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.
Original Language Analysis
וּנְבִיאֶ֗יהָ
And her prophets
H5030
וּנְבִיאֶ֗יהָ
And her prophets
Strong's:
H5030
Word #:
1 of 17
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
תָּפֵ֔ל
them with untempered
H8602
תָּפֵ֔ל
them with untempered
Strong's:
H8602
Word #:
4 of 17
plaster (as gummy) or slime; (figuratively) frivolity
חֹזִ֣ים
morter seeing
H2374
חֹזִ֣ים
morter seeing
Strong's:
H2374
Word #:
5 of 17
a beholder in vision; also a compact (as looked upon with approval)
שָׁ֔וְא
vanity
H7723
שָׁ֔וְא
vanity
Strong's:
H7723
Word #:
6 of 17
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, object
וְקֹסְמִ֥ים
and divining
H7080
וְקֹסְמִ֥ים
and divining
Strong's:
H7080
Word #:
7 of 17
properly, to distribute, i.e., determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
וַֽיהוָ֖ה
when the LORD
H3068
וַֽיהוָ֖ה
when the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
False prophets proliferated in pre-exilic Judah, offering comfortable lies ('Peace, peace!' Jeremiah 6:14) while true prophets announced judgment. They performed divination (condemned in Deuteronomy 18:10-12) while claiming Yahweh's authority, syncretizing paganism with covenant faith. Their 'whitewash' collapsed when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms does 'whitewashing' take in modern church leadership—covering systemic problems with superficial fixes?
- How can we distinguish between genuine prophetic word and human opinion 'daubed' with religious language?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter (טָפְלוּ תָפֵל, tafelu tafel)—plasterers applying whitewash over cracked walls, cosmetic religion hiding structural rot (see Ezekiel 13:10-15). These prophets seeing vanity (חֹזִים שָׁוְא, chozim shav)—false visions, empty revelations—and divining lies (קֹסְמִים כָּזָב, qosemim kazav), forbidden occult practices passed off as prophecy.
Saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken—the ultimate prophetic crime, attributing personal invention to Yahweh. Deuteronomy 18:20 prescribes death for presumptuous prophecy. These whitewashers enabled the wolves of verse 27, providing religious cover for political corruption.