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?

EZEKIEL 13:19KJV
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Ezekiel 13:19 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 13:19 mean?

Ezekiel 13:19 describes God’s accusation against false prophets who deceive His people for small personal gain, like handfuls of barley or pieces of bread, leading to the harm of innocent lives and the preservation of those who should not be spared, all through lies. The verse highlights the seriousness of misleading others about God for selfish reasons.

In this verse, God is speaking through Ezekiel to condemn certain prophets in Israel who were using their influence for profit, even if it meant endangering or destroying innocent people. The setting is a time of spiritual crisis, with leaders misleading the community for trivial rewards. The verse stresses how these lies distort justice and corrupt the people’s relationship with God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 13:19

  • "Pollute" (חָלַל, ḥālal) means to profane or defile, showing that the false prophets’ actions are not just wrong but make something sacred—God’s name—unclean among His people.
  • "Handfuls" (שָׁעַל, sha‘al) and "barley" (שְׂעֹרָה, se‘orah) point to the smallness of the reward, emphasizing how cheaply the truth is being sold.
  • "Slay" (מוּת, mût) and "save alive" (חָיָה, ḥāyāh) show the seriousness of the prophets’ lies: their words have life-and-death consequences for the community.
  • "Lying" (כָּזַב, kāzāb) and "lies" (כָּזָב, kāzāb) stress that the root problem is deliberate deception, not just error or misunderstanding.

Why Ezekiel 13:19 matters

  • Ezekiel 13:19 exposes how spiritual leaders can abuse their position for trivial gain, warning against treating sacred responsibilities lightly.
  • The verse clarifies that God holds leaders accountable for misleading others, especially when it endangers innocent people.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by showing how false prophecy undermines the entire community’s trust in God and justice.

Where else these words appear

“handfuls” Hebrew H8168 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Kings 20:10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
  • Isaiah 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

“pieces” Hebrew H6595 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 18:5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
  • Ruth 2:14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
  • Job 31:17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

“lying” Hebrew H3576 · used in 16 verses

  • Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
  • Job 41:9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
  • Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

“lies” Hebrew H3577 · used in 31 verses

  • Judges 16:10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
  • Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
  • Ezekiel 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?