Ezekiel 13:10
New International Version
“’Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,

New Living Translation
“This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!

English Standard Version
Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,

Berean Standard Bible
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

King James Bible
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

New King James Version
“Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar

New American Standard Bible
It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;

NASB 1995
“It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;

NASB 1977
“It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;

Legacy Standard Bible
It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;

Amplified Bible
It is definitely because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because when one builds a [flimsy] wall, behold, these [lying] prophets plaster it over with whitewash;

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘Since they have led my people astray by saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and since when a flimsy wall is being built, they plaster it with whitewash,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Since they have led My people astray saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, for when someone builds a wall they plaster it with whitewash,

American Standard Version
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered mortar:

Contemporary English Version
Those prophets refuse to be honest. They tell my people there will be peace, even though there's no peace to be found. They are like workers who think they can fix a shaky wall by covering it with paint.

English Revised Version
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered mortar:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it's not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint.

Good News Translation
"The prophets mislead my people by saying that all is well. All is certainly not well! My people have put up a wall of loose stones, and then the prophets have come and covered it with whitewash.

International Standard Version
because they've truly caused my people to stray saying, "Peace," but there's no peace.'" "When someone builds a wall, they coat it with whitewash.

Majority Standard Bible
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ?Peace,? when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

NET Bible
"'This is because they have led my people astray saying, "All is well," when things are not well. When anyone builds a wall without mortar, they coat it with whitewash.

New Heart English Bible
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, 'Peace'; and there is no peace; and when one builds up a wall, look, they plaster it with whitewash:

Webster's Bible Translation
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar:

World English Bible
“‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because, even because, they caused My people to err, "" Saying, Peace! And there is no peace, "" And that one is building a wall, "" And behold, they are coating it with chalk.

Young's Literal Translation
Because, even because, they did cause My people to err, Saying, Peace! and there is no peace, And that one is building a wall, And lo, they are daubing it with chalk.

Smith's Literal Translation
Because, and because they led my people astray, saying, Peace; and no peace; and he built a wall and they plastering it with plaster:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with dirt without straw.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For they have deceived my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ and there is no peace. And they have built a wall, but they have covered it in clay without straw.

New American Bible
Because they led my people astray, saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace, and when a wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,

New Revised Standard Version
Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because they have deceived my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and when the people built up a wall, they daubed it with untempered mortar in such a manner that it shall fall.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because they have deceived my people and they said “Peace!”, and there is no peace, and one was building a wall, and those plaster it that it may fall
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Because, even because they have led My people astray, saying: Peace, and there is no peace; and when it buildeth up a slight wall, behold, they daub it with whited plaster;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Because they have caused my people to err, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and one builds a wall, and they plaster it, - it shall fall.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reproof of False Prophets
9My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD. 10Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, 11tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Jeremiah 8:11
They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Jeremiah 23:16-17
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. / They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’

Lamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Isaiah 28:15
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”

Jeremiah 14:13-14
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” / “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.


Treasury of Scripture

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, see, others daubed it with untempered mortar:

seduced

2 Kings 21:9
But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

Proverbs 12:26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Jeremiah 23:13-15
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err…

Peace

Ezekiel 13:16
To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 57:21
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

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.

a wall.

Ezekiel 22:28
And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

2 Chronicles 18:12
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

Isaiah 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

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Ezekiel 13
1. The reproof of false prophets
10. and their untempered mortar
17. Of prophecies and their pillows














Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace
Because they have led My people astray
The phrase "led My people astray" is a poignant accusation against false prophets and leaders who have misdirected the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "led astray" is "תָּעָה" (ta'ah), which conveys the idea of wandering or going astray. This imagery is powerful, as it suggests a deviation from the path of truth and righteousness that God intended for His people. Historically, Israel often struggled with leaders who failed to uphold God's commandments, leading the nation into idolatry and moral decay. This phrase serves as a warning against the dangers of spiritual deception and the responsibility of leaders to guide their people in truth.

saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace
The declaration of "Peace" when there is no peace is a direct critique of false assurances given by prophets who claimed to speak for God. The Hebrew word for "peace" is "שָׁלוֹם" (shalom), which encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a holistic sense of well-being and harmony. In the context of Ezekiel, these false prophets were offering a false sense of security, ignoring the impending judgment due to the people's unrepentant sin. This phrase highlights the danger of complacency and the importance of discerning true peace, which can only come from alignment with God's will. It serves as a reminder that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of righteousness and justice.

and when a flimsy wall is built, they plaster it with whitewash
The imagery of a "flimsy wall" plastered with "whitewash" is a metaphor for superficial solutions and deceptive appearances. The Hebrew word for "whitewash" is "תָּפֵל" (taphal), which implies a covering or coating that is insubstantial and temporary. This metaphor criticizes the false prophets' attempts to cover up the nation's spiritual decay with empty promises and superficial fixes. Archaeologically, walls in ancient times were crucial for protection, and a poorly constructed wall would be a significant liability. This phrase underscores the futility of relying on false assurances and the need for genuine repentance and spiritual integrity. It serves as a call to build one's life on the solid foundation of God's truth rather than the deceptive facades of false teachings.

(10) One built up a wall.--The original word is used for a partition wall--of course a comparatively slight wall--as noted in the margin; in Ezekiel 13:12, however, the ordinary word for an outer, or a city wall, is used. One of the false prophets would build a wall, set up of his own device--some vision as a defence against the warnings of calamity; and his fellows would join in his deceit by covering this wall "with untempered mortar." The word is not the usual one for plaster, and indeed is used in this sense only in these verses and in Ezekiel 22:28. Elsewhere, the word is used in Job 6:6 = unsavoury, Lamentations 2:14= foolish things, and a closely-related form in Jeremiah 23:13=folly (marg., an absurd thing). Here (and also in Ezekiel 13:11; Ezekiel 13:14-15) it must mean plaster, but the use of the word elsewhere shows plainly enough what sort of plaster is intended. Calvin understands it of mortar mixed with sand and water only, the lime being left out. It is still a common practice in the East, as it has always been, to cover over their walls with stucco. In this case the other false prophets are represented as joining with the one who built the wall by covering over its weaknesses and defects with a fair-seeming plaster. (Comp. Matthew 23:27; Acts 23:3.) They helped on the delusion by giving it the weight of their influence, and persuading the people to believe a lie. . . . Verse 10. - Peace, when there was no peace. This, as in Micah 3:5; Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 23:17; Zechariah 10:2, was the root evil of the false prophet's work. He lulled men into a false security, and so narcotized their consciences. One built up a wall. The imagery starts from the picture of a ruined city already implied in vers. 4 and 5, and expands into a parable in which we note a parallelism

(1) to Isaiah's picture of dishonest and unsafe building (Ezekiel 30:13);

(2) to our Lord's parable at the end of the sermon on the mount (Matthew 7:24, 25: Luke 6:47-49).

With an incisive sarcasm, Ezekiel describes what we should call the "scamp-work" of their spiritual building. They profess to be "repairers of the breach" (Isaiah 58:12) in the walls of the spiritual Zion, and this is how they set about it. One built up a wall. This may point to a false prophet, but the "one" (Hebrew, "he") is probably indefinite, like the French on, equivalent to "some one." Some scheme is devised, an Egyptian alliance or the like, to which the people look for safety. It is, as in the margin of the Authorized Version, a "slight wall," such as was used for partition walls inside houses. They make it do duty as an outside wall (kir in ver. 12). It has no sure "footings," and materials and workmanship are alike defective. The false prophets would smear it over with untempered mortar (the Hebrew word is found only here and in Ezekiel 22:28, and is probably an example of Ezekiel's acquaintance with the technical vocabulary of his time) - with a stucco or plaster, which is hardly better than whitewash (compare the "whitened" or plastered wall or sepulchre of Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:44; Acts 23:3), used to hide its detects and give it a semblance of solidity. They come, that is, with smooth words and promises of peace.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Because
יַ֣עַן (ya·‘an)
Adverb
Strong's 3282: Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, cause

they have led My people
עַמִּ֛י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

astray,
הִטְע֧וּ (hiṭ·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2937: To wander, to lead astray

saying,
לֵאמֹ֥ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Peace,”
שָׁל֖וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

when there is no
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

peace,
שָׁל֑וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

and whitewashing
טָחִ֥ים (ṭā·ḥîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2902: To overspread, overlay, coat, besmear

any flimsy wall
חַ֔יִץ (ḥa·yiṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2434: A party wall

that is built,
בֹּ֣נֶה (bō·neh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 13:10 Because even because they have seduced my (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 13:9
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