Ezekiel 13:7

Verse

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?

American Standard Version (1901)

Have ye not seen a false vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, in that ye say, Jehovah saith; albeit I have not spoken?

Bible in Basic English

Have you not seen a vision without substance and have you not falsely made use of secret arts, when you say, The Lord has said; though I have said nothing?

Douay-Rheims 1899

Have you not seen a vain vision and spoken a lying divination: and you say: The Lord saith: whereas I have not spoken.

Free Bible Version

Isn't it a false vision that you people saw? Isn't it a prophecy of lies when you announce, ‘This is what the Lord says,’ even though I haven't said anything?

King James (Authorized) Version

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Translation for Translators

They say that they have seen visions, but those visions are false, and the things that they prophesy are lies [RHQ]. They say, 'Yahweh told me this,' but I have told them nothing!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Have you not had false visions and made false predictions, you who say, “Such and such is Yahweh's declaration” when I myself have not spoken?'

Noah Webster Bible

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it , although I have not spoken?

World English Bible

Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but I have not spoken?”

Young's Literal Translation

A vain vision have ye not seen, And a lying divination spoken, When ye say: An affirmation of Jehovah, And I have not spoken?

Context

Reproof of False Prophets

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.⁷Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

Summary

In Ezekiel 13:7, the Lord speaks against false prophets who deceive the people by proclaiming their own visions as divine messages. These prophets are likened to individuals who build flimsy walls without mortar, symbolizing their lack of true spiritual foundation. The Lord declares that He is against such deceptive practices and will bring judgment upon those who mislead His people with falsehoods. This verse serves as a warning against false teachings and emphasizes the importance of discerning true prophets who speak God's genuine word.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies,.... Meaning, by his hand, not the true spirit of prophecy, attended with a divine power and energy, as in Eze 1:3; but the wrath and power of God seizing on them and punishing them. So the Targum, "and the stroke of my power shall be upon the false prophets, &c.'' The sense is, that they should feel the weight of his hand, and the lighting down of his arm with the indignation of his wrath, by inflicting punishment upon them: they shall not be in the assembly of my people; shall have no place in the church of God, nor fellowship with the saints; they shall not join with them in religious worship here; but either shall be left by the righteous judgment of God to separate themselves from them, or shall be excluded their communion; and much less shall they stand in the congregation of the righteous hereafter: or, "they shall not be in the secret", or "council of my people" (g); shall not be consulted by them on any account, civil or religious; or not be let into the secret counsels of the Lord, as the Lord's people be, who are his favourites and his friends; see Psa 25:14. The Targum is, "in the good secret which is hidden for my people they shall not be:'' neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel; their names shall not be in the roll or register of those that return from captivity, as in Ezra it but shall die in their exile; they shall not be in the list and catalogue of the citizens of any city in the land of Israel, particularly of Jerusalem, the chief city; see Isa 4:3; and it should appear that their names were never written in the Lamb's book of life; or that they ever were among the number of God's elect, the true and spiritual Israel of God. So the Targum, "and in the writing of eternal life, which is written for the righteous of the house of Israel, they shall not be written;'' see Psa 69:28; neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; should not return to the land of Israel, when the captives should at the end of the captivity; nor enter into the land of Canaan, the heavenly rest, which remains for the people of God; for into the New Jerusalem state shall nothing enter that makes an abomination, or a lie, as these prophets had done; see Rev 21:27; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God; omniscient, omnipotent, true and faithful, holy, just, and good. (g) "in secreto populi mei non erunt", Montanus; "in arcano", Munster; "in comilio", Junius & Tremellius, Calvin, Polanus; "in concilio", Vatablus.