Ezekiel 13:2
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Ezekiel 13:2
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Chapter Context
Ezekiel 13 is a prophetic vision chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, wisdom, faith. Written during the Babylonian exile (c. 593-570 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ministered to exiles in Babylon with visions of God's glory and future restoration.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-23: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Ezekiel and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Ezekiel 13:2
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Analysis
God commands: 'Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD.' Ezekiel must prophesy against false prophets, identifying their core error—they 'prophesy out of their own hearts' rather than receiving divine revelation. The Hebrew mil-libbam (מִלִּבָּם, 'from their heart') indicates self-generated messages, not God-given ones.
The command to tell them 'Hear ye the word of the LORD' is ironic—those claiming to speak for God must themselves hear His actual word through true prophets. They need to become listeners/receivers rather than self-appointed speakers. This exposes their presumption—speaking for God without being sent or commissioned (Jeremiah 23:21).
From a Reformed perspective, this warns against ministry based on human wisdom, personal opinion, or contemporary trends rather than biblical revelation. True ministry involves receiving and transmitting God's Word (1 Corinthians 11:23, 15:3), not inventing messages. The sufficiency of Scripture means ministers needn't create new revelation but must faithfully exposit existing revelation.
Historical Context
The phrase 'prophesy out of their own hearts' indicates false prophets invented messages they thought would be popular, profitable, or politically expedient. Jeremiah accused them of speaking visions 'of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD' (Jeremiah 23:16). They prophesied what audiences wanted rather than what God said.
This pattern continues in Christian history—prosperity preachers promising wealth, therapeutic ministers avoiding sin/judgment, political religionists blessing national agendas. Any teaching prioritizing human desires over biblical revelation repeats this ancient error. The test: does teaching align with Scripture's full counsel or merely with contemporary preferences?
Reflection
- How can you discern whether teaching originates from Scripture or from human preferences and cultural trends?
- What does prophesying 'out of their own hearts' teach about the danger of eisegesis versus exegesis?
- In what ways might even well-intentioned ministers substitute their wisdom for God's revelation?
Word Studies
- Word: דָּבָר (Davar) H1697 - Word, thing, matter
Cross-References
- Prophecy: Ezekiel 13:17, 22:25, 22:28, Isaiah 9:15, Jeremiah 37:19
- Word: Isaiah 1:10