Ezekiel 13:17

17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,

Ezekiel 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 13:17

Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters
of thy people
The false prophetesses; for as there were women in some ages, who had the true spirit of prophecy, as Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah, ( Exodus 15:20 ) ( Judges 4:4 ) ( 2 Kings 22:14 ) ; so there were some that pretended to it, who had it not, as Noadiah in the times of Nehemiah, ( Nehemiah 6:14 ) ; and such there were in the times of Ezekiel; against whom he is bid to set his face, and look them out of countenance, and make them ashamed; who, contrary to the modesty of the sex, had impudently taken upon them to prophesy to the people; and such have been since in the times of the Gospel, as Jezebel, ( Revelation 2:20 ) ; and Prisca, Maximilia, Quintilia, and others: who prophesy out of their own heart;
as the men did, ( Ezekiel 13:2 ) ; what their own hearts suggested to them; what came into their minds, and their own fancies and imaginations led them to; what was according to their carnal affections and desires, and agreeable to those that heard them: and prophesy thou against them;
declare their prophecies false; warn the people from giving heed to them; and foretell what shall befall them for deceiving the people.

Ezekiel 13:17 In-Context

15 And I will accomplish my fury upon the wall, and upon them that daub it with untempered [mortar], and will say unto you, The wall is no [more], neither they that daubed it,
16 the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see a vision of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord Jehovah.
17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,
18 and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the women that sew pillows for all wrists, and that make veils for the head [of persons] of every stature to catch souls! Will ye catch the souls of my people, and will ye save your own souls alive?
19 And will ye profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and for morsels 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 listen to lying?
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.