Ezekiel 13:19 - 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.’
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What does "Ezekiel 13:19" mean?
This verse from Ezekiel 13:19 is a powerful indictment against false prophets. Let's break it down:
"You have profaned me among my people...": The false prophets are not just deceiving people; they are actively damaging God's reputation. Their actions are seen as being done in God's name, but they are a perversion of God's will.
"...for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread...": This highlights the motivation of the false prophets: personal gain, often material. They are willing to distort the truth and manipulate people for selfish reasons, symbolized by insignificant amounts of food. This emphasizes how cheap and petty their motives are compared to the spiritual damage they inflict.
"...to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live...": This is the heart of the accusation. The false prophets are making life-and-death decisions based on their lies, not on God's truth. They are condemning the innocent and exonerating the guilty. This could relate to literal life and death, or more likely, spiritual death and life:
"To kill the souls who should not die": This refers to condemning or discouraging those who are righteous or those who are genuinely seeking God. The false prophets lead them astray, spiritually "killing" them.
"To save the souls alive who should not live": This refers to giving false assurances of salvation or approval to those who are wicked or living in sin. They are perpetuating their wickedness, which leads to their spiritual death.
"...by your lying to my people who listen to lies...": This emphasizes the cycle of deception. The false prophets are peddling lies, and the people are willingly accepting them because they are not discerning the truth. This underscores the people's responsibility as well, as they are complicit in their own deception by choosing to listen to falsehoods.
In essence, the verse condemns the false prophets for:
Profaning God's name: By misrepresenting God's will and character.
Selfish motives: Driven by personal gain, not genuine concern for the people's well-being.
Distorting justice: Condemning the innocent and excusing the guilty.
Perpetuating deception: Spreading lies that lead to spiritual death and hindering the righteous.
Key Themes:
False Prophecy: The dangers and consequences of false spiritual leadership.
Responsibility: Both the false prophets and the people who listen to them are held accountable for their actions.
Spiritual Discernment: The importance of being able to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Justice: The perversion of justice through lies and manipulation.
The verse serves as a warning against those who claim to speak for God but are motivated by selfish gain and distort the truth for their own purposes. It also calls for discernment and critical thinking when evaluating spiritual claims.
Ezekiel 13:19 - 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.’
What does "Ezekiel 13:19" mean?
This verse from Ezekiel 13:19 is a powerful indictment against false prophets. Let's break it down:
"You have profaned me among my people...": The false prophets are not just deceiving people; they are actively damaging God's reputation. Their actions are seen as being done in God's name, but they are a perversion of God's will.
"...for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread...": This highlights the motivation of the false prophets: personal gain, often material. They are willing to distort the truth and manipulate people for selfish reasons, symbolized by insignificant amounts of food. This emphasizes how cheap and petty their motives are compared to the spiritual damage they inflict.
"...to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live...": This is the heart of the accusation. The false prophets are making life-and-death decisions based on their lies, not on God's truth. They are condemning the innocent and exonerating the guilty. This could relate to literal life and death, or more likely, spiritual death and life:
"To kill the souls who should not die": This refers to condemning or discouraging those who are righteous or those who are genuinely seeking God. The false prophets lead them astray, spiritually "killing" them.
"To save the souls alive who should not live": This refers to giving false assurances of salvation or approval to those who are wicked or living in sin. They are perpetuating their wickedness, which leads to their spiritual death.
"...by your lying to my people who listen to lies...": This emphasizes the cycle of deception. The false prophets are peddling lies, and the people are willingly accepting them because they are not discerning the truth. This underscores the people's responsibility as well, as they are complicit in their own deception by choosing to listen to falsehoods.
In essence, the verse condemns the false prophets for:
Profaning God's name: By misrepresenting God's will and character.
Selfish motives: Driven by personal gain, not genuine concern for the people's well-being.
Distorting justice: Condemning the innocent and excusing the guilty.
Perpetuating deception: Spreading lies that lead to spiritual death and hindering the righteous.
Key Themes:
False Prophecy: The dangers and consequences of false spiritual leadership.
Responsibility: Both the false prophets and the people who listen to them are held accountable for their actions.
Spiritual Discernment: The importance of being able to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Justice: The perversion of justice through lies and manipulation.
The verse serves as a warning against those who claim to speak for God but are motivated by selfish gain and distort the truth for their own purposes. It also calls for discernment and critical thinking when evaluating spiritual claims.