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
American Standard Version
17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, 18 and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all [a]elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! [b]Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive [c]for yourselves? 19 And ye have profaned 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 hearken unto lies.
20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against your pillows, [d]wherewith ye there hunt the souls [e]to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt [f]to make them fly. 21 Your 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 Jehovah. 22 Because with lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, [g]and be saved alive; 23 therefore ye shall no more see false visions, nor divine divinations: and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 13:18 Hebrew joints of the hands.
- Ezekiel 13:18 Or, Ye hunt . . . and ye save etc.
- Ezekiel 13:18 Or, that are yours
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or, where ye hunt
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or, as birds
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or, as birds
- Ezekiel 13:22 Or, by promising him life
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)