Ezekiel 13:4

Translations

Modern

Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.

Traditional

O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

Literal

Like jackals among the ruins, your prophets, O Israel, have become.

Latin

Quasi vulpes in desertis prophetæ tui, Israël, erant.

Original

Hebrew

English

Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.

Notes

Ezekiel 13:4–5

People compare false prophets to jackals that dig in ruins to hunt small animals. These false prophets did not fix the broken walls by urging people to repent, live holy lives, and resist evil. Instead, they gained prestige, and possibly money, by spreading lies that encouraged rebellion. Like jackals, these false prophets were tearing down walls, not building them up (see Nehemiah 4:3).

Ezekiel 12:21–14:11

The messages in this section address the issue of true and false prophecy.

Theme notes and profiles

False Prophets The Gift of Prophecy

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Titus 1:10–12
For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
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,
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
Revelation 13:11–14
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.
Galatians 2:4
This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Micah 2:11
If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!
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:
Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Parallels

Micah 2:6–11

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Christian Minister: False and Corrupt False Prophets: Compared to Foxes in the Desert Fox of Unfaithful Prophets Hypocrisy: The False Prophets The Fox: False Prophets The Fox: Found in Deserts

Ezekiel 13:4

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