Ezekiel 13:11

11 say unto them that daub it with untempered [mortar], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

Ezekiel 13:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 13:11

Say unto them which daub [it] with untempered [mortar]
The false prophets, that flattered the people with peace, prosperity, and safety: that it shall fall;
the wall they have built and daubed over; the city of Jerusalem shall be taken and destroyed; the predictions of the prophets shall prove lies; and the vain hopes and expectations of the people fail: there shall be an overflowing shower;
that shall wash away the wall with its untempered mortar; meaning the Chaldean army, compared to an overflowing shower of rain, for the multitude of men it, and the force, power, and noise, with which it should come, bearing down all before it; see ( Isaiah 8:7 Isaiah 8:8 ) ; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall;
upon the wall, and break it down: or, "ye, O great hailstones, shall cause [it] to fall" F8; or, "I will give great hailstones, [and] it shall fall" F9. The word "elgabish", which in some copies is one word, and in others two, as Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, is either the same with "gabish", which signifies a precious stone, and is rendered pearl in ( Job 28:18 ) ; or it may be, as it seems to be, an Arabic word; and Hottinger F11 takes it to be "gypsus", or lime, or the "lapis laminosus", or slate; so the Lord threatens to rain down lime or slate upon them from heaven, which should destroy the wall built with untempered mortar: and a stormy wind shall rend [it];
this seems to signify the same as the overflowing shower, the Chaldean army, compared to a strong tempestuous wind; see ( Jeremiah 4:11-13 ) ; as the hailstones, may signify the king of Babylon, with his princes, nobles, and generals.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (hnlpt vybgla ynba hntaw) "et vos, O lapides grandinis, ruere facietis [aedificium]", Munster.
F9 "Et dabo lapides grandinis, qui corruere facient [parietem]", Pagninus.
F11 Smegma Oriental. l. 1. c. 7. p. 119.

Ezekiel 13:11 In-Context

9 And my hand shall be against the prophets that see false visions, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]:
11 say unto them that daub it with untempered [mortar], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my wrath; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.