Ezekiel 13:4

4 Comme des renards dans des ruines, tels sont tes prophètes, ô Israël!

Ezekiel 13:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 13:4

O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes of the deserts.
] The false prophets, as the Targum; these are called Israel's prophets, because received, embraced, and encouraged by them; not the Lord's, for they were not sent by him, nor had any messages from him; and such are comparable to foxes, for their craftiness and cunning, and lying in wait to deceive, as these seduced the Lord's people, ( Ezekiel 13:10 ) ; and such are false teachers, who walk in craftiness, and handle the word of God deceitfully, and are deceitful workers; and to foxes in the deserts, which are hungry and ravenous, and make a prey of whatsoever comes within their reach, as these prophets did of the people, ( Ezekiel 13:19 ) . Kimchi interprets "deserts" of breaches and ruinous places in the walls of a vineyard, where the foxes lie, or through which they enter into the vineyard and spoil it; as these false prophets entered in among the Israelites, like to a vineyard, and did them much hurt and damage, by insinuating themselves among the weak, and those of little faith, which the above writer compares to breaches in vineyards; see ( Song of Solomon 2:15 ) . It may be the deserts may have respect to the land of Chaldea, where Israel was carried captive, and where these foxes, the false prophets, could play their part to advantage; not being under the notice and restraints of the sanhedrim at Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 13:4 In-Context

2 Fils de l'homme, prophétise contre les prophètes d'Israël qui prophétisent; dis à ceux qui prophétisent selon leur propre cœur: Écoutez la parole de l'Éternel;

3 Ainsi a dit le Seigneur, l'Éternel: Malheur aux prophètes insensés qui suivent leur propre esprit, et qui n'ont point eu de vision.

4 Comme des renards dans des ruines, tels sont tes prophètes, ô Israël!

5 Vous n'êtes point montés sur les brèches, et vous n'avez point entouré d'un rempart la maison d'Israël, pour demeurer fermes dans le combat au jour de l'Éternel.

6 Leurs visions sont trompeuses, leurs oracles menteurs, quand ils disent: "L'Éternel a dit! " tandis que l'Éternel ne les a point envoyés; et ils ont fait espérer que leur parole aurait son accomplissement.