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.

Therefore ye shall see {H2372} no more vanity {H7723}, nor divine {H7080} divinations {H7081}: for I will deliver {H5337} my people {H5971} out of your hand {H3027}: and ye shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

therefore you will have no more futile visions, and you will produce no more divinations. I will rescue my people from your clutches, and you will know that I am ADONAI.'"

therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

Therefore ye shall no more see false visions, nor divine divinations: and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 13 provides a strong condemnation of false prophets and prophetesses within Israel who offered misleading and comforting messages, contrary to God's impending judgment and the reality of the Babylonian exile. These individuals built "walls" of false hope and "daubed them with untempered mortar" (Ezekiel 13:10), promising peace where there was none. Verse 23 serves as the culminating declaration of God's decisive action against these deceivers, asserting that their influence and deceptive practices will cease.

Key Themes

  • Cessation of Falsehood: The phrase "ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations" signifies God's direct intervention to put an end to the deceptive visions and illicit prophetic practices of the false prophets. Their lies and empty promises will no longer hold sway over God's people.
  • Divine Deliverance: God's primary motivation is to rescue His people from the spiritual and psychological bondage imposed by these charlatans. "I will deliver my people out of your hand" highlights God's active role as a rescuer, freeing them from the manipulative influence of those who exploited their fears and hopes. This echoes God's historical pattern of delivering His people from oppression.
  • Revelation of God's Sovereignty: The declaration "and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD" is a recurring and foundational theme throughout the book of Ezekiel. It emphasizes that God's judgments and redemptive acts are ultimately designed to reveal His true identity, power, and unique sovereignty to both His people and their adversaries. This judgment serves as an undeniable proof of His singular authority, distinct from any human or pagan deity, as seen in other passages like Ezekiel 6:7.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "vanity" is shav' (שָׁוְא), which often denotes emptiness, worthlessness, or falsehood. It can refer to idolatry, deception, or anything that is ultimately without substance.
  • "Divine divinations" comes from the Hebrew qesem (ק֢ב֢ם), referring to divination, enchantment, or fortune-telling, which God explicitly forbids as an abominable practice (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
  • The powerful phrase "ye shall know that I am the LORD" uses God's covenant name, YHWH (Yahweh), underscoring His self-existent, eternal nature and His faithfulness to His promises and warnings.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 13:23 holds enduring relevance for believers today:

  • Spiritual Discernment: It underscores the timeless need for believers to exercise spiritual discernment, carefully evaluating all teachings and prophecies against the unchanging truth of God's Word. Falsehoods can arise from within the community, offering false comfort or preying on anxieties.
  • God's Protection: This verse offers assurance that God actively protects His people from spiritual deception and the harmful influence of false teachers. He is committed to exposing lies and freeing those who are ensnared by them.
  • Truth Will Prevail: Ultimately, God's truth will triumph over all forms of deception. His character and sovereignty will be vindicated, and His genuine followers will recognize His hand in bringing about justice and deliverance.
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Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Micah 3:6

    Therefore night [shall be] unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

  • Ezekiel 12:24

    For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • Revelation 12:11

    And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

  • Ezekiel 34:10

    Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

  • Zechariah 13:3

    And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.