And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophets' "whitewash" wasn't just empty words; it was a deliberate cover-up, like smearing bad mortar on a crumbling wall, pretending stability where there was none. They weren't just wrong; they were actively enabling sin by offering false reassurance that they were in God's favor, precisely when He had not spoken.
And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in a powerful denunciation of Jerusalem and its leaders for their corruption and idolatry. Ezekiel is painting a picture of a city on the brink of destruction, where the spiritual leaders have abandoned their duty. Instead of speaking God's truth, these false prophets have reassured the corrupt princes and people, offering hollow promises of peace and security, essentially plastering over a crumbling wall with weak mortar.
What does it mean for prophets to 'smear whitewash' or use 'untempered mortar'?
The prophets in Ezekiel's day were like builders using weak, improperly mixed mortar to cover up a crumbling wall. This 'whitewash' or 'untempered mortar' represents the smooth, appealing lies they told the people and their leaders. Instead of exposing sin and calling for repentance, these false prophets offered comforting but ultimately deceptive messages.
Think of it like this:
Why is falsely claiming God's authority so serious?
The most damning accusation against these prophets is that they spoke as if they were God's direct messengers. They would say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the Lord had not spoken to them. This wasn't just a mistake; it was a deliberate act of deception that undermined God's own authority and truth.
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This act carries immense weight because:
Understand the original words
nabi · Hebrew Noun
Spokespersons for God who receive divine revelation and are tasked with declaring His message faithfully, regardless of its popularity.
shav chazah · Hebrew Noun/Verb phrase
A false prophecy or a deceptive declaration presented as if it originated from God, aimed at misleading the people or soothing their conscience.
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
Divine title emphasizing the Master-Servant relationship (Adonai) and the self-existent, covenant-keeping nature of God (YHWH).
Ezekiel's words in this verse come at a time when Jerusalem has already fallen and the Temple is destroyed. He confronts the false prophets who, even in the face of impending doom and its aftermath, continued to offer deceptive messages of peace and security, thereby leading God's people astray.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Influence and Reforms
During this period, the Northern Kingdom of Israel faced increasing pressure and influence from the Assyrian Empire. King Hezekiah in Judah, however, initiated religious reforms inspired by prophetic teachings, challenging idolatry and centralizing worship.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish. As part of the spoils and consolidation of power, Nebuchadnezzar deported a group of Judean exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. Daniel was among them.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a Judean revolt against Babylonian rule, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem again. He deported more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and many skilled workers, further weakening the kingdom and its leadership.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, burned the Temple, and deported the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This marked the end of the Davidic monarchy and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 570 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry in Babylon
Ezekiel, himself among the exiles deported in 597 BC, received prophetic visions and messages in Babylon. He ministered to the exiles, confronting their despair and unfaithfulness, and calling them to repentance, while also pronouncing judgment on Judah and surrounding nations.
This passage directly parallels Ezekiel 22:28, describing prophets who build flimsy defenses ('whitewash' or 'untempered mortar') for people, promising peace when there is no peace.
Jeremiah 6:14Jeremiah condemns prophets who 'heal the wound of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace,' echoing the deceptive message of Ezekiel's false prophets.
1 Kings 22:21-23This passage shows a false prophet, Zedekiah, directly contradicting Micaiah and claiming to speak for the Lord with a deceptive prophecy, illustrating the danger of prophets who invent messages from God.
2 Peter 2:1-3Peter warns of false teachers who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and exploit people with deceptive words, paralleling the actions of Ezekiel's false prophets who led people astray with lies.
barnesEzekiel 22:28: "And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken."
See the marginal reference note.
ellicottEzekiel 22:28: "And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken."
(28) With untempered morter. —See Note on Ezekiel 13:10 . The prophets are here again spoken of in reference to their powerful influence upon the princes in leading them astray by falsehoods. “Seeing vanity” is an expression for pretended and false visions. (Comp. Ezekiel 13:7 ; Ezekiel 13:9-10 .)
The prophets' "whitewash" wasn't just empty words; it was a deliberate cover-up, like smearing bad mortar on a crumbling wall, pretending stability where there was none. They weren't just wrong; they were actively enabling sin by offering false reassurance that they were in God's favor, precisely when He had not spoken.
This verse appears in a powerful denunciation of Jerusalem and its leaders for their corruption and idolatry. Ezekiel is painting a picture of a city on the brink of destruction, where the spiritual leaders have abandoned their duty. Instead of speaking God's truth, these false prophets have reassured the corrupt princes and people, offering hollow promises of peace and security, essentially plastering over a crumbling wall with weak mortar.
This verse appears in a powerful denunciation of Jerusalem and its leaders for their corruption and idolatry. Ezekiel is painting a picture of a city on the brink of destruction, where the spiritual leaders have abandoned their duty. Instead of speaking God's truth, these false prophets have reassured the corrupt princes and people, offering hollow promises of peace and security, essentially plastering over a crumbling wall with weak mortar.
"And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken." — The prophets' "whitewash" wasn't just empty words; it was a deliberate cover-up, like smearing bad mortar on a crumbling wall, pretending stability where there was none. They weren't just wrong; they…
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Last reviewed October 2026