Ezekiel 13:17

17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who are prophesying out of their own heart, and prophesy concerning 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 have completed My wrath on the wall, And on those daubing it with chalk, And I say to you: The wall is not, And those daubing it are not;
16 The prophets of Israel who are prophesying concerning Jerusalem, And who are seeing for her a vision of peace, And there is no peace, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who are prophesying out of their own heart, and prophesy concerning them,
18 And thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Wo to those sowing pillows for all joints of the arm, And to those making the kerchiefs For the head of every stature -- to hunt souls, The souls do ye hunt of My people? And the souls ye have do ye keep alive?
19 Yea, ye pierce Me concerning My people, For handfuls of barley, And for pieces of bread, to put to death Souls that should not die, And to keep alive souls that should not live, By your lying to My people -- hearkening to lies.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.