Ezekiel 13:6
They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking part here is that these false prophets didn't just lie to others; they hoped their own lies would come true. They were so caught up in their own made-up visions that they genuinely expected God to validate their deception and confirm their words, even though He hadn't sent them at all.
Ezekiel is addressing false prophets who are deceiving the people of Judah with messages of peace and security, even though God's judgment is imminent. These prophets claim God sent them, but they are actually speaking their own fabricated messages, leading people to wrongly expect their prophecies to come true and hardening them in their sin. God declares His opposition to these deceptive prophets and promises to bring them to account.
Have you ever felt so sure about something you said, only to realize later it wasn't quite right? False prophets did this on a massive scale.
Ezekiel confronts prophets who claim God's authority without His actual commission. They declare, 'Declares the LORD,' but the crucial point is 'when the LORD has not sent them.'
The Danger of Assumption
This isn't just about being mistaken; it's about presuming divine endorsement for messages that originate from human ideas or desires. The commentaries highlight that these prophets weren't necessarily trying to deceive others at first; they were often self-deceived, believing their own false visions.
Objective vs. Subjective Revelation
True prophecy comes from God's objective communication. False prophecy, however, stems from subjective 'vanity' – the prophets' own imaginations and hopes. They take what comes 'out of their own heart' and present it as God's truth. This distinction is vital: God's Word is not merely a reflection of our best thoughts but a direct revelation from Him.
Imagine hearing comforting words that sound spiritual but lead you astray. That's the devastating work of false prophecy.
These false prophets didn't just speak lies; they fostered a dangerous sense of false security in the people. The verse mentions they 'expect him to fulfill their word.' The commentaries clarify that this means they hoped their prophecies would come true, and by extension, they caused the people to hope for the same.
Hardening Hearts, Not Healing Them
Instead of calling people to repentance and true understanding, these deceptive messages offered a false peace. This hardened the listeners in their sin, leading them further away from God's judgment and ultimately towards ruin. They weren't leading people to God but away from Him under the guise of His blessing.
God's Opposition to Deception
This false hope is a serious offense to God. He is the 'living and the true,' and He stands directly against those who twist His name and messages for their own gain or to mislead others.
Understand the original words
chazah · Hebrew Noun
A subjective mental experience or revelation claimed to come from a divine source; in a biblical context, it often refers to a message received from God through supernatural means. False visions refer to claims of divine revelation that are not from God.
qesem · Hebrew Noun
The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means, often through prohibited occult methods; in the Bible, it is strictly forbidden for God's people as a substitute for divine revelation.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A title for the Creator and Covenant-keeper of Israel, derived from the name revealed to Moses (YHWH). It signifies His eternal existence, faithfulness, and absolute authority over all creation.
The false prophets Ezekiel confronts were offering comforting lies to people enduring the trauma of exile. Their words, though lacking divine authority, preyed on the deep human desire for reassurance, making the exiles even less prepared for the harsh reality of their situation.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event serves as a stark warning about divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judeans, including notable figures like Ezekiel himself. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's First Visions
The prophet Ezekiel receives his initial call and visions from God while among the exiles in Babylon, commissioning him to prophesy to the people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population. This catastrophic event underscores the severity of God's judgment and the unfaithfulness of Judah.
This passage directly addresses the issue of false prophets claiming God's authority without being sent, highlighting their self-deception and the danger of their pronouncements.
Deuteronomy 18:20This verse serves as a foundational warning against any prophet who dares to speak in God's name without His direct command, mirroring the sin of the false prophets in Ezekiel.
2 Thessalonians 2:11This New Testament passage speaks to a similar theme of deception, where God sends a powerful delusion on those who reject the truth, which resonates with how false prophets lead people astray.
Ezekiel 14:10Here, God expresses His judgment on prophets who deceive His people, showing the severe consequences for those who claim divine authority falsely and lead others into error.
cambridgeEzekiel 13:6: "They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."
6, 7 . Their prophecies are false: they are self-deceived 6 . have made others to hope ] Rather: they have hoped for the confirmation of the word. The usual sense of the verb is to “hope;” only in a single passage ( Psalm 119:49 ) does it appear to mean to “cause to hope.” The false prophets looked for the confir…
barnesEzekiel 13:6: "They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."
And they have made others ... - Rather, "and they hope for the confirmation of their word." They come to believe their own lies.
The most striking part here is that these false prophets didn't just lie to others; they hoped their own lies would come true. They were so caught up in their own made-up visions that they genuinely expected God to validate their deception and confirm their words, even though He hadn't sent them at all.
Ezekiel is addressing false prophets who are deceiving the people of Judah with messages of peace and security, even though God's judgment is imminent. These prophets claim God sent them, but they are actually speaking their own fabricated messages, leading people to wrongly expect their prophecies to come true and hardening them in their sin. God declares His opposition to these deceptive prophets and promises to bring them to account.
Ezekiel is addressing false prophets who are deceiving the people of Judah with messages of peace and security, even though God's judgment is imminent. These prophets claim God sent them, but they are actually speaking their own fabricated messages, leading people to wrongly expect their prophecies to come true and hardening them in their sin. God declares His opposition to these deceptive prophets and promises to bring them to account.
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c. 586-571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry to the Exiles
Ezekiel delivers challenging prophecies to the exiles in Babylon, condemning their sin and the false hopes offered by unfaithful prophets, emphasizing God's justice and future restoration.
"They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word." — The most striking part here is that these false prophets didn't just lie to others; they hoped their own lies would come true. They were so caught up in their own made-up visions that they genuin…
