Ezekiel 13:18 and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?

◄ Ezekiel 13:18 ►

New International Version
and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own?

New Living Translation
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: What sorrow awaits you women who are ensnaring the souls of my people, young and old alike. You tie magic charms on their wrists and furnish them with magic veils. Do you think you can trap others without bringing destruction on yourselves?

English Standard Version
and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive?

Berean Standard Bible
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?

King James Bible
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

New King James Version
and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?

New American Standard Bible
and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to capture souls! Will you capture the souls of My people, but keep the souls of others alive for yourselves?

NASB 1995
and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the lives of others for yourselves?

NASB 1977
and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the lives of others for yourselves?

Legacy Standard Bible
and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down souls! Will you hunt down My people’s souls, but preserve your own souls?

Amplified Bible
and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the women who fasten magic (protective) charms on all wrists and make veils for the heads of those of every stature to capture [human] lives! Will you capture the lives of My people but keep your own?

Christian Standard Bible
Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every size in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and say: This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own?

American Standard Version
and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?

Contemporary English Version
Tell them they're doomed! They wear magic charms on their wrists and scarves on their heads, then trick others into believing they can predict the future. They won't get away with telling those lies.

English Revised Version
and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Tell them, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people's wrists and make magic veils of every size for people's heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit.

Good News Translation
and tell them what the Sovereign LORD is saying to them: "You women are doomed! You sew magic wristbands for everyone and make magic scarves for everyone to wear on their heads, so that they can have power over other people's lives. You want to possess the power of life and death over my people and to use it for your own benefit.

International Standard Version
Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says, "How terrible it will be for those women who sew magical bracelets on all their wrists and make one-size-fits all headbands, in order to entrap their souls. Will you hunt for the souls of my people and remain alive?

Majority Standard Bible
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?

NET Bible
and say 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to those who sew bands on all their wrists and make headbands for heads of every size to entrap people's lives! Will you entrap my people's lives, yet preserve your own lives?

New Heart English Bible
and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "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?

Webster's Bible Translation
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all arm-holes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come to you?

World English Bible
and say, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils 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?

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And you have said, Thus said Lord YHWH: Woe to those sowing [magic] bands for all joints of the arm, "" And to those making the veils "" For the head of every stature—to hunt souls, "" Do you hunt the souls of My people? And do your souls that live remain alive?

Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Woe to those sowing pillows for all joints of the arm, And to those making the kerchiefs For the head of every stature -- to hunt souls, The souls do ye hunt of My people? And the souls ye have do ye keep alive?

Smith's Literal Translation
And say, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Wo to them sewing together cushions for all the joints of the hands, and making cushions upon the head of every height to lie in wait for souls! will ye lie in wait for the souls to my people, and will ye preserve alive the souls to you?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they gave life to their souls.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and say: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to those who sew together little pillows under every forearm, and who make little cushions for the heads of every stage of life, in order to capture souls. And when they have seized the souls of my people, they became the life of their souls.

New American Bible
You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to those who sew amulets for the wrists of every arm and make veils for every head size to snare lives! You ensnare the lives of my people, even as you preserve your own lives!

New Revised Standard Version
and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every height, in the hunt for human lives! Will you hunt down lives among my people, and maintain your own lives?

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD God: Woe to the women who embroider wristlets and make coverings for every head and for every type of person to snare the souls of men! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save your own souls?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
‘Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS, woe to those who sew cushions for the joints of the hands, and they make coverings for every head and for everybody to hunt souls. You hunt the souls of my people, and will you save your souls?

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe to the women that sew cushions upon all elbows, and make pads for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of My people, and save souls alive for yourselves?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord, Woe to the women that sew pillows under every elbow, and make kerchiefs on the head of every stature to pervert souls! The souls of my people are perverted, and they have saved souls alive.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The False Prophetesses
17Now, O son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own? 19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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.’

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

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.

Jeremiah 14:14
“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.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.” / You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” / When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

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.

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:

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

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

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 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 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / 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.

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.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

Treasury of Scripture

And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs on the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive that come to you?

Woe

Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

that sew.

Ezekiel 13:10,16
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: …

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.

Jeremiah 6:14
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

armholes.

Ezekiel 22:25
There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2 Peter 2:14
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

will ye save

Ezekiel 13:22
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:

Jump to Previous

Alive Armholes Arm-Holes Cushions Head Hunt Kerchiefs Pads Persons Pillows Save Sew Souls Stature Woe Women Yourselves

Jump to Next

Alive Armholes Arm-Holes Cushions Head Hunt Kerchiefs Pads Persons Pillows Save Sew Souls Stature Woe Women Yourselves

Ezekiel 13

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

Berean Study Bible

This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. In Hebrew, "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," underscoring God's supreme power and covenant relationship with Israel. This sets the stage for a serious admonition, reminding the audience that the message is not from Ezekiel himself but from God.

Woe to the women
The word "woe" is a strong expression of lament and impending judgment. It is often used by prophets to signal divine displeasure and the serious consequences of sin. The focus on "the women" indicates a specific group engaged in practices contrary to God's will, highlighting the role of false prophetesses in leading people astray.

who sew magic charms on all their wrists
The "magic charms" refer to amulets or talismans believed to have protective or magical powers. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such practices were common among pagan cultures. The act of sewing them "on all their wrists" suggests a widespread and deliberate effort to promote these superstitions, directly opposing the worship of Yahweh.

and make veils of every size to ensnare souls
The "veils" symbolize deception and concealment. In the Hebrew context, these veils were likely used in rituals to manipulate or control others spiritually. The phrase "to ensnare souls" indicates a malicious intent to trap or capture the spiritual well-being of individuals, leading them away from the truth of God.

Will you ensnare the souls of My people
Here, God directly challenges the false prophetesses, highlighting the gravity of their actions. "My people" emphasizes God's personal relationship with Israel, and the rhetorical question underscores the audacity and wickedness of attempting to harm those whom God has chosen and loves.

but preserve your own?
This phrase reveals the hypocrisy and self-interest of the false prophetesses. While they endanger others, they seek to protect themselves, showing a blatant disregard for the well-being of God's people. This self-preservation at the expense of others is condemned by God, who values justice and righteousness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Souls.--This word is used in the Old Testament in a variety of significations. Here and in the following verses it is nearly equivalent to persons.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Woe to the women who sew pillows, etc. Ezekiel's minute description, though it is from a different standpoint, reminds us of that in Isaiah 3:18-26. In both cases there are the difficulties inseparable from the fact that he had seen what he describes, and that we have not; and that he uses words which were familiar enough then, but are now found nowhere else. so that (as in the case of the ἐξουσία of 1 Corinthians 11:10) we have to guess their meaning. The picture which he draws of a false prophetess is obviously taken from the life, and the dress, we can scarcely doubt, was one that belonged to her calling. The word for "sew" meets us in Genesis 3:7; Job 16:15; Ecclesiastes 3:7; and the English is an adequate rendering. For the word rendered "pillows," the LXX. gives προσκεφάλαια, the Vulgate pulvilli (equivalent to "cushions"). The word here obviously denotes an article of dress, something fastened to the arms. For arm-holes read joints of the two hoods, which may mean either knuckles, wrists, or (as in the Revised Version) elbows. Possibly these may have been, like the phylacteries of Matthew 23:5, cases containing charms or incantations, and used as amulets. Something analogous to, if not identical with, these ornaments, is found in the "seeress wreaths," and "divining garments" of Cassandra (AEsch., 'Agamemnon,' 1237-1242), and in the "garlands" or "fillets" of the Pythian priestess in AEsch., 'Eumeu.,' 39. By some writers (Havernick) the word has been taken, as, perhaps, in the Authorized Version, for "pillows" in the larger sense, either literally as used in wanton luxury, like the "tapestry" of Proverbs 7:16, or figuratively, like the "wall" of the preceding section, for counsels that lulled the conscience into the slumber of a false security. Strangely enough, the Hebrew noun rendered "arm-holes" has the pronominal suffix "my arms," or "my hands." Keil accepts this rendering, and explains it as meaning that the prophetesses sought to "bind the arms," i.e. to restrain the power of Jehovah. On the whole, it is safer to follow Ewald and Hitzig, as I have done above. Make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature. The word for "kerchiefs" is again unique, but is, perhaps, a variant of the word in Isaiah 3:22, and rendered "wimples" in the Authorized Version. There is a fair consensus of interpretations that it means, as "kerchief" means, some covering for the head, a veil that hangs down over it, like the Spanish mantilla. Its use is, perhaps, explained by the words that follow, which suggest that the veils were not worn by the prophetesses themselves, but by those who came to consult them. The former had, as it were, a whole wardrobe of such veils adapted to persons of various heights, so that in all cases it shrouded their whole form. We may, perhaps, read between the lines the thought that their utterances, like their veils, were adapted to suit every age and every taste. Analogous usages present themselves in the tallith of later Judaism, and the veil worn by the Roman augurs. Ezekiel paints, we may believe, what he had seen. And in those veils he had seen a net cast over the victims of the false prophetesses, a snare from which they could not escape. Will ye hunt, etc.? The question (that form is preferable to the affirmative of the margin of the Revised Version) is one of burning indignation. Omitting the words, "that come" (which have nothing in the Hebrew corresponding to them), the second clause will run, "Will ye make your own souls live?" and the question is explained by what follows. The prophetesses were living upon the credulity of the victims over whom they cast their nets.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

and tell them that
וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

this is what
כֹּה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַ֣ר ׀ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Woe
הוֹי֩ (hō·w)
Interjection
Strong's 1945: Ah! alas! ha!

to the women who sew
לִֽמְתַפְּר֨וֹת (lim·ṯap·pə·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 8609: To sew together

magic charms
כְּסָת֜וֹת (kə·sā·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3704: A cushion, pillow

on
עַ֣ל ׀ (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their wrists
אַצִּילֵ֣י (’aṣ·ṣî·lê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 679: A joint of the hand, a party-wall

and make
וְעֹשׂ֧וֹת (wə·‘ō·śō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

veils
הַמִּסְפָּח֛וֹת (ham·mis·pā·ḥō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4555: A long veil

for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the heads
רֹ֥אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of people of every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

height,
קוֹמָ֖ה (qō·w·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6967: Height

in order to ensnare
לְצוֹדֵ֣ד (lə·ṣō·w·ḏêḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6679: To lie alongside, to catch an animal, to victual

their souls.
נְפָשׁ֑וֹת (nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

Will you ensnare
תְּצוֹדֵ֣דְנָה (tə·ṣō·w·ḏê·ḏə·nāh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine plural
Strong's 6679: To lie alongside, to catch an animal, to victual

the souls
הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ (han·nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of My people
לְעַמִּ֔י (lə·‘am·mî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

but preserve your own?
לָכֶ֥נָה (lā·ḵe·nāh)
Preposition | second person feminine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

Links

Ezekiel 13:18 NIV
Ezekiel 13:18 NLT
Ezekiel 13:18 ESV
Ezekiel 13:18 NASB
Ezekiel 13:18 KJV

Ezekiel 13:18 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 13:18 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 13:18 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 13:18 French Bible
Ezekiel 13:18 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 13:18 And say Thus says the Lord Yahweh: (Ezek. Eze Ezk)