Ezekiel 13:16-18

13:16 those prophets of Israel who would prophesy about Jerusalem ¹  and would see visions of peace for it, when there was no peace,” declares the sovereign Lord.’

13:17 “As for you, son of man, turn toward ²  the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their imagination. ³  Prophesy against them 13:18 and say ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to those who sew bands ⁴  on all their wrists ⁵  and make headbands ⁶  for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives! ⁷  Will you entrap my people’s lives, yet preserve your own lives?

[13:16]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[13:17]  ² tn Heb “set your face against.”

[13:17]  ³ tn Heb “from their heart.”

[13:18]  ³ sn The wristbands mentioned here probably represented magic bands or charms. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:413.

[13:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “joints of the hands.” This may include the elbow and shoulder joints.

[13:18]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term occurs in the Bible only here and in v. 21. It has also been understood as a veil or type of head covering. D. I. Block (Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:414) suggests that given the context of magical devices, the expected parallel to the magical arm bands, and the meaning of this Hebrew root (סָפַח [safakh, “to attach” or “join”]), it may refer to headbands or necklaces on which magical amulets were worn.

[13:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “human lives” or “souls” (three times in v. 18 and twice in v. 19).