Ezekiel 13:22

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

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}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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,

Berean Standard Bible

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,

American Standard Version

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;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 13:22 delivers a searing divine indictment against the false prophets of Israel, exposing the profound spiritual damage inflicted by their deceptive messages. These self-proclaimed spokespersons for God, operating without divine mandate, are condemned for a two-fold offense: first, they disheartened the genuinely righteous with their lies, causing sorrow where God intended comfort and assurance; and second, they bolstered the resolve of the wicked, assuring them of peace and life despite their unrepentant sin, thereby preventing their crucial return to God's righteous path. This verse powerfully underscores God's fierce opposition to those who pervert His truth, leading His people astray and hindering true spiritual transformation and reconciliation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 13 is a powerful oracle against the false prophets and prophetesses who were active during a critical period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. The chapter immediately precedes this verse by detailing the nature of these false prophecies, describing them as "folly" ([Ezekiel 13:3](/ezekiel/13-3 "Ezekiel 13:3 - False Prophets Follow Their Own Spirit")) and "lies" ([Ezekiel 13:6-7](/ezekiel/13-6-7 "Ezekiel 13:6-7 - False Visions and Divinations")) that originated from their "own spirit" ([Ezekiel 13:3](/ezekiel/13-3 "Ezekiel 13:3 - False Prophets Follow Their Own Spirit")) rather than from God. They are likened to foxes among ruins ([Ezekiel 13:4](/ezekiel/13-4 "Ezekiel 13:4 - False Prophets Like Foxes")) and those who "build a wall and daub it with untempered mortar" ([Ezekiel 13:10](/ezekiel/13-10 "Ezekiel 13:10 - Building a Wall with Untempered Mortar")), signifying their futile and ultimately destructive work. Verse 22 specifically summarizes the devastating impact of their deceit, serving as a concluding condemnation of their practices before the oracle shifts to the prophetesses in the latter half of the chapter, highlighting the pervasive nature of spiritual deception in Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies in Ezekiel were delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, as well as to those remaining in Jerusalem, during the tumultuous early 6th century BCE. This was a time of immense national trauma, with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple looming or having just occurred. In such periods of crisis, people are particularly vulnerable to messages of hope, even false ones. False prophets capitalized on this vulnerability, offering reassuring words of peace and imminent deliverance ([Ezekiel 13:10](/ezekiel/13-10 "Ezekiel 13:10 - Building a Wall with Untempered Mortar")) that directly contradicted God's clear message of judgment and the necessity of repentance. Their messages were culturally appealing because they offered an easy way out, a path of comfort rather than the hard truth of divine discipline and the call to return to the covenant. This context illuminates why their lies were so readily accepted and why their impact was so spiritually damaging to the nation's spiritual health.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes prevalent in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the **destructive nature of false prophecy**, contrasting it sharply with the life-giving truth of God's word. The false prophets' actions reveal a profound **misunderstanding or deliberate perversion of God's character and justice**, portraying Him as indifferent to sin when He is, in fact, holy and righteous. The verse also emphasizes the **importance of discernment** for God's people, urging them to distinguish between genuine and deceptive spiritual messages. Furthermore, it underscores God's **desire for the repentance of the wicked** (as seen in [Ezekiel 33:11](/ezekiel/33-11 "Ezekiel 33:11 - God's Desire for Repentance")), which was directly thwarted by the false prophets' assurances of "life." Conversely, it shows God's **care for the righteous**, whose hearts were unjustly burdened by these lies, contrary to His nature as a comforter (compare [Isaiah 40:1](/isaiah/40-1 "Isaiah 40:1 - God Comforts His People")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sad (Hebrew, _kâʼâh'_):** This word (H3512) means "to despond" or "to deject." Causatively, it means "to make sad" or "to grieve." In Ezekiel 13:22, it describes the emotional and spiritual state inflicted upon the righteous by the false prophets' lies. It signifies a deep sense of discouragement, a crushing of hope, or a feeling of being let down, which is precisely the opposite of the comfort and assurance God intends for His faithful.
* **strengthened (Hebrew, _châzaq'_):** This word (H2388) is a primitive root meaning "to fasten upon," "to seize," or "to be strong." Causatively, it means "to strengthen," "to cure," or "to fortify." When applied to "hands" (H3027, _yâd_, meaning power or means), it implies giving courage, support, or reinforcing one's resolve. Here, it indicates that the false prophets' deceptive assurances made the wicked more resolute and unyielding in their sinful ways, rather than leading them to repentance.
* **life (Hebrew, _châyâh'_):** This word (H2421) is a primitive root meaning "to live," whether literally or figuratively. Causatively, it means "to revive" or "to preserve alive." In the context of the false prophets "promising him life," it refers to assurances of peace, prosperity, safety, or well-being despite unrepentant sin. This promise of "life" was a deceptive comfort that prevented the wicked from realizing the true spiritual death their actions were leading to, offering a false sense of security.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad":** This clause directly attributes the profound sorrow and despondency of the righteous to the deceptive prophecies. The "lies" (H8267, _sheqer_) were not mere errors but deliberate falsehoods presented as divine truth. These lies caused deep emotional and spiritual distress ("made sad" - H3512, _kâʼâh_) in the "heart" (H3820, _lêb_, the seat of feelings, will, and intellect) of those who genuinely sought to follow God ("the righteous" - H6662, _tsaddîyq_).
* **"whom I have not made sad":** This parenthetical yet crucial statement highlights the stark contrast between God's benevolent intention and the false prophets' malevolent actions. God Himself did not intend for His righteous people to be sad; rather, He desires to comfort, uphold, and bring joy to them. This emphasizes the egregious nature of the false prophets' sin: they inflicted sorrow that was contrary to God's will and character, usurping His role and perverting His message.
* **"and strengthened the hands of the wicked":** This clause describes the second destructive consequence of the false prophecies. By offering false assurances, the prophets "strengthened" (H2388, _châzaq_) the "hands" (H3027, _yâd_, representing power, resolve, or ability to act) of the "wicked" (H7451, _raʻ_, morally evil, or H7563, _râshâʻ_, an actively bad person). This means they emboldened them in their sinful conduct, giving them false confidence and removing any internal or external pressure to change their ways.
* **"that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life":** This final clause explains the ultimate, damning effect of strengthening the wicked: it actively prevented their repentance. The false promise of "life" (H2421, _châyâh_) – implying peace, prosperity, or safety despite their sin – removed any impetus for the wicked to "return" (H7725, _shûwb_, to turn back, repent, or turn away from) from their "wicked way" (H1870, _derek_, their sinful course of life). This directly undermined God's desire for the wicked to turn from their sin and live, leading them further down a path of destruction.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 13:22 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking clarity and force. **Antithesis** is central to the verse's structure, starkly contrasting the inverse effects of the false prophets' lies on two distinct groups: the righteous are made "sad," while the wicked are "strengthened." This highlights the perverse reversal of spiritual outcomes caused by deception. The phrase "strengthened the hands" is a powerful **idiom** or **metonymy**, where "hands" stand for power, resolve, or capacity, indicating that the false prophets bolstered the wicked's ability and willingness to continue in sin. The repetition of "sad" ("made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad") creates a subtle **chiasm** or **parallelism** that emphasizes God's non-culpability and the prophets' direct responsibility for the sorrow of the righteous. The entire verse functions as a concise **summary statement** of the false prophets' culpability, encapsulating their two primary destructive impacts on the spiritual landscape of Israel, making their sin clear and undeniable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 13:22 is a profound theological statement on the nature of truth and falsehood, and God's unwavering commitment to justice, righteousness, and the genuine spiritual well-being of His people. It reveals that God is deeply offended by those who distort His message, not only because it dishonors His holy name but because it actively harms and misleads His covenant people. The false prophets' actions represent a direct assault on divine order, undermining God's call to repentance for the wicked and His promise of comfort and peace for the righteous. This passage underscores the critical importance of discerning true prophecy from false, reminding us that genuine divine communication always aligns with God's unchanging character, promoting holiness, justice, and ultimately, life through repentance and obedience, rather than offering cheap grace or false assurances that lead to spiritual death.

* [Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "Jeremiah 14:14 - False Prophets Prophesy Lies")
* [Isaiah 35:3](/isaiah/35-3 "Isaiah 35:3 - Strengthening the Weak Hands")
* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Proverbs 28:13 - Confession and Mercy for Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 13:22 serves as a timeless and urgent warning for all believers and particularly for those who stand in positions of spiritual leadership. It compels us to cultivate rigorous spiritual discernment, constantly testing what we hear against the unchanging plumb line of God's revealed Word. True biblical teaching will never offer a comfortable lie to the unrepentant, nor will it unnecessarily burden the hearts of those striving to walk in righteousness. Instead, it will faithfully proclaim God's truth, which brings conviction to the sinner and comfort to the saint, always leading to genuine repentance and life. This verse reminds us that genuine spiritual health requires an honest assessment of our condition before God, a willingness to embrace His truth even when it is challenging, and a rejection of any message that promises peace apart from repentance or discourages those who seek to live righteously. It calls us to be vigilant against voices that might soothe our consciences while leading us further from God, or conversely, those that might needlessly trouble our souls with burdens God has not placed upon us, thereby hindering our walk of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I discern between messages that truly come from God and those that are merely comforting or convenient lies, especially in today's complex spiritual landscape?**
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be susceptible to messages that "strengthen the hands of the wicked" by minimizing sin, offering false assurances, or promoting a gospel without repentance?**
* **How can I ensure that my own words and actions, especially if I am in a leadership role, consistently bring comfort to the righteous and a clear, compassionate call to repentance to the unrighteous, rather than the destructive reverse?**
* **What are the practical steps I can take to cultivate a deeper reliance on God's Word as my ultimate standard of truth, actively guarding against spiritual deception and fostering genuine spiritual growth?**

### FAQ
**What is the primary sin of the false prophets condemned in Ezekiel 13:22?**

Answer: The primary sin of the false prophets in Ezekiel 13:22 is their propagation of "lies" (Hebrew: *sheqer*) presented as divine revelation, which were not simply errors but deliberate deceptions that perverted God's truth. Their sin was two-fold in its devastating effect: they disheartened the righteous, causing them sorrow that God did not intend, and they strengthened the wicked in their sinful ways by promising them "life" (peace, prosperity, safety) without requiring repentance, thereby preventing their return to God. This constituted a profound spiritual malpractice, misrepresenting God's character and hindering His redemptive purposes for both the righteous and the unrighteous. Their actions directly contradicted God's desire for the wicked to "turn from his wicked way" ([Ezekiel 13:22](/ezekiel/13-22 "Ezekiel 13:22 - The False Prophets' Harmful Lies")) and for the righteous to find comfort in Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 13:22, in its condemnation of false prophets who misled God's people, finds its ultimate fulfillment and striking contrast in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, the true Prophet of God. While the false prophets brought sadness to the righteous and emboldened the wicked with false promises of "life," Jesus came to bring true comfort to the sorrowful and genuine life to those who repent. He proclaimed, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus' Invitation to the Weary")), directly addressing the "sadness" of the righteous caused by the burdens of sin and deceptive teaching. Conversely, Jesus never offered false assurances to the wicked; instead, He called them to radical repentance, declaring, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Jesus Preaches Repentance")). He exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, who were like "whitewashed tombs" ([Matthew 23:27](/matthew/23-27 "Matthew 23:27 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")), embodying the very spiritual malpractice Ezekiel condemned. The "life" promised by the false prophets was a deceptive illusion, but Christ is the "way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life")), offering eternal life through His atoning sacrifice ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). His ministry perfectly reversed the destructive effects of false prophecy, bringing genuine comfort and true repentance, leading to authentic life in God.

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

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: