Ezekiel 13:18-22

Bible Text

[18] and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of [persons of] every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves? [19] You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies. [20] Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls who you hunt to make [them] fly. [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 you shall know that I am Yahweh. [22] Because with lies you 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:

Jerusalem was the covenant city of Judah, where Ezekiel’s audience faced God’s judgment through Babylonian exile. Though not named within these verses, its threatened people and false prophets form the setting for God’s condemnation of deceptive practices that gave false security and endangered the righteous.

Places in this passage

Ezekiel 13:18-22 mentions Jerusalem.

Place data & photos: OpenBible.info (CC BY). Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.