Ezekiel 13:10
Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The prophets are described as taking a weak, flimsy wall—perhaps a mere partition wall—that the people have put up, and then "smearing it with whitewash." This isn't just about covering up flaws; it's about making something fundamentally unsound look stable, giving a false sense of security through superficial appearances rather than genuine strength.
Ezekiel is denouncing false prophets who have misled the people of Judah with hollow promises of peace and security. These prophets are like builders who slap together a flimsy wall and then try to hide its weakness by smearing it with a quick, superficial coating. This deceptive practice, designed to lull the people into a false sense of safety, sets the stage for God's impending judgment.
Have you ever heard someone say, 'Everything's going to be fine,' when clearly it wasn't? That's the heart of the problem in this verse. False prophets offered a comforting lie that ultimately led to disaster.
Ezekiel calls out prophets who told the people "Peace, when there is no peace." This wasn't just a minor disagreement; it was a fundamental deception.
Lulling to Sleep
These prophets didn't challenge the people's sins or warn them of the coming judgment. Instead, they offered a false sense of security. Think of it like telling someone with a serious illness that they're perfectly healthy – it prevents them from seeking the real cure.
The True Cost of Lies
This false peace had devastating consequences. It kept people from repenting and turning back to God. When judgment finally arrived, the people were completely unprepared, caught in a trap set by their own spiritual leaders.
Imagine a builder slapping a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling wall. It looks good for a moment, but the foundation is rotten. That's the picture Ezekiel paints of these false prophets' work.
The verse uses a powerful metaphor: 'when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash.' This imagery speaks volumes about the superficiality of their ministry.
The 'Wall' of Human Effort
The people were trying to fortify themselves, perhaps through alliances or their own efforts, instead of relying on God. They were building a 'wall,' but it was inherently weak or flawed.
The 'Whitewash' of False Approval
Instead of exposing the weakness and calling for true repentance and God's strength, the false prophets 'whitewashed' it. This means they covered up the flaws with a smooth, attractive facade. They didn't use 'tempered mortar' – the strong, binding cement of God's truth. Their approval was shallow, designed to please the people and maintain their own status, not to build anything truly strong or lasting.
Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the state of well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and harmony, both within oneself and in relationship with others and God. In a theological sense, it often refers to the fullness of God's blessing and reconciliation.
taphel · Hebrew Noun
A substance used to cover or hide the true condition of something; symbolically, it refers to the practice of covering up moral or spiritual corruption with a superficial appearance of righteousness or stability.
Ezekiel is prophesying during the intensifying crisis leading to Jerusalem's destruction. The 'wall' being built represents fragile human plans for security, like alliances or rebuilding efforts, while the false prophets offer superficial comfort ('peace') and cosmetic repairs ('whitewash') instead of true repentance and reliance on God.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports some of the Judean nobility, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and a larger group of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event deepens the crisis for the people in Jerusalem.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem for an extended period, leading to famine and eventual destruction of the city and the Temple. This is the climax of the impending disaster.
c. 582 BC
Third Deportation to Babylon
After the final destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar carries out a final deportation of the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's critique, highlighting the danger of prophets who offer superficial peace ('Peace, peace!') without addressing the deep-seated sin and impending judgment.
Matthew 23:27Jesus uses a similar metaphor of 'whitewashed tombs' to condemn the religious leaders who appear righteous on the outside but are inwardly corrupt, drawing a direct parallel to the false prophets' deceptive practices.
Isaiah 30:10This verse speaks of people who tell prophets to 'stop prophesying what is right' and to 'tell us pleasant lies,' which aligns with the false prophets' desire to soothe and deceive rather than speak God's truth.
Luke 6:47-49Jesus' parable about building a house on rock versus sand illustrates the futility of superficial efforts. The false prophets' 'whitewashed wall' is like building on sand – it looks okay initially but cannot withstand the storms of judgment.
cambridgeEzekiel 13:10: "Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:"
10–16 . The prophets whitewash the tottering wall which the people build 10 . Because, even because ] A solemn and emphatic introduction of the offence of the prophets; ch. Ezekiel 36:3 ; Leviticus 26:43 . seduced ] Or, led astray. peace; and there was no peace ] “Peace” includes security and prosperity; cf. Micah 3…
barnesEzekiel 13:10: "Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:"
Wall - A partition wall; in Ezekiel 13:12 , the word used is the usual word for the outer wall of a house or city. The fall of the partition wall would perhaps involve the fall of the whole house. Untempered morter - Or, whited plaster, employed to patch up a wall, so as to give it an appearance (without the reality…
The prophets are described as taking a weak, flimsy wall—perhaps a mere partition wall—that the people have put up, and then "smearing it with whitewash." This isn't just about covering up flaws; it's about making something fundamentally unsound look stable, giving a false sense of security through superficial appearances rather than genuine strength.
Ezekiel is denouncing false prophets who have misled the people of Judah with hollow promises of peace and security. These prophets are like builders who slap together a flimsy wall and then try to hide its weakness by smearing it with a quick, superficial coating. This deceptive practice, designed to lull the people into a false sense of safety, sets the stage for God's impending judgment.
Ezekiel is denouncing false prophets who have misled the people of Judah with hollow promises of peace and security. These prophets are like builders who slap together a flimsy wall and then try to hide its weakness by smearing it with a quick, superficial coating. This deceptive practice, designed to lull the people into a false sense of safety, sets the stage for God's impending judgment.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 13:10 is available in the Sola app.
A Facade of Strength
This 'whitewashing' gave a false appearance of security. It hid the rot beneath the surface, making the weak wall look strong. But as the next verses will show, such a structure is doomed to collapse.
"Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash," — The prophets are described as taking a weak, flimsy wall—perhaps a mere partition wall—that the people have put up, and then "smearing it with whitewash." This isn't just about covering up flaws; it'…
