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?

EZEKIEL 13:7KJV
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Ezekiel 13:7 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 13:7 mean?

Ezekiel 13:7 is God’s challenge to false prophets who claim to speak for Him, accusing them of seeing empty visions and making up messages that God never gave. The verse exposes these prophets as liars who pretend their own words are God’s, even though God insists He has not spoken through them.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to confront people in Israel who are misleading others by declaring their own ideas as divine revelation. The setting is a time when many claimed to have special messages from God, but Ezekiel is sent to call out those who are deceiving the people with false hope and lies. The verse is direct, questioning the legitimacy of their visions and prophecies, and making clear that their authority is false.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 13:7

  • "vain" (שָׁוְא, shav): This word means "empty," "worthless," or "deceptive." Here, it highlights that the visions these prophets claim to see have no substance or truth.
  • "lying" (כָּזָב, kazav): This word means "falsehood" or "lie." It stresses that the divinations are not just mistaken but deliberately untrue.
  • "divination" (מִקְסָם, miqsam): This term refers to the practice of seeking supernatural knowledge, often through forbidden or non-Godly means. Its use here points to the seriousness of the prophets’ offense—pretending to have divine insight when they do not.
  • "The LORD saith it" (נְאֻם־יְהוָה, neum-YHWH): This phrase is a formal claim to speak God’s direct message. The verse points out the false prophets’ misuse of this phrase to give their own words false authority.

Why Ezekiel 13:7 matters

  • Ezekiel 13:7 clarifies that not everyone who claims to speak for God truly does, and that God Himself rejects messages He did not authorize.
  • The verse highlights the danger of religious leaders using God’s name to support their own ideas, which can mislead entire communities.
  • In the context of Ezekiel 13, this verse helps set up God’s coming judgment on false prophets, showing that God holds people accountable for misrepresenting Him.

Where else these words appear

“divination” Hebrew H4738 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 12:24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

“vision” Hebrew H4236 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
  • Numbers 24:4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
  • Numbers 24:16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

“lying” 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 13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

“seen” Hebrew H2372 · used in 47 verses

  • Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
  • Psalms 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
  • Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: