Ezekiel 13:17

KJV

¶ Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

KJV (with Strong's)

Likewise, thou son {H1121} of man {H120}, set {H7760} thy face {H6440} against the daughters {H1323} of thy people {H5971}, which prophesy {H5012} out of their own heart {H3820}; and prophesy {H5012} thou against them,

Complete Jewish Bible

"You, human being, turn your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own thoughts. Prophesy against them;

Berean Standard Bible

Now, O son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them

American Standard Version

And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 13:17 introduces a stern divine command to the prophet Ezekiel, instructing him to confront and prophesy against the female false prophets among the Israelite people. These individuals are explicitly condemned for delivering messages that originate not from divine inspiration, but from their own imaginations, desires, or self-interest, thereby misleading the community with deceptive assurances of peace and prosperity in a time of impending judgment. This verse underscores God's unwavering opposition to spiritual falsehood and His call for His true messengers to expose such deception.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 13 stands as a powerful indictment against false prophets, both male and female, who plagued Israel during a critical period leading up to the Babylonian exile. The chapter immediately preceding this verse (Ezekiel 13:1-16) focuses on the male false prophets, condemning their empty visions and lying divinations. Verse 17 then shifts focus specifically to the "daughters of thy people," indicating that the problem of self-generated prophecy was pervasive across genders. The repeated imagery in the chapter of building "a wall" of false hope and daubing it with "untempered mortar" ([Ezekiel 13:10](/ezekiel/13-10 "Ezekiel 13:10 - False Prophets' Untempered Mortar")) highlights the flimsy and ultimately destructive nature of their deceptive messages, which offered comfort where God intended conviction and repentance. This verse is integral to the broader theme of divine judgment against those who corrupt God's word for personal gain or popularity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During the late monarchical period and the early stages of the Babylonian exile, the people of Judah were desperate for hope and reassurance. In such turbulent times, there was a strong temptation for individuals to seek out comforting messages, even if they were untrue. False prophets, both male and female, capitalized on this desperation, offering pronouncements of peace and deliverance contrary to the grim reality of God's impending judgment. While women could hold prophetic roles in ancient Israel (e.g., Miriam, Deborah, Huldah), the issue here is not their gender but the source and content of their prophecy. These "daughters of thy people" likely gained influence by appealing to popular sentiment, providing an alternative, more palatable narrative than the harsh truths proclaimed by genuine prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Their activities contributed to the spiritual blindness that prevented the nation from truly repenting and averting disaster, a danger echoed in warnings found throughout [Jeremiah's prophecies](/jeremiah/14 "Jeremiah 14 - False Prophets and Famine").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Opposition to Falsehood**, demonstrating God's absolute intolerance for any message that purports to be from Him but is not. Ezekiel is commanded to "set thy face against" these prophetesses, signifying a posture of unwavering confrontation and judgment. Secondly, the verse highlights the critical theme of the **Source of Prophecy**. The core accusation against these women is that they "prophesy out of their own heart," a stark contrast to genuine prophecy, which originates from the Spirit of God. This distinction between human imagination and divine revelation is paramount. Thirdly, the passage underscores the **Danger of Deception**, as these false prophecies fostered a dangerous delusion among the people, hindering true repentance and leading them further astray. Finally, it reinforces **Ezekiel's Commission** as the "son of man," called to be God's faithful watchman, confronting evil and speaking truth, no matter how unpopular, even when it means challenging those within his own community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Son of Man (Hebrew, _ben 'adam'_):** This phrase, combining H1121 (_bên_) meaning "son" (often indicating a member of a class or group) and H120 (_ʼâdâm_) meaning "human being" or "man," is the most frequent designation for Ezekiel in his book. It emphasizes his humanity and mortality in contrast to the divine majesty of God, highlighting his role as a representative of humanity before God and as a messenger to his fellow humans. It also underscores the universal applicability of his message.
* **Daughters (Hebrew, _bath'_):** Derived from H1323, meaning "daughter," this term specifically identifies the female false prophets. While "daughters of thy people" could generally refer to women of the nation, in this prophetic context, it specifically points to those women who were claiming prophetic authority. Its use emphasizes that the problem of false prophecy was not limited to men, but permeated all segments of society, including those who might have held respected positions as prophetesses.
* **Prophesy (Hebrew, _nâbâ'_):** From H5012, a primitive root meaning "to prophesy," i.e., to speak or sing by inspiration, whether in prediction or simple discourse. The repetition of this verb in the verse ("which prophesy... and prophesy thou against them") creates a powerful **Contrast**. The false prophetesses *claim* to prophesy, but their prophecy is illegitimate. Ezekiel, in contrast, is commanded to *truly* prophesy against them, delivering God's authentic word.
* **Heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** From H3820, this word refers to the heart, but figuratively, it encompasses the entire inner being—the seat of feelings, will, intellect, and even the center of anything. When the text states they prophesy "out of their own heart," it means their messages originate from their own thoughts, desires, imaginations, or even self-deception, rather than from divine inspiration or revelation. This is a crucial distinction, as it highlights the human, rather than divine, source of their deceptive words.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Likewise, thou son of man,"**: This phrase serves as a direct address from God to Ezekiel, reiterating his divine commission and connecting this specific instruction to the broader prophetic tasks he has been given. It underscores the personal nature of God's command to His prophet.
* **"set thy face against the daughters of thy people,"**: This is a powerful imperative. "Setting one's face against" signifies a resolute, determined, and often confrontational posture, implying a firm stance of opposition and judgment. Ezekiel is not merely to observe but to actively confront these individuals. The phrase "daughters of thy people" identifies the specific group: female members of the Israelite community who are engaged in false prophecy.
* **"which prophesy out of their own heart;"**: This clause reveals the core indictment against these women. Their prophecies are not divinely inspired but are products of their own internal thoughts, desires, or imaginations. This highlights the crucial difference between true prophecy, which is God-breathed, and false prophecy, which is self-generated and therefore lacks divine authority and truth.
* **"and prophesy thou against them,"**: This final command reinforces Ezekiel's active role. He is not just to "set his face against" them but to verbally deliver God's message of condemnation directly to them. This emphasizes the necessity of speaking God's truth to counter the pervasive falsehoods being spread.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 13:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The **Imperative Mood** is prominent, with direct commands like "set thy face" and "prophesy thou against them," emphasizing the urgency and divine authority behind Ezekiel's mission. The phrase "set thy face against" functions as powerful **Symbolism**, representing a posture of unwavering opposition and resolute judgment, a common motif in Ezekiel's confrontational prophecies (e.g., against Jerusalem in [Ezekiel 4:7](/ezekiel/4-7 "Ezekiel 4:7 - Ezekiel's Siege of Jerusalem")). There is a strong **Contrast** established between the source of true prophecy and false prophecy: God's Spirit versus "their own heart." This highlights the fundamental difference between divine truth and human deception. The "heart" itself, when described as the origin of prophecy, uses **Metonymy**, where the part (heart) stands for the whole person's inner thoughts, desires, and will, underscoring the self-generated nature of their messages.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 13:17 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine revelation and the dangers of human-centered spirituality. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over truth and His fierce opposition to those who corrupt His word for personal gain or to appease popular sentiment. The condemnation of prophesying "out of their own heart" is a timeless warning against any spiritual message that originates from human desires, imaginations, or intellect rather than from the Spirit of God. This distinction is critical for discerning authentic spiritual authority from deceptive counterfeits. The passage implicitly affirms that true prophecy is always God-initiated, God-centered, and God-glorifying, intended to call people to repentance and obedience, not to offer false comfort or validate human sin.

* [Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "Jeremiah 14:14 - False Prophets Speak Lies")
* [Deuteronomy 18:20](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Deuteronomy 18:20 - The Prophet Who Presumes to Speak")
* [1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel's confrontation with the false prophetesses provides a crucial lesson for believers in every age: the imperative to exercise spiritual discernment. In a world saturated with voices claiming to speak for God, this passage calls us to critically examine the source and content of every message. Do the words align with the unchanging truth of God's revealed Word? Do they lead to genuine repentance, holiness, and a deeper relationship with God, or do they merely offer comforting platitudes that affirm our desires without challenging our sin? We are warned against those who prophesy "out of their own heart," as their words, however well-intentioned or charismatic, can lead to false security and spiritual harm. Our ultimate standard must always be the Scripture, which is "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" ([2 Timothy 3:16](/2_timothy/3-16 "2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")). We are called to be like the Bereans, who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" ([Acts 17:11](/acts/17-11 "Acts 17:11 - The Noble Bereans")).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How can I discern whether a spiritual message originates from God's Spirit or from a human "heart"?**
* **What are some common "comforting lies" or "untempered mortar" that I might be tempted to believe in my own life or in the broader Christian community today?**
* **In what ways am I called to "set my face against" falsehood and deception within my sphere of influence, even if it is unpopular?**

### FAQ
**Why does God specifically mention "daughters of thy people" in this verse, after addressing male false prophets?**

Answer: The specific mention of "daughters of thy people" in Ezekiel 13:17 highlights that the problem of false prophecy was pervasive and affected all segments of Israelite society, including women. While the preceding verses (Ezekiel 13:1-16) generally address false prophets, this verse makes it explicit that female individuals were also claiming prophetic authority without divine inspiration. This is not a condemnation of women in prophetic roles, as the Old Testament records genuine prophetesses like Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah. Rather, it is a condemnation of *false* prophecy, regardless of the gender of the one delivering it. It underscores that spiritual deception was a widespread issue that God was addressing comprehensively, leaving no group uncalled to account. The inclusion of "daughters" emphasizes the totality of the judgment against all who spoke "out of their own heart" rather than God's word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 13:17, with its stark warning against prophesying from one's own heart, finds its ultimate fulfillment and counterpoint in Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's truth and the ultimate Prophet. While the false prophets spoke out of human imagination, Jesus spoke only what He heard from the Father ([John 12:49](/john/12-49 "John 12:49 - Jesus Speaks What He Hears From the Father")). He is the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the final and complete revelation of God, far surpassing the partial and fragmented revelations of the Old Testament prophets ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word in His Son")). The danger of false prophets, as warned in Ezekiel, is their ability to lead people astray with deceptive messages. Jesus Himself warned His disciples to "beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" ([Matthew 7:15](/matthew/7-15 "Matthew 7:15 - Beware of False Prophets")). His life, death, and resurrection validate His claims as the true messenger of God, and His teachings serve as the unchanging standard against which all other claims of truth must be measured. In Christ, we have the perfect and unfailing Word, ensuring that those who follow Him will never be led astray by the deceptive prophecies originating from human hearts, but will always be guided by the Spirit of truth who testifies of Him ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth Will Guide You")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 13:2

Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

Revelation 2:20

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Judges 4:4

¶ And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

2 Kings 22:14

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

2 Peter 2:1

¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Ezekiel 21:2

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop [thy word] toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,