Ezekiel 13:3
Ezekiel 13:3 in Multiple Translations
This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
This is what the Lord has said: A curse on the foolish prophets who go after the spirit which is in them and have seen nothing!
This is what the Lord God says: Disaster is coming to these foolish prophets who follow their own ideas. They haven't seen anything.
Thus sayth the Lord God, Woe vnto the foolish Prophets that follow their owne spirit, and haue seene nothing.
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the prophets who are foolish, Who are going after their own spirit, And they have seen nothing.
The Lord GOD says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit, and see nothing.
He says, “Terrible things will happen to those wicked prophets who proclaim their own ideas and have not seen anyvisions from me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 13:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 13:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כֹּ֤ה
אָמַר֙
אֲדֹנָ֣/י
יְהוִ֔ה
ה֖וֹי
עַל
הַ/נְּבִיאִ֣ים
הַ/נְּבָלִ֑ים
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
הֹלְכִ֛ים
אַחַ֥ר
רוּחָ֖/ם
וּ/לְ/בִלְתִּ֥י
רָאֽוּ
כֹּ֤ה
kôh
H3541
thus
Adv
אָמַר֙
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
אֲדֹנָ֣/י
ʼĂdônây
H136
Lord
N-mp | Suff
יְהוִ֔ה
Yᵉhôvih
H3069
YHWH/God
N-proper
ה֖וֹי
hôwy
H1945
woe!
Part
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
הַ/נְּבִיאִ֣ים
nâbîyʼ
H5030
prophet
Art | N-mp
הַ/נְּבָלִ֑ים
nâbâl
H5036
foolish
Art | Adj
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Rel
הֹלְכִ֛ים
hâlak
H1980
to go
V-Qal
אַחַ֥ר
ʼachar
H310
after
Prep
רוּחָ֖/ם
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs | Suff
וּ/לְ/בִלְתִּ֥י
biltîy
H1115
lest
Conj | Prep | Part
רָאֽוּ
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 13:3
כֹּ֤ה
kôh
H3541
"thus"
Adv
This Hebrew word means thus or in this manner. It can also indicate a location or time, such as here or now. The KJV translates it in various ways, including also, here, and so.
Definition: 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)
Usage: Occurs in 541 OT verses. KJV: also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder. See also: Genesis 15:5; 1 Kings 22:20; Isaiah 7:7.
אָמַר֙
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֲדֹנָ֣/י
ʼĂdônây
H136
"Lord"
N-mp | Suff
Adonay is a title used to refer to God, spoken in place of Yahweh as a sign of reverence and respect. It is used throughout the Bible to address God or refer to Him in a formal way. Adonay is a term of worship and devotion.
Definition: Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 430 OT verses. KJV: (my) Lord. See also: Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 3:17; Psalms 2:4.
יְהוִ֔ה
Yᵉhôvih
H3069
"YHWH/God"
N-proper
YHWH is a name for God, often used in combination with 'Lord'. It is similar to Yehovah, but with different vowels. This name emphasizes God's power and authority.
Definition: 1) Jehovah-used primarily in the combination 'Lord Jehovah' 1a) equal to ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068) but pointed with the vowels of e.lo.him (אֱלֹהִים "God" H0430)
Usage: Occurs in 296 OT verses. KJV: God. See also: Genesis 15:2; Ezekiel 14:21; Psalms 68:21.
ה֖וֹי
hôwy
H1945
"woe!"
Part
Hoy is an expression of sadness or pain, like saying oh or woe. It's used to show strong emotions, and is often translated as alas or woe in the KJV Bible. This word conveys a sense of lament or regret.
Definition: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: ah, alas, ho, O, woe. See also: 1 Kings 13:30; Jeremiah 22:18; Isaiah 1:4.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הַ/נְּבִיאִ֣ים
nâbîyʼ
H5030
"prophet"
Art | N-mp
A prophet is someone who speaks for God, like a spokesperson. This word is used in the Bible to describe true and false prophets, like those in 1 and 2 Kings.
Definition: 1) spokesman, speaker, prophet 1a) prophet 1b) false prophet 1c) heathen prophet Aramaic equivalent: ne.vi (נְבִיא "prophet" H5029)
Usage: Occurs in 288 OT verses. KJV: prophecy, that prophesy, prophet. See also: Genesis 20:7; 2 Kings 24:2; Psalms 51:2.
הַ/נְּבָלִ֑ים
nâbâl
H5036
"foolish"
Art | Adj
A foolish person is someone who acts stupidly or wickedly, often in a way that is impious or against God. This word is used to describe someone who lacks sense or wisdom.
Definition: foolish, senseless, fool
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: fool(-ish, -ish man, -ish woman), vile person. See also: Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 14:1.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
הֹלְכִ֛ים
hâlak
H1980
"to go"
V-Qal
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Definition: : walk/move 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
Usage: Occurs in 473 OT verses. KJV: (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl. See also: Genesis 2:14; Judges 4:9; 1 Kings 13:12.
אַחַ֥ר
ʼachar
H310
"after"
Prep
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Definition: 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place) 1a2) afterwards (of time) 1b) as a preposition 1b1) behind, after (of place) 1b2) after (of time) 1b3) besides 1c) as a conjunction 1c) after that 1d) as a substantive 1d1) hinder part 1e) with other prepositions 1e1) from behind 1e2) from following after
Usage: Occurs in 664 OT verses. KJV: after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 18:2; Joshua 8:14.
רוּחָ֖/ם
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs | Suff
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
וּ/לְ/בִלְתִּ֥י
biltîy
H1115
"lest"
Conj | Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means not or except, and is often used with a prepositional prefix. It appears in various forms, such as not, except, or unless, and is used in many biblical passages.
Definition: subst 1) not, except adv 2) not 3) except (after preceding negation) conj 4) except (after an implied or expressed negation) with prep 5) so as not, in order not 6) an account of not, because...not 7) until not
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: because un(satiable), beside, but, [phrase] continual, except, from, lest, neither, no more, none, not, nothing, save, that no, without. See also: Genesis 3:11; 2 Kings 12:9; Isaiah 10:4.
רָאֽוּ
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 13:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 13:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 13:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 13:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 13:3
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 13:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
- Sermons on Ezekiel 13:3
Context — Reproof of False Prophets
1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
3This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.
4Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins. 5You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamentations 2:14 | The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 23:28–32 | Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” “Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD. |
| 3 | Hosea 9:7 | The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 23:1 | “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. |
| 5 | Matthew 23:13–29 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred? So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 34:2 | “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? |
| 7 | Proverbs 15:14 | A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 13:6–7 | They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? |
| 9 | 1 Corinthians 9:16 | Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! |
| 10 | Ezekiel 13:18 | and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own? |
Ezekiel 13:3 Summary
[Ezekiel 13:3 warns us about prophets who speak their own thoughts and ideas, rather than listening to God. This is a reminder that we should always seek God's guidance and wisdom, rather than just following our own feelings or desires, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6. By doing so, we can avoid being misled and stay on the path that God has planned for us, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11. This requires humility, discernment, and a willingness to listen to God's voice, as seen in Psalm 119:105.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to follow one's own spirit?
Following one's own spirit, as mentioned in Ezekiel 13:3, refers to acting on one's own thoughts, feelings, and desires without seeking God's guidance, similar to what is warned against in Proverbs 28:26 and Jeremiah 17:9.
Why does God call these prophets foolish?
God calls the prophets foolish because they claim to speak on His behalf without having received any revelation from Him, as stated in Ezekiel 13:3, which is a serious offense, as seen in Deuteronomy 18:20.
How can we distinguish between true and false prophets?
We can distinguish between true and false prophets by examining their message, actions, and the source of their authority, as taught in Matthew 7:15-20 and 1 John 4:1-6, and comparing them to God's word and character, as revealed in the Bible.
What is the consequence of following false prophets?
Following false prophets can lead to spiritual deception, confusion, and ultimately, separation from God, as warned in Ezekiel 13:3 and 2 Peter 2:1-3, emphasizing the importance of discernment and adherence to God's word.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I may be following my own spirit instead of seeking God's guidance in my life?
- How can I ensure that my thoughts, words, and actions are aligned with God's will and not my own desires?
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's revelation and guidance, rather than relying on my own understanding?
- What are some potential consequences of ignoring God's warnings and following false prophets or my own desires?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord God, woe unto the foolish prophets,.... The false prophets, as the Targum; who are foolish, as all are who are not sent of God, and furnished by him with wisdom and knowledge, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
They shall be doubly miserable, suffering with the deceived, and suffering by the enraged, when their lies are detected. Foolish prophets; either in a moral sense, i. e. wicked; or in a literal sense, unwise. It is both foolishly wicked and imprudent to pretend revelations, and yet have none from God. Their own spirit; in contradistinction to the Spirit of God, the true Spirit of prophecy, they strongly fancy what they would have, and then presumptuously prophesy that it shall come to pass. Have seen nothing; God hath showed them no vision, nothing of all they pretend to is from God.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
Ezekiel 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!Ver. 3. Woe unto the foolish prophets.] Wise enough they were in their generation - and so are the foxes, whereto they are compared - but in the things of God, silly simples, blinder than moles. That follow their own spirit.] Aud their own fancies, acted and abused by that great lying spirit. And have seen nothing.] Nothing from God, though they thought and pretended they had seen something. All was but lies; dreams; things of naught. As Antipheron Orietes in Aristotle thought that everywhere he saw his own shape and picture going before him; so here. Now a woe is denounced against these; vae woe, is a little word, but very comprehensive, as there is often much poison in little drops.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
(3) Foolish prophets.—They were certainly foolish who undertook to forge the name of the Omniscient, as it were, to utterances of their own devising. Folly according to the use of the word in the Old Testament, was not merely an intellectual failing, but was always associated with moral obliquity. (See Psalms 14:1, and Proverbs throughout.) The last clause of the verse is better expressed in the margin: these prophets were. “seers of that which they have not seen.”
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 13:3
3. foolish prophets] The word, not used again by Ezekiel, is rather a moral term, meaning destitute of that wisdom the beginning of which is the fear of the Lord (Psalms 13:1). Jeremiah charges the prophets of his day with shameful vices, “They commit adultery with their neighbours’ wives” (Jeremiah 29:23; cf. Jeremiah 23:14, and pass.); but, without supposing that all the “false” prophets were so bad, it characterized them in general that they were superficial men in a moral sense. Their notions of religion and life were not high or strict, and hence they saw nothing in the condition of the people or the state calling for the judgment of God, and prophesied “peace.” This was what distinguished them from Jeremiah and other prophets whom we call “true.” Micah says in opposition to them: “I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin” (ch. Ezekiel 3:8); and Jeremiah goes so far as to declare it to be the mark of a true prophet that he threatens judgment upon the nation (Jeremiah 28:8-9). A true prophet is one by whom the Lord speaks, and a “false” prophet (the expression is not used in the Old Testament, though the prophets are said to speak “falsely”) is one by whom he does not speak. This is true: but the converse has also its truth—the Lord did not speak by these prophets because they were “false” (1 Kings 22:6 seq.). There is a spirit of false prophecy as well as a spirit of true prophecy. The spirit of true prophecy is the spirit of the theocracy and of the religion of Jehovah, the spirit that comprehends its principles, sympathises with its lofty morality, understands its aims, and therefore can perceive the true means to be used for fulfilling them. The spirit of false prophecy is the untheocratic spirit, which, even when speaking in the name of Jehovah, has not entered with any profoundness into the nature and aims of his kingdom, and consequently misapprehends the means needful to further it.
In his encounters with the prophets of his day Jeremiah opposes them in three spheres: that of policy; that of morals; and that of personal experience. In policy the genuine prophets had some fixed principles, all arising out of the idea that the kingdom of the Lord was not a kingdom of this world. Hence they opposed military preparation (Psalms 20:7), riding on horses and building of fenced cities (Hosea 14:3; Micah 5:10-11; Isaiah 31:1), and counselled trust in Jehovah (Isaiah 7:9; Isaiah 10:20-21; Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 30:15). These prophets were moving forward (often unconsciously) towards that conception of the kingdom of God which has been realized in the “Church;” and external providence was shaping the history of the nation on lines parallel to this conception, which eventually received form by the destruction of the state and the reduction of the people to be a mere religious community.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 13:3
That follow ... nothing - Better in the margin. A true prophet (like Ezekiel) spoke “the word of the Lord,” and declared what he had seen “in the visions of God.” These pretenders are stigmatized in
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:3
3. Foolish prophets — The “fool,” in Scripture language, is the impious man.
Sermons on Ezekiel 13:3
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When the Glory of God Passes By by Carter Conlon | The video is a sermon about the importance of living a life that glorifies God and seeks His guidance. The speaker emphasizes the need for compassion and tenderness towards others, |
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True and False Prophets by Art Katz | Art Katz emphasizes the critical distinction between true and false prophets, expressing concern over the current trend of self-proclaimed prophetic voices that dilute the true mea |
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(Israel) Preaching Christ With Authority by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preaching the word of God with spiritual authority. He shares a personal experience of a young man who came seeking wisdom |
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The Origin of True Preaching by Art Katz | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the community of believers and their role in guiding and correcting one another. He encourages open communication and feed |
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False Prophets Are in Our Midst by Aaron Ernst | In this sermon, Aaron Ernst emphasizes the importance of preaching the word of God and staying true to sound doctrine. He warns against the temptation to seek out teachers who cate |
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The Threshing Floor of Ornan by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a genuine and real relationship with God. He highlights the need for believers to have a solid foundation in their f |
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Woe to the Foolish Prophets by Brian Gochenour | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the Bible as the final authority for the church. They criticize those who try to undermine the word of God and promote a fa |