’s lives, yet preserve your own lives? 19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You have put to death people[g] who should not die and kept alive those who should not live by your lies to my people, who listen to lies!

20 “‘Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take note[h] that I am against your wristbands with which you entrap people’s lives[i] like birds. I will tear them from your arms and will release the people’s lives, which you hunt like birds. 21 I will tear off your headbands and rescue my people from your power;[j] they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 This is because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (although I have not grieved him), and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil conduct and preserve his life. 23 Therefore you will no longer see false visions and practice divination. I will rescue my people from your power, and you[k] will know that I am the Lord.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:17 tn Heb “set your face against.”
  2. Ezekiel 13:17 tn Heb “from their heart.”
  3. Ezekiel 13:18 sn The wristbands mentioned here probably represented magic bands or charms. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:413.
  4. Ezekiel 13:18 tn Heb “joints of the hands.” This may include the elbow and shoulder joints.
  5. Ezekiel 13:18 tn The Hebrew term occurs in the Bible only here and in v. 21. It has also been understood as a veil or type of head covering. D. I. Block (Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:414) suggests that given the context of magical devices, the expected parallel to the magical arm bands, and the meaning of this Hebrew root (סָפַח [safakh, “to attach” or “join”]), it may refer to headbands or necklaces on which magical amulets were worn.
  6. Ezekiel 13:18 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls” (three times in v. 18 and twice in v. 19).
  7. Ezekiel 13:19 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls.”
  8. Ezekiel 13:20 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  9. Ezekiel 13:20 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls.”
  10. Ezekiel 13:21 tn Heb “from your hand(s).” This refers to their power over the people.
  11. Ezekiel 13:23 tn The Hebrew verb is feminine plural, indicating that it is the false prophetesses who are addressed here.