Ezekiel 14:9

And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

And if the prophet {H5030} be deceived {H6601} when he hath spoken {H1696} a thing {H1697}, I the LORD {H3068} have deceived {H6601} that prophet {H5030}, and I will stretch out {H5186} my hand {H3027} upon him, and will destroy {H8045} him from the midst {H8432} of my people {H5971} Israel {H3478}.

"'Now, whenever a prophet is enticed into speaking a word, it will be I, ADONAI, who will have enticed that prophet. I will stretch out my hand over him and destroy him from among my people Isra'el.

But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, Jehovah, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Commentary

Ezekiel 14:9 is a profound and challenging verse that highlights God's absolute sovereignty, even over acts of deception, particularly concerning false prophecy. It is part of a larger section where the prophet Ezekiel addresses the spiritual state of Israel, especially those elders who had come to inquire of the LORD but had secretly harbored idols in their hearts.

Context

This verse comes in the midst of God's stern warning to the people of Israel who, despite being in exile or facing its imminent threat, continued to practice idolatry and seek counsel from false prophets. God declares that if individuals set up idols in their hearts and then go to a prophet, He will answer them Himself, but in a way that exposes their sin and brings judgment (Ezekiel 14:4-5). The judgment extends not only to the idolaters but also to the prophets who mislead them. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 14:7-8) emphasize the severe consequences for those who persist in idolatry and for the false prophets who enable it. This particular verse, Ezekiel 14:9, explains how God deals with a prophet who is deceived and deceives others.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The most striking aspect is God's declaration, "I the LORD have deceived that prophet." This does not imply God actively causes falsehood, but rather that He permits or orchestrates circumstances (often as a judicial act) that allow a prophet to be deceived, particularly when that prophet is already inclined to speak falsely or the people are inclined to believe lies. It is a judgment upon the false prophet, allowing them to fall deeper into the very deception they propagate, leading to their ultimate destruction. This illustrates God's control over all things, even the consequences of human sin.
  • Consequences for False Prophecy: The verse clearly states, "I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel." This underlines the severe divine retribution for those who claim to speak for God but mislead His people. False prophets were a grave danger to Israel's spiritual purity and relationship with God, and God promised to remove them from the community.
  • Discerning Truth: For the people, this passage serves as a powerful warning about the vital importance of discerning true prophecy from false. If God Himself allows a prophet to be deceived as a judgment, it places a heavy responsibility on listeners to test what is spoken against God's established word and character.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "deceived" (הִשִּׁאΧͺΧ™ - hishshi'ti) is from the root *nasha*, which means "to entice," "to mislead," or "to cause to forget." In contexts like this, where God is the subject, it often implies a judicial act of allowing or sending a delusion, rather than directly implanting a lie. This is akin to God "hardening Pharaoh's heart" in Exodus, or allowing a "lying spirit" to deceive Ahab's prophets in 1 Kings 22:23. It is a consequence of the prophet's own spiritual corruption or the people's desire for soothing falsehoods, where God allows them to receive what they desire, to their own detriment.

Practical Application

For believers today, Ezekiel 14:9 offers several crucial lessons:

  • Beware of Deception: We live in a world with many voices claiming spiritual authority. This verse reminds us that not every spiritual claim is from God, and some may even be divinely permitted deceptions as a judgment. It underscores the need to be vigilant and to test all things against the truth of God's Word.
  • Personal Responsibility: The passage implies that people who "set up their idols in their heart" are susceptible to false prophecy. Our own spiritual condition and desire for truth (or lack thereof) can influence what we are open to believing. Maintaining a pure heart and seeking God sincerely is paramount.
  • God's Justice: Ultimately, this verse affirms God's perfect justice. He will not allow His name to be profaned indefinitely by those who speak falsely in His name. There will be a reckoning for those who deliberately mislead others spiritually.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 4:10

    Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

  • Ezekiel 20:25

    Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

  • Isaiah 66:4

    I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.

  • Isaiah 9:12

    The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Ezekiel 16:27

    Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary [food], and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

  • Jeremiah 14:15

    Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

  • 2 Samuel 12:11

    Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
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