Ezekiel 13:4
Ezekiel 13:4 in Multiple Translations
Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
O Israel, your prophets have been like jackals in the waste places.
Israel, your prophets are like foxes that live in the ruins.
O Israel, thy Prophets are like the foxes in the waste places.
As foxes in the wastes, Thy prophets, O Israel, have been.
Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts.
You Israeli people, your prophets areas useless as [SIM] jackals/wolves that only dig through the ruinsof a city.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 13:4
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 13:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כְּ/שֻׁעָלִ֖ים
בָּ/חֳרָב֑וֹת
נְבִיאֶ֥י/ךָ
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
הָיֽוּ
כְּ/שֻׁעָלִ֖ים
shûwʻâl
H7776
fox
Prep | N-mp
בָּ/חֳרָב֑וֹת
chorbâh
H2723
desolation
Prep | N-fp
נְבִיאֶ֥י/ךָ
nâbîyʼ
H5030
prophet
N-mp | Suff
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
הָיֽוּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 13:4
כְּ/שֻׁעָלִ֖ים
shûwʻâl
H7776
"fox"
Prep | N-mp
The word for fox refers to a burrower, possibly also a jackal. It describes a small to medium-sized mammal that digs holes. In the Bible, it is translated as fox.
Definition: 1) fox, a burrower 1a) fox 1b) perhaps also jackal
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: fox. See also: Judges 15:4; Song of Solomon 2:15; Psalms 63:11.
בָּ/חֳרָב֑וֹת
chorbâh
H2723
"desolation"
Prep | N-fp
This word refers to a place that has been laid waste or destroyed, often due to war or disaster. In the Bible, it is used to describe the consequences of sin and disobedience. The prophet Ezekiel used this word to describe a desolate city.
Definition: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: decayed place, desolate (place, -tion), destruction, (laid) waste (place). See also: Leviticus 26:31; Jeremiah 27:17; Psalms 9:7.
נְבִיאֶ֥י/ךָ
nâbîyʼ
H5030
"prophet"
N-mp | Suff
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.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
הָיֽוּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 13:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 13:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 13:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 13:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 13:4
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 13:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
- Sermons on Ezekiel 13:4
Context — Reproof of False Prophets
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. 6They 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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 19:20 | But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. |
| 2 | Micah 2:11 | If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people! |
| 3 | 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 | The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. |
| 4 | Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. |
| 5 | Titus 1:10–12 | For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” |
| 6 | 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 | For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. |
| 7 | 1 Timothy 4:1–2 | Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. |
| 8 | Ephesians 4:14 | Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. |
| 9 | Revelation 13:11–14 | Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. |
| 10 | Romans 16:18 | For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. |
Ezekiel 13:4 Summary
[Ezekiel 13:4 says that the prophets of Israel are like foxes among the ruins, meaning they are sneaky and causing harm to the people by giving them false guidance. This is similar to what Jesus warns against in Matthew 7:15, where He tells us to beware of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are actually wolves. We need to be careful who we listen to and make sure they are speaking from God's Word, not their own imagination, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. By staying rooted in the Bible, we can avoid the harm caused by false prophets and instead find guidance and truth.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for prophets to be like foxes among the ruins?
This phrase, found in Ezekiel 13:4, suggests that these prophets are sneaky and destructive, causing harm to the people of Israel by providing false guidance, much like foxes that rummage through and destroy ruins, as seen in Nehemiah 4:3 and Luke 13:32.
Why are the prophets of Israel being compared to foxes?
The comparison to foxes highlights their cunning and ability to thrive in a state of spiritual decay, as mentioned in Ezekiel 13:4, much like the false prophets in Micah 3:5-7 who lead the people astray for personal gain.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Ezekiel 13?
Ezekiel 13:4 is part of a larger condemnation of false prophets in Israel, emphasizing God's displeasure with those who claim to speak for Him but instead speak from their own imagination, as seen in Ezekiel 13:2-3 and Jeremiah 23:16.
What warning does this verse give to us today?
This verse serves as a warning to be cautious of false teachers and prophets who may lead us astray with their words, as seen in Matthew 7:15 and 2 Peter 2:1-3, and to instead seek guidance from God's Word and His true prophets.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that false prophets or teachers can be like 'foxes among the ruins' in our lives, causing harm and destruction?
- How can we discern whether a prophet or teacher is speaking from God's Word or their own imagination?
- In what ways can we, like the prophets in Ezekiel 13, be guilty of 'following our own spirit' rather than seeking God's guidance?
- What role should the Bible play in our lives to protect us from false teachings and guide us towards truth?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes of the deserts. The false prophets, as the Targum; these are called Israel's prophets, because received, embraced, and encouraged by them; not the Lord's,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes - which cunningly "spoil the vines" (Son 2:15), Israel being the vineyard (Psalms 80:8-15; Isaiah
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel; a pathetical exclamation to awake Israel, both the dwellers at Jerusalem and those at Babylon. Thy prophets, not mine, as . Like the foxes; hungry and ravening, crafty and guileful, and living by their wits, but not one whit helpful to those they deceive. Such are false prophets. In the deserts, where want of prey makes them more eager of their prey, and where other devouring beasts endanger travellers, but no defence to them from foxes; these flee into their holes betimes, and leave the endangered ones. Or thus, O Israel, thou art like the desert, spoiled and robbed, and thy false prophets, like foxes hungry and hunting for some prey, live upon what they can catch, but will be no more profitable to thee than foxes are to the wilderness.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
Ezekiel 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.Ver. 4. O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes.] Cowardly, crafty, cruel, greedy: venatores eludunt, et cum mortuae videntur, reviviscunt. Heretics are such, and false prophets; Arius, for instance.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
(4) Like the foxes in the deserts.—The comparison is sufficiently close if it is considered as extending only to these mischievous men living unconcerned among the ruins of their state and country, as the foxes find their home in desolated cities (Lamentations 5:18); but many extend the simile to the undermining of the ground by the foxes, as these prophets accelerated the ruin of their people.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
Verse 4. Thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.] The cunning of the fox in obtaining his prey has been long proverbial. These false prophets are represented as the foxes who, having got their prey by great subtlety, run to the desert to hide both themselves and it. So the false prophets, when the event did not answer to their prediction, got out of the way, that they might not be overwhelmed with the reproaches and indignation of the people.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 13:4
4. foxes in the deserts] in the waste places, i.e. ruins. The prophets are like foxes; ruins are congenial to them; a condition of decay is their proper sphere; there they can burrow as their instincts prompt them. The main idea, however, is that their operations only increase the devastation and undermine and bring down anything that may yet be standing. In a declining and disastrous time the minds of men are excited and feed on the wildest schemes, and feeling themselves helpless they readily turn to those who pretend to speak to them in God’s name. And it only adds to their ruin when those to whom they turn have no higher wisdom than themselves.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 13:4
In the deserts - Foxes find a home among ruins etc. Lamentations 5:18. So the prophets find their profit in the ruin of their country.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 13:4
4. Like the foxes in the deserts — Foxes do not build walls, but undermine them (Nehemiah 4:3; Lamentations 5:18). Having seized their prey with great subtlety they run to the desert and hide themselves and it (Adam Clarke).
Sermons on Ezekiel 13:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(October 1986) 01 - Spiritual Warfare by Ray Lowe | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the battle that Christians face in the world today. He highlights the alarming issues of young people being involved in drugs, alcohol, and p |
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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 |
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(Revelation) the Banishment of Satan by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher begins by quoting a passage from the Bible about the Spirit of the Lord being upon him to preach good tidings to the meek. He then talks about the key |
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Discipline and Blessing Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the illogical premise that creation can exist without a creator. He argues that children are being taught this illogical premise from an ear |
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(Revelation) the Day of Vengeance Fully Come by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the events leading up to the day of judgment as described in the book of Revelation. He highlights the battle of Armageddon, the judgment of |
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Upon His Head Were Many Crowns by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher describes a scene where the four and twenty elders and the four beasts worship God on His throne. They praise Him by saying "Hallelujah!" and a voice f |
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Hell by Francis Turretin | Francis Turretin delves into the topic of Hell and Eternal Death, affirming the existence of hell and its punishments, which include eternal torment with the devils for the wicked |