Ezekiel 13:5
You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse paints a vivid picture of a besieged city, but the "breaches" and "hedge" aren't just about physical walls. They represent spiritual gaps in Israel's defenses – the sins and moral decay that left them vulnerable. True prophets would have rushed to mend these gaps through prayer, repentance, and strong counsel, but these false prophets did nothing.
Ezekiel is directly addressing false prophets who have been misleading the people of Israel. Instead of confronting the dangers—both literal enemies and God's coming judgment—these prophets have offered hollow promises of peace. They have failed to act as spiritual defenders, repairing the breaches in the nation's spiritual wall and fortifying them against the impending "day of the LORD."
Imagine a city under siege, its walls crumbling under enemy attack. Where are the leaders? What are they doing?
This verse uses powerful imagery of a besieged city to describe the role of a true prophet. When sin creates 'breaches' or 'gaps' in the spiritual defenses of God's people, courageous leaders are called to 'go up' into these vulnerable places.
What happens when the very people meant to protect the flock become the ones who exploit it?
Ezekiel contrasts the duty of true prophets with the dereliction of the false ones. These so-called prophets failed in their core responsibility, leading Israel further into danger.
Understand the original words
pereṣ · Hebrew Noun
Gaps or breaks in a defensive wall; symbolically representing moral failures or spiritual vulnerabilities in the nation that required intercession and repair.
bayit yiśrā’ēl · Hebrew Noun phrase
Refers to the collective people of God; a covenant community chosen by Him to be a witness to the nations and a recipient of His promises.
yôm Yhwh · Hebrew Noun phrase
The time when God intervenes in human history to judge sin and establish His kingdom, usually characterized by divine power, terror for the wicked, and deliverance for His people.
Ezekiel's powerful imagery of 'breaches' and 'walls' refers to the failing defenses of Jerusalem, both physical and spiritual, during the Babylonian siege. The false prophets are condemned for not acting like true defenders of the city, who would have sought repentance and interceded with God to avert disaster.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event serves as a stark warning for the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon begins its conquest of Judah, deporting a first group of citizens, including young nobles like Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. Despite desperate pleas, the city's defenses fail, leading to its destruction and a final, massive deportation of its population.
This passage shows Moses standing in the breach for Israel, interceding with God to withhold judgment, mirroring the duty Ezekiel accuses the false prophets of neglecting.
Psalm 106:23The Psalmist describes God's intention to destroy Israel, but God relented because Moses stood in the breach, highlighting the critical role of intercession that the false prophets failed to fulfill.
Isaiah 58:12This verse speaks of those who will be called 'repairers of the breach' and 'restorers of paths to dwell in,' contrasting with the false prophets who left the breaches unrepaired.
Ezekiel 22:30This verse directly echoes Ezekiel 13:5, stating that God looked for someone to stand in the gap and build up the wall, but found no one among the leaders and prophets.
cambridgeEzekiel 13:5: "Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD."
5 . gone up into the gaps ] Or, breaches . Ezekiel turning to the prophets themselves uses “ye”—a frequent change of person in animated speech. made up the hedge ] Or, fence , R.V. If they had been true prophets they would have done two things: stood in the breach, and made a wall of defence for Israel. Without figure: these prophets knew neither wh…
pooleEzekiel 13:5: "Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD."
Ye, vulpine prophets. As in a besieged city whose wall is broken down and the enemy ready to enter, a valiant, faithful, and vigilant soldier would run up into the breach to repel the enemy; so true prophets do partly by prayer, and partly by doctrine, and partly by personal reformation, labour to preserve God’s people. But, fox-like, they have shif…
The verse paints a vivid picture of a besieged city, but the "breaches" and "hedge" aren't just about physical walls. They represent spiritual gaps in Israel's defenses – the sins and moral decay that left them vulnerable. True prophets would have rushed to mend these gaps through prayer, repentance, and strong counsel, but these false prophets did nothing.
Ezekiel is directly addressing false prophets who have been misleading the people of Israel. Instead of confronting the dangers—both literal enemies and God's coming judgment—these prophets have offered hollow promises of peace. They have failed to act as spiritual defenders, repairing the breaches in the nation's spiritual wall and fortifying them against the impending "day of the LORD."
Ezekiel is directly addressing false prophets who have been misleading the people of Israel. Instead of confronting the dangers—both literal enemies and God's coming judgment—these prophets have offered hollow promises of peace. They have failed to act as spiritual defenders, repairing the breaches in the nation's spiritual wall and fortifying them against the impending "day of the LORD."
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Every choice has consequences, especially when facing the ultimate judgment.
The phrase 'in the day of the LORD' adds immense weight to Ezekiel's accusation. This isn't just about earthly consequences; it's about standing before God Himself.
c. 587 BC
Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians raze Jerusalem, including the magnificent Temple built by Solomon, symbolizing the devastation of God's people and covenant.
"You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD." — The verse paints a vivid picture of a besieged city, but the "breaches" and "hedge" aren't just about physical walls. They represent spiritual gaps in Israel's defenses – the sins and moral decay tha…
