Ezekiel 13:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

The false prophets, who are here prophesied against, were some of them at Jerusalem (Jer. 23:14): I have seen in the prophets at Jerusalem a horrible thing; some of them among the captives in Babylon, for to them Jeremiah writes (Jer. 29:8), Let not your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you. And as God's prophets, though at a distance from each other in place or time, yet preached the same truths, which was an evidence that they were guided by one and the same good Spirit, so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 13:4

Thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts - The cunning of the fox in obtaining his prey has been long proverbial. These false prophets are represented as the foxes who, having got their prey by great subtlety, run to the desert to hide both themselves and it. So the false prophets, when the event did not answer to their prediction, got out of the way, that they might not be overwhelmed with the reproaches and indignation of the people. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 13:4

Verse 4 Hence Ezekiel exposes the snares of the false prophets. The ten tribes had been dispersed, just as if a field or a vineyard had been removed from a habitable neighborhood into desert regions, and foxes held their sway there instead. For they have many hiding-places; they insinuate themselves through hedges and all openings, and so break into the vineyard or field, and lay waste its fruits. Such, as I have said, was the condition of the people from the time of its dispersion. While the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

Pretended prophets. There is no institution in itself so good but it may be corrupted and turned to evil purposes. Prophecy was given to the Hebrew people as a token of Jehovah's interest in them and care for them. The intention was to afford national guidance and consolation, to give to religion an intellectual character, and to counteract any tendency to formalism which a misunderstanding of the sacerdotal and sacrificial system would naturally encourage. Prophecy was especially adapted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

The perils of falseness. The work of God's prophets is made more difficult by the competition of pretenders. They cater for popularity by predicting only what is pleasing to flesh and blood. Hence they bring discredit on all God's revelations. In Ezekiel's day the false teachers were specially busy in Jerusalem, confronting and counteracting Jeremiah; and the sad effect of false hopes was felt at Chebar as well as in Judaea. I. CARNAL AMBITION IS OFTEN THE PARENT OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-16

The sin and punishment of false prophets. "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel," etc. This subject has already been introduced in Ezekiel 12:24 . In that verse we have as it were the text, and in this chapter the sermon. It has been suggested that this chapter should be read in conjunction with Jeremiah 23:9-40 . "The identity of phrases and ideas forces upon us the conclusion that the author of the one must have had the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:4

Like the foxes in the deserts , etc. The points of comparison are manifold. The fox is cunning ( Luke 13:32 , where the term is applied to Herod Antipas). It spoils the vine and its fruits (So 2:15); it burrows among ruins ( Nehemiah 4:3 ; Lamentations 5:18 ). So the false prophets were crafty, laid waste the vineyard of the Lord of hosts ( Isaiah 5:7 ), made their profit out of the ruin of Israel, and made that ruin worse. The 'Reineke Fuchs,' in satirizing the monks and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:4

Foxes. Ezekiel here likens the false prophets to foxes in waste places. This cutting comparison shows the daring of the true prophet, the extremity of the evil of false prophecy, and the crying need of exposure of this evil. There is a limit to the reserve of politeness when truth is dishonoured and God insulted by those whom a culpable charity still flatters with terms of friendliness. Christ called Herod a fox ( Luke 13:32 ). Still, it needs the grace of Christ or the inspiration of an... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 13:4

In the deserts - Foxes find a home among ruins etc. Lamentations 5:18. So the prophets find their profit in the ruin of their country. read more

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