Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 13:19
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?
19. and will ye pollute ] Rather, directly: and ye profane me. To “profane” the Lord is to bring him down from the high sphere of purity or truth or power, where men’s thoughts should place him, into the region of the impure, the false or unworthy the sphere of the common (ch. Eze 20:39). To “profane” is the opposite of to “sanctify.”
for handfuls of barley ] may signify, for mean and trifling hire. Others think that the offerings may be described which were presented in order to obtain the oracular response. In this case the rendering would be: with handfuls of barley (see W. R. Smith, Journal of Philology, vol. xiii.). But comp. 1Sa 2:36; 2Ki 23:9 with 1Sa 9:8; 1Ki 14:3; 2Ki 4:42; Mic 3:5. In Jer 44:15 the women are represented as baking cakes to be offered to the queen of heaven.
the souls that should not die ] The righteous; cf. Eze 13:22, ye have made the heart of the righteous sad. The meaning appears to be that the tendency and direction of their prophecies, like those of the false prophets, was in support of the wicked and adverse to those like-minded with the true prophets. They “slay” by their prophetic word (Hos 6:5; Jer 1:10, I have set thee to pluck up &c.) when they threaten evil; and so they make the heart sad (faint and despondent) of those whom the Lord hath not made sad.
Eze 13:20-23. Chastisement of the prophetesses.
where with ye there hunt ] Or, where (or, wherein) ye hunt. A slight change of reading gives, wherewith ye hunt (Targ. Syr.).
to make them fly ] Or, as R.V. marg. like birds (Ew.). LXX. omits.
For “pillows” as above fillets. The expression “from your arms” is not to be forced so as to imply that the bands or fillets were bound upon the arms of the prophetesses themselves (cf. Eze 13:18).
even the souls that ye hunt ] The reading here is no doubt corrupt. The easiest change is to read: I will let the souls go, whose life (naphshm) ye hunt as birds; cf. Pro 6:26 “the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.” Cornill makes the excellent suggestion: “I will let the souls go free [reading othn ophshim] that ye hunt.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Will ye pollute me? profanely contradicting what is indeed spoken in my name, and pretending my name for that I never spake, nor will do.
Among my people; who are my peculiar, who have my word and true prophets, by which your lies are discovered, and further will be. What shameless impudence is this, to abuse my name, counterfeit my hand and seal, to them, that do or might know both!
For handfuls of barley; for a mean reward, tell fortunes for a penny! but there may be herein a provision made against the famine which was threatened and would come; this grain might be kept.
For pieces of bread; bread and morsels of bread. Mercenary sorceresses! that thus make sale of their predictions to feed their hungry bellies.
To slay the souls that should not die; you denounce evil to the best, perhaps threatened those in Babylon with death, whom God will keep alive there.
To save the souls alive that should not live; declaring safety, plenty, prosperity, peace, without war, or victory in the war, included in that they live.
By your lying; most falsely flattering those that come to you, and most maliciously threatening those that come not, because they know you speak your own lies. You save whom I will kill, and kill whom I will save.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. handfulsexpressing thepaltry gain for which they bartered immortal souls (compare Mic 3:5;Mic 3:11; Heb 12:16).They “polluted” God by making His name the cloak underwhich they uttered falsehoods.
among my peopleanaggravation of their sin, that they committed it “among thepeople” whom God had chosen as peculiarly His own, andamong whom He had His temple. It would have been a sin to have doneso even among the Gentiles, who knew not God; much more so among thepeople of God (compare Pr 28:21).
slay . . . souls that shouldnot die, c.to predict the slaying or perdition of thegodly whom I will save. As true ministers are said to save and slaytheir hearers, according to the spirit respectively in which thesereceive their message (2Co 2:152Co 2:16), so false ministersimitate them; but they promise safety to those on the broad way toruin and predict ruin to those on the narrow way of God.
my people that hear yourlieswho are therefore wilfully deceived, so that theirguilt lies at their own door (Joh3:19).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And will ye pollute me among my people,…. Defile the name of the Lord, by abusing it, to cover their wicked designs and practices, pretending they were seat by him, when they were not; that what they said came from him, though he spoke not by them; and that it was his will they declared, when it was their own, and what came out of their own hearts and heads: so the Targum, “will ye pollute my will among my people”; to profane his name among the Gentiles was a great sin, but to pollute it among his own people was greater; attempting to draw them aside from his fear and worship, and that for gain, for small gain too:
for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread; which shows them to be abandoned creatures, that were ready to do or say anything for the meanest trifle; their consciences were seared; they gave up themselves to work wickedness with greediness, and for filthy lucre’s sake, and for a small portion of that; which exaggerates their sin and folly; see
Pr 28:21;
to slay the souls that should not die; by threatening the captives in Babylon, who had surrendered themselves in Jehoiachim’s time, with destruction and death; who ought to have been comforted in their exile, and whom the Lord in his own time would deliver:
and to save the souls alive that should not live; by promising the inhabitants of Jerusalem long life, safety, and prosperity; when they should either die by the sword, famine, and pestilence; or be carried captive, which was as death; for so they did, or attempted to do, both the one and the other, by their false prophecies, as follows:
by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies? their false prophecies, which some hearkened to, and believed; and others were intimidated by, and feared that so it would be.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here God accuses these women of a double crime; one crime was that which I have mentioned, cruelly to destroy the souls which were sacred to God, and hence were destined to be saved; but he added a more atrocious crime — that of sacrilege, because they had abused the name of God to deceive. Nothing is less tolerable than when God’s truth is turned into a lie, because this is like reducing him to nothing. God is truth; if, therefore, that is abolished, what else will remain behind? God will be, as it were, a dead specter. Hence the Prophet, in God’s name, complains of both : ye have profaned me, says he, before my people. For as the gift of prophecy was a rare and remarkable pledge of God’s love and paternal anxiety towards the Israelites, so when that gift was corrupted, the name of God was at the same time polluted. For God was never willing to be disjoined from his word, because he is himself invisible, and never appears otherwise than in a mirror. Hence God’s glory, and sanctity, and justice, and goodness, and power, ought to shine in the gift of prophecy; but when that gift is contaminated, we see how such a disgrace becomes a reproach against God. In this way his holiness is defiled, his justice, virtue, and fidelity, are corrupted, and his very existence called in question. So it is not without cause that God pronounces his own name to be polluted. Then he adds, among the people. And this circumstance increases the crime, since God’s name was profaned where he wished it to be peculiarly worshipped; for it was also profaned among the Gentiles: but since God had never made himself known there, their profanation was the less detestable. But, because God erected his throne among the people of Israel, and wished his glory to shine there, we see how sacrilege increases, while his name is profaned in that sanctuary which he had chosen. This is one crime.
But he also adds, on account of handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. Here God shows how much and how basely he was despised by those females, who sold their prophecies for a piece of bread or a few grains of barley which any one could hold in his hand. If they had demanded a great reward, their insatiable avarice would not have extenuated their crime; but their impiety is the rather discovered, when on account of a small reward they so prostituted themselves and the name of God. They boasted themselves to be the organs of the Holy Spirit: but when by this mask they deceived the people, injustice was done to the Holy Spirit, since for so paltry a reward they vainly boasted in their prophecies. They prostituted even God himself: and in fine, this was just as if; being corrupted by a small bribe of no value, they did not treat God’s name with sufficient respect to be withheld from the crime by the slightest of the recompense. A comparison will make the matter clearer. If a person is tempted by a moderate reward to the perpetration of any crime and refuses, and then when he is offered a far more valuable reward, and thus yields to the temptation, this shows that his will was upright, though not sufficiently firm. But if any one, for a single farthing, undertakes to do what he is ordered, and refuses no crime, this shows his readiness to all sorts of wickedness. If a girl rejects bribes when she knows her modesty to be assailed, but yet yields for a large reward, here, as I have said, virtue struggles with vice; but if she prostitutes herself for a morsel of bread, here she manifests that depravity which all abominate. This, then, is God’s intention, when he says that these women traded in their lies for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. If any one objects that prophecies were anciently saleable, since it was customary with the people to offer the prophets rewards, I answer, that the women are not condemned merely for receiving either the handful of barley or the piece of bread, but because they did not hesitate to corrupt God’s truth for a trifling gain, and then to turn it into a lie. The Prophet afterwards points out the nature of their deceit, for it would not have been sufficient to blame these women generally, unless Ezekiel had pointed with his finger at their pestiferous impostures.
Now, therefore, he says, that they slew the souls which were not dying, and kept alive the souls which were not living. We have said before, that by this mark the true and righteous servants of God were distinguished from impostors. For the servants of God, who faithfully discharge the duty enjoined upon them, kill and make alive: for God’s word is life, and brings health to lost mankind; but is a savor of death unto death in those who perish, as Paul says. (2Co 2:15.) Hence it is true that prophets who faithfully and properly discharge their duty both kill and make alive: but they give life to the souls which are to be freed from death, and slay the souls which are devoted to destruction; for they denounce eternal death to all unbelievers unless they repent; and whatever they bind on earth is also bound in heaven. (Mat 18:18.) Their teaching, therefore, is effective for destruction, as also Paul elsewhere teaches. We have at hand, says he, vengeance against every high thing which exalts itself against Christ, (2Co 10:5.) Hence honest teachers are armed by God’s vengeance against all unbelievers who remain obstinate: but they convey life to those who repent, since they are messengers of reconciliation; nay, they reconcile men to God when they offer Christ to them as our peace, and by whom the Father is propitious to us. (Eph 2:16.) When false prophets desire to rival God’s servants, they omit the principal part, namely, faith and repentance; hence it happens that they proclaim life to souls already adjudged to destruction; for they give life to the reprobate who are hardened in contempt of God by their flatteries; for they do not require of men either faith or penitence, but only a reward. Hence also it happens that they slay the souls which ought not to die, namely, because nothing is prouder or more cruel than these false prophets. For they fulminate according to their pleasure, and sink even to the lowest hell the whole world when no hope of profit appears.
Here then we see the vices of these women of whom Ezekiel treats so pointedly out, that no one need be any longer deceived by them except through his own fault. Hence also we gather a perpetual rule in examining doctrine, lest the deceits of Satan should surprise us for the word of God. Let us learn, then, that the prophetic word is life-giving to us, if we are dissatisfied with our sins, and fly to God’s pity with true and serious penitence; for all souls are slain who do not receive this kind of life; and whoever compares the papacy with that corruption which Ezekiel describes to us, will see that, although Satan has many methods of deceiving men, yet they will always be discovered like himself. Ezekiel spoke of veils and cushions. We see many rites exhibited in the papacy, so that the incredulous, being snatched as it were out of the world, are not only delirious, but suffer themselves to be drawn in any direction like cattle by the grossest impostures. But in their teaching we perceive what Ezekiel condemns, namely, that they give life to souls devoted to death, and slay souls which thought to be kept alive. For what is the meaning of their immense heap of laws, except to bury wretched consciences? For any one who wishes to satisfy the laws of the papacy from his heart, must cut himself to pieces, so to speak, through his whole life. We now perceive with what intent our Prophet will elsewhere say that legislators of this kind are implacable, since they remit nothing, and exact all their conditions with the utmost rigor. Hence it happens that these miserable souls perish, because despair oppresses them and overwhelms them in the deep. Meanwhile we see how they give life to souls subject to death, since; pardon is prepared for adulterers, robbers, manslayers, and all criminals, if they only buy themselves off, as popish priests and monks pretend that God is appeased by satisfactions and prayers. Hence they thrust expiation’s of no value upon God; and, to speak more correctly, trifles and follies, which do not deceive even children, they call expiation’s, as if God could change his nature. Hence we must diligently remark this passage, that we may know how to distinguish between true and false prophets, and may not despise the test which the Prophet puts before us.
He says, in deceiving my people by listening to a lie. He accuses some of lying, and others of willingly embracing is. For the noun כזב, kezeb, which is repeated, is derived from the same root. Here, again, God undertakes the cause of his people; for though they were all worthy of being drawn into exile by Satan, yet when God took care of them, it was like snatching them out of Satan’s hand, and claiming them as his own peculiar people. This is one point. But meantime these wretches are deprived of all excuse for seeking false oracles. For the Prophet pronounces them deceived because they listened to vanity, that is, because they wished to be deceived, since it was entirely their own fault, and they could not in any way throw it off. It is true they were deceived under false pretenses through the abuse of the prophetic name, and hence their vision was obscured by a darkened cloud; but still they thought to have gone to the fountain, for no opening would have been found for Satan if they had been properly fortified: for God had surrounded them with ramparts by giving them a law to protect them from all fallacies. Since, then, they thus exposed themselves of their own accord, it is not surprising if God allowed them to be deceived.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) Handfuls of barley.It was an ancient custom to bring presents to a prophet on consulting him (1Sa. 9:7-8; 1Ki. 14:3); but as barley was a cheap grain, and handfuls a very small quantity, these words show the exceedingly small gains for which these false prophetesses were willing to pervert the truth, and lead the people to destruction. God was polluted by attaching His name and authority to that which was not true, and would not come to pass, thus making Him a liar like themselves. Like all falsehood, their lies tended both waysto entice the upright to their ruin, and to give false security to the wicked. It is always impossible that a perversion of the truth, especially in regard to the Divine judgments, can be harmless.
Hear your lies.Or, hearken to a lie. The words imply a willingness to listen to the pleasing falsehood, and the state of things is that described by Jer. 5:31. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Will ye pollute me for handfuls of barley Literally, ye have. These sorceresses were telling their lies in the name of Jehovah for the sake of the pay. And they were willing to commit this sacrilege for the slightest recompense, like that bestowed on the harlot or beggar (1Sa 2:36; Hos 3:2). “Do you keep alive, for a few handfuls of barley as your reward, the souls of the wicked?” Mosheh Ben Shesheth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 13:19. And for pieces of bread See Jer 37:21.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The false prophets abounded, both in Judaea and among the captives in Babylon; and by their flattering speeches the hearts of the unwary people were beguiled: against them therefore the prophet is ordered to direct his word. They are called the prophets of Israel: probably they arrogated that title to themselves, and persecuted the few faithful prophets because they remonstrated against and contradicted their falsehood and lies.
1. A heavy charge is laid against them. They were daring impostors, pretended a mission and instruction from God, when he never sent them, forging visions which they never saw, the mere contrivances of their own brain: instead of being guided by the Spirit of truth, they followed their own deceived hearts; and dared to advance, as the dictates of inspiration, that which they knew to be a lie: crafty and ravenous as the foxes of the desert, they preyed on the deluded people; yet, wise as they accounted themselves in their deceits, they were in fact foolish prophets, sunk in spiritual ignorance and sin; they used no efforts to prevent the impending judgments, nor ever stood up in the breach against the overflowings of ungodliness, with sharp and faithful rebukes against the wicked, or fervent and importunate prayer to God, in order to avert his wrath when he arose as an enemy against them. Nay, they widened the gap which they should have made up, by barely betraying men’s souls, flattering them to their ruin, promising them peace, and with their solemn pretensions and asseverations emboldening the people to hope that the event would correspond with their predictions; hardening them in sin, and hastening their destruction. Note; (1.) To pretend a mission from the Holy Ghost, when men are conscious that they never were inwardly moved by him, is daring blasphemy and impiety. (2.) They who run, though God never sent them, will shortly be stopped in their career, and perish in their lie. (3.) A foolish prophet had never yet a mission from God: they cannot be called who are not qualified. (4.) A greedy prophet shews who sent him; not God but Mammon. (5.) They who study to please men’s ears, instead of faithfully addressing their consciences, are justly to be suspected as deceivers.
2. Vengeance is denounced against them. God is their enemy; and woe unto those against whom he rises up in anger! As they have justly forfeited all the privileges of God’s Israel, they are for ever excluded from them; they shall either be cut off by death, or be excommunicated from the church; or, when the issue has proved the falsehood of their predictions, they shall be confounded, and ashamed to look those in the face whom they have deluded: they shall be no more consulted, but abhorred as deceivers; shall die in a miserable exile, and never be enrolled with the other captives when they return to their own land, excluded from their mercy, an earnest of eternal exclusion from the heavenly Canaan. And in these judgments inflicted on the false prophets, God will make known the glory of his justice, holiness, and truth.
2nd, The false prophets are farther rebuked and threatened.
1. They deceived the people. They cried peace, as if God would give them deliverance from the Babylonish yoke, when there was no peace, no prospect as yet of their return from captivity, or hope of their being able to support themselves in rebellion against the Chaldeans. Thus they seduced God’s people, those who in profession at least were such, and who had been separated from other nations for his service. One built up a wall, pretending that Jerusalem was impregnable, and that the enemy should never break through; and this being formed pleasing to the people, lo! others daubed it with untempered mortar, supporting with specious arguments the assertion: when, alas! their wall, however solid it appeared, was weak and tottering, and ready to fall before the first attacks of the besiegers. Such are the plausible errors which heretics introduce, and the smooth prophesies of ministers who dare not honestly offend by their simplicity, but court favour by flattering sinners in their false hopes; the end of which will be the ruin of the deceived and the deceiver together.
2. Judgment is passed upon them. The Chaldean army, as an overflowing shower, as great hail-stones, and a stormy wind, shall overturn all their defences, and lay the walls of Jerusalem in the dust; armed with the fury of God, nothing can resist the invaders; and then the vanity of these lying prophets will be seen, and the folly of those who trusted in them be manifest, when they who daubed the wall shall perish under the ruins. Note; (1.) The false refuges of the sinner shall in the end prove his bane. (2.) When God is the enemy, resistance is vain. (3.) They who delude others to their destruction shall receive themselves greater damnation.
3. God ridicules their confidence, and triumphs in their fall. When the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? Those whom they had deceived would abuse them for their false assurances; and the truly pious, who disregarded their predictions, see the hand of God in the whole of these judgments. And it shall be then known and acknowledged that God is the Lord, when his word is thus verified, and his righteous threatenings executed.
3rdly, As women, as well as men, had been favoured with divine revelation, there were such now who pretended to inspiration, and, actuated by the same evil spirit as the false prophets, joined them in their lies. Against these the prophet is commanded to set his face. Impudent sinners need a bold reprover.
1. The crimes of the false prophetesses are charged upon them.
[1.] They published the fictitious visions of their own hearts, yet solemnly avouched God’s authority to give weight to their lies. And too many hearkened to them, hoping or fearing according to their word. Note; (1.) Men easily believe what they wish to be true. (2.) When sinners desire to be flattered, and hate to be reproved, it is just in God to give them up to deluders.
[2.] They were vilely mercenary. They meant to fleece the deluded people; and impiously prostituted God’s sacred name, to gain credit to their predictions; even for a morsel of bread ready to transgress, and to invent a lying answer, such as would please those who consulted them. Note; (1.) Nothing is more incompatible with a mission from God, than the love of filthy lucre. (2.) Of all impiety that is chief, to abuse the sacred name of God and religion to serve worldly ends and purposes.
[3.] They used every art to ensnare men’s souls, and hunt them into their net; sometimes soothing them with pleasing dreams, sewing pillows to all arm-holes, or elbows, and making kerchiefs upon the head of every stature; intimating thereby how securely they might rest, and fear no enemy to strip off their ornaments; engaging to save the souls alive whom God had doomed to die, and hardening thus the wicked in his impenitence by promising him life, when death temporal and eternal awaited him. On the other hand, sometimes they threatened, denouncing destruction on those whom God had determined to save, and seeking to discourage the righteous, and make their hearts sad whom God hath not made sad. And this some refer particularly to the captives, whom they severely censured for yielding to the Chaldeans, while they promised those who rebelled against Nebuchadrezzar all success and prosperity. Note: (1.) Nothing strengthens the hands of the wicked so much as to be bolstered up with hopes that they may be saved, though they persist in their sins. (2.) They who grieve the hearts of God’s people, and seek to discourage them, shall severely suffer for it.
2. God threatens them with deserved wrath. He expostulates with them on the daring impiety of their conduct, and denounces a fearful woe upon them. They shall be shortly silenced and confounded, when by the event their lies should be detected; or they should miserably perish in the siege, and God will rescue his poor people whom they hunted into their toils, tear off the pillows and kerchiefs, discover their delusions, expose them to contempt, and make them more abhorred than ever they had been loved or feared; and hereby he will not only deliver his people from their snares, but eminently magnify his own great name. Note; (1.) It is an unspeakable mercy, when God saves his people from those who sought to tyrannize over their consciences. (2.) God will not suffer those who trust in him to be led into essential errors by the delusions of false teachers; but will bring them to the knowledge of his blessed Self, comfort their dejected hearts with the views of his free grace and rich salvation, and, shedding abroad his love in their souls, make them both happy and holy.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 13:19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?
Ver. 19. For handfuls of barley end for pieces. ] Like so many base gypsies or common beggars. a Cato upbraided Marcus Caelius, and worthily, that, being a pleader, he would sell either his tongue or silence for a morsel of bread. These were low prized prophetesses. See Mic 3:5 .
To slay the souls,
That hear your lies.
a A. Gell.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
to slay, &c. to prophesy (falsely) that they should be slain. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). App-6.
to save, &c. = to promise life to those who should not live. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6.
your. Masculine suffix, indicating unwomanly character.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
pollute: Eze 20:39, Eze 22:26
for handfuls: 1Sa 2:16, 1Sa 2:17, Pro 28:21, Mic 3:5, Mic 3:11, Mal 1:10, Rom 16:18, 1Pe 5:2, 2Pe 2:2, 2Pe 2:3
to slay: Eze 13:22, Pro 19:27, Rom 14:15, 1Co 8:11
to save: Jer 23:14, Jer 23:17
Reciprocal: Num 22:7 – rewards of divination Jdg 17:10 – I will give Jdg 18:4 – hired me Jdg 18:20 – heart 1Sa 2:29 – make Neh 6:12 – hired him Psa 35:4 – that Pro 12:22 – Lying Isa 9:15 – the prophet Isa 29:21 – and turn Isa 56:11 – they are Jer 7:4 – Trust Eze 22:25 – they have devoured Eze 34:2 – Woe Dan 2:9 – for Amo 7:12 – eat Act 8:18 – he offered Phi 3:19 – whose God 1Ti 6:10 – the love Tit 1:11 – filthy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 13:19. This whole verse is in the form of a question, but it is really an accusation of the Lord against the false prophets and other leaders. They were taking advantage of the (rusting people for the sake of their own personal gain.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
13:19 And will ye profane me among my people for handfuls of {k} barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and {l} to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?
(k) Will you make my word serve your bellies?
(l) These sorcerers made the people believe that they could preserve life or destroy it and that it would come to everyone according as they prophesied.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Ezekiel was to announce judgment on those who indulged in these occult practices and perverted justice for only a little food or as a means of divination.
"In some cultures barley was used in occult practices either as an offering to the spirits or as a means of trying to determine the future." [Note: Dyer, "Ezekiel," p. 1252.]
These women had been willing to put some to death who did not deserve to die and to save others from death who did deserve to die. This was the result of their lying to God’s people, who loved to listen to their lies.