Ezekiel 13:19

And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?

And will ye pollute {H2490} me among my people {H5971} for handfuls {H8168} of barley {H8184} and for pieces {H6595} of bread {H3899}, to slay {H4191} the souls {H5315} that should not die {H4191}, and to save {H2421} the souls {H5315} alive {H2421} that should not live {H2421}, by your lying {H3576} to my people {H5971} that hear {H8085} your lies {H3577}?

You dishonor me before my people for a few handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, killing people who should not die and sparing those who should not live, by your lying to my people, who love hearing lies.'

You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.

And ye have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hearken unto lies.

Ezekiel 13:19 delivers a scathing indictment from God against the false prophets and prophetesses in ancient Israel. The verse exposes their mercenary motives and the devastating spiritual consequences of their deceptive messages, which ultimately profaned God's holy name among His people.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Ezekiel ministered during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, primarily to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. During this time, many false prophets arose, both in exile and in Jerusalem, promising peace and prosperity contrary to God's true message of judgment and repentance. These individuals often contradicted the warnings of true prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, offering comforting lies that prevented the people from seeking genuine reconciliation with God. This verse specifically targets their motivation and the destructive impact of their lies on the spiritual well-being of the nation.

Key Themes

  • Mercenary Motives: The phrase "for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread" vividly illustrates the prophets' base and selfish motivations. They were not divinely inspired but prophesied for meager material gain, demonstrating a profound lack of integrity and a cheapening of divine revelation. This highlights the contrast between true prophecy, which flows from God's Spirit, and false prophecy, which is driven by personal greed.
  • Spiritual Deception and Its Consequences: The most grievous accusation is that they "slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live."
    • "Slay the souls that should not die": This refers to disheartening the righteous, those who might be seeking God or genuinely repenting, by burdening them with false guilt or despair.
    • "Save the souls alive that should not live": This points to giving false hope to the wicked or unrepentant, assuring them of peace and safety when God's judgment was imminent. This deceptive comfort prevented them from turning from their sins.
  • Profaning God's Name: By using God's name to endorse their lies, these false prophets "pollute" or profane Him among His people. This act brought dishonor to God, making it appear as though He endorsed falsehood or was inconsistent in His character. God's holiness is a paramount concern throughout Ezekiel, and He will not tolerate His name being used for such deceitful purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pollute" here is chalal (חלל), which means to profane, defile, or desecrate. It implies a violation of something sacred, emphasizing the gravity of using God's name for personal gain and deception. The term "souls" is nephesh (נפש), often translated as living being, person, or life, underscoring that the prophets' lies had life-and-death spiritual consequences for individuals.

Related Scriptures

The theme of false prophets is pervasive in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 provides a test for distinguishing true from false prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." The apostle Peter also speaks of those who "privily shall bring in damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1).

Practical Application

Ezekiel 13:19 serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of spiritual deception and the importance of discernment. In any age, individuals claiming to speak for God must be tested against the truth of His revealed Word. We are called to:

  • Discern Truth from Error: Be vigilant against messages that offer false comfort without repentance or condemn the righteous. True spiritual guidance aligns with God's established character and His revealed will in Scripture.
  • Examine Motives: Be cautious of those who seem to profit materially or gain undue influence from their spiritual claims, especially if their messages contradict biblical truth.
  • Value God's Holiness: Recognize that God is holy and His name is to be revered. Any message or messenger that profanes God's name or misrepresents His character should be rejected.

This verse reminds believers to anchor their faith in God's unchanging truth and to seek genuine spiritual nourishment, rather than being swayed by enticing but ultimately destructive lies.

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.

  • Proverbs 28:21

    ¶ To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.

  • Micah 3:5

    Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

  • Ezekiel 22:26

    Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed [difference] between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

  • Jeremiah 23:14

    I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

  • Ezekiel 20:39

    As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

  • Jeremiah 23:17

    They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

  • Micah 3:11

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

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