Ezekiel 13:14

So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [morter], and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

So will I break down {H2040} the wall {H7023} that ye have daubed {H2902} with untempered {H8602} morter, and bring {H5060} it down to the ground {H776}, so that the foundation {H3247} thereof shall be discovered {H1540}, and it shall fall {H5307}, and ye shall be consumed {H3615} in the midst {H8432} thereof: and ye shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

This is how I will break down the wall you covered with whitewash - I will smash it to the ground, so that its foundation will be revealed. The wall will fall down, and you will be consumed with it. Then you will know that I am ADONAI.

I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

Ezekiel 13:14 KJV delivers a powerful prophetic warning against false prophets in ancient Israel, using the vivid metaphor of a poorly constructed wall that God Himself will dismantle.

Context of Ezekiel 13:14

This verse is part of a broader prophecy in Ezekiel 13 where the prophet Ezekiel condemns the false prophets and prophetesses who were misleading the people of Judah during a critical period leading up to the Babylonian exile. These individuals offered comforting but deceptive messages of peace and security, contrary to God's true word of impending judgment and discipline. They were like builders who constructed a flimsy wall and then "daubed it with untempered [morter]" – essentially whitewashing it to make it appear strong and finished, but without any real structural integrity. This "wall" represents their deceptive prophecies and the false sense of security they instilled in the people, promising peace where there was none (Jeremiah 6:14).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment on Deception: The primary message is God's unwavering commitment to expose and destroy falsehood. He will personally "break down the wall" of lies, revealing its rotten foundation.
  • The Worthlessness of False Security: The "untempered mortar" highlights the superficiality and ultimate futility of relying on human-made, deceptive assurances. Such foundations cannot withstand God's scrutiny.
  • Consequences of Misleading and Being Misled: Both the false prophets (those who "daubed" the wall) and those who trusted in their lies will face severe consequences, being "consumed in the midst thereof." This underscores the destructive nature of spiritual deception.
  • God's Self-Revelation: The recurring phrase, "and ye shall know that I am the LORD," emphasizes that through these acts of judgment, God validates His sovereignty, truth, and authority. His actions reveal His true character and expose the impotence of idols and false gods (Ezekiel 6:7).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "untempered [morter]" translates the Hebrew word tāphel (טָפֵל). This term signifies something that is "unsavory," "senseless," "foolish," or literally "whitewash" or "plastered over." It vividly portrays the flimsy, worthless nature of the false prophecies – they were merely a thin, deceptive coating over a crumbling structure, offering no real protection or truth.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 13:14 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual deception and the dangers of building one's life or hope on false premises. In any era, there are voices that promise easy solutions or false peace, much like the "whitewashed wall" of Ezekiel's time. This verse calls believers to:

  • Discern Truth: Critically evaluate teachings and promises, testing them against the unchanging truth of God's Word (1 John 4:1).
  • Build on Solid Ground: Rather than flimsy human ideologies or comforting lies, true security comes from grounding one's faith and life on the unshakeable foundation of God's revealed truth and His Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:24-27).
  • Recognize God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, God will expose all falsehood and uphold His truth, ensuring that all will know He alone is the LORD.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Micah 1:6

    Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, [and] as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

  • Jeremiah 6:15

    Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

  • Habakkuk 3:13

    Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, [even] for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

  • Ezekiel 13:9

    And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

  • Jeremiah 14:15

    Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

  • Ezekiel 13:21

    Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 13:23

    Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

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