Ezekiel 13:22

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Because with lies {H8267} ye have made the heart {H3820} of the righteous {H6662} sad {H3512}, whom I have not made sad {H3510}; and strengthened {H2388} the hands {H3027} of the wicked {H7451}, that he should not return {H7725} from his wicked {H7563} way {H1870}, by promising him life {H2421}:

Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies when I was not trying to cause them pain and have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their wicked ways and thus be saved,

Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,

Because with lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive;

Ezekiel 13:22 (KJV) Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 13 is a powerful prophetic indictment against the false prophets and prophetesses operating in Israel during a critical time of national crisis and impending exile. These individuals were speaking "out of their own hearts" (Ezekiel 13:2), not from God's word, and were leading the people astray. They offered deceptive messages of peace and safety when God was pronouncing judgment and calling for repentance. This specific verse, Ezekiel 13:22, encapsulates the two-fold damage caused by their deceitful prophecies: disheartening the righteous and emboldening the wicked, thus hindering true spiritual transformation.

Key Themes

  • The Destructive Power of Falsehood: This verse starkly reveals how lies and deceit, especially when presented as divine revelation, can inflict deep spiritual harm. The "lies" (Hebrew: sheqer) spoken by these false prophets were not just errors but deliberate deceptions that perverted God's truth.
  • Discouraging the Righteous: False prophets made "the heart of the righteous sad" by offering messages that contradicted God's actual plans or promises, or by creating a false sense of security that undermined the faithful's reliance on divine justice. This grief was not from God, who desires to comfort His people (see Isaiah 40:1).
  • Enabling the Wicked: Conversely, these false prophecies "strengthened the hands of the wicked" by promising them "life" (peace, prosperity, safety) despite their unrepentant ways. This false assurance prevented them from returning from their "wicked way," directly opposing God's desire for the wicked to turn from their sin and live (see Ezekiel 33:11).
  • Divine Condemnation of Spiritual Malpractice: God's strong condemnation here underscores His abhorrence for those who misuse His name or message to mislead His people, whether to their sorrow or their destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sad" (yagōn) implies deep sorrow, grief, or vexation, highlighting the emotional distress inflicted upon the righteous. The phrase "strengthened the hands" (ḥazzaq yad) means to give courage or support, indicating that the false prophets' assurances emboldened the wicked in their sinful paths, rather than weakening their resolve to do evil.

Related Scriptures

  • For more on God's condemnation of false prophets, consider Jeremiah 14:14, where Jeremiah states, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."
  • The opposite of strengthening the hands of the wicked is seen in passages that encourage the righteous, such as Isaiah 35:3: "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."

Practical Application

Ezekiel 13:22 serves as a timeless warning for all believers. It emphasizes the critical need for spiritual discernment. We must always test what we hear against the unchanging truth of God's Word (1 John 4:1). True biblical teaching will never discourage the faithful with lies nor offer false peace to the unrepentant. Instead, it will bring comfort and encouragement to those walking righteously and a clear call to repentance for those in sin. This verse reminds us of the profound responsibility of those who speak on behalf of God and the vital importance of seeking and embracing truth.

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.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 14:13

    Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

  • Jeremiah 14:17

    ¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

  • Ezekiel 9:4

    And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

  • 2 Peter 2:19

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

  • Genesis 3:4

    And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

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