Ezekiel 13:18

“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?”

Context:In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel is delivering a message from God to the people of Israel, particularly addressing certain women who were engaging in deceptive practices. To understand the context and meaning of this verse, it’s helpful to explore the surrounding verses as well.

In Ezekiel 13, the prophet is rebuking false prophets and prophetesses who were leading the people astray with their lies and divination. They were prophesying falsely, claiming to speak on behalf of God when they were actually promoting their own imaginations and desires. These false prophets were manipulating the people with their deceptive practices, exploiting their vulnerabilities and misguiding them.

Ezekiel uses a metaphorical language in verse 18 to illustrate the actions of these women. The act of sewing pillows to all armholes and making kerchiefs upon the head of every stature symbolises the creation of false coverings or false assurances. It implies that these women were providing false comfort and security to the people, giving them a false sense of protection.

The phrase “to hunt souls” refers to their deceptive practices aimed at capturing and controlling people’s lives, emotions, and decisions. These false prophets were preying on the souls of God’s people, taking advantage of their trust and leading them away from the true path of righteousness.

God’s message through Ezekiel expresses His displeasure with these false prophets and their manipulative tactics. He condemns their actions and warns of the consequences that await them. By posing the question, “Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?”, God challenges the false prophets to reflect on the contradiction of their actions. They claim to save souls, but in reality, they are only ensnaring and harming the people.

Overall, Ezekiel 13:18 serves as a warning against false prophets and their deceitful practices. It highlights the importance of discernment and remaining steadfast in the truth of God’s word, rather than being led astray by those who distort it for personal gain. The passage encourages believers to be vigilant, test the spirits, and hold fast to the teachings of the true prophets of God.