Ezekiel 13:17-23
New English Translation
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.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 13:17 tn Heb “set your face against.”
- Ezekiel 13:17 tn Heb “from their heart.”
- Ezekiel 13:18 sn The wristbands mentioned here probably represented magic bands or charms. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:413.
- Ezekiel 13:18 tn Heb “joints of the hands.” This may include the elbow and shoulder joints.
- 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.
- Ezekiel 13:18 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls” (three times in v. 18 and twice in v. 19).
- Ezekiel 13:19 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls.”
- Ezekiel 13:20 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
- Ezekiel 13:20 tn Heb “human lives” or “souls.”
- Ezekiel 13:21 tn Heb “from your hand(s).” This refers to their power over the people.
- Ezekiel 13:23 tn The Hebrew verb is feminine plural, indicating that it is the false prophetesses who are addressed here.
Ezekiel 13:17-23
Christian Standard Bible
17 “Now you, son of man, face[a] the women among your people who prophesy(A) out of their own imagination, and prophesy against them.(B) 18 Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every size in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own?(C) 19 You profane me among my people for handfuls of barley(D) and scraps of bread; you put those to death who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to my people, who listen to lies.
20 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic bands with which you ensnare people like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the people you have ensnared like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and rescue my people from your hands,(E) so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (when I intended no distress),(F) and because you have supported[b] the wicked(G) person so that he does not turn from his evil way to save his life, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.(H) I will rescue my people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
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