Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live. New Living Translation You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live. English Standard Version You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies. Berean Standard Bible You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived. King James Bible And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces 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 hear your lies? New King James Version And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” New American Standard Bible For handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, you have profaned Me to My people, to put to death some who should not die, and to keep others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’” NASB 1995 “For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death some who should not die and to keep others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies."’” NASB 1977 “And for handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death some who should not die and to keep others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’” Legacy Standard Bible For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death souls who should not die and to keep other souls alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’” Amplified Bible You have profaned Me among My people [in payment] for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die and giving [a guarantee of] life to those who should not live, because of your lies to My people who pay attention to lies.”’” Christian Standard Bible You profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread; you put those to death who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to my people, who listen to lies. Holman Christian Standard Bible You profane Me in front of My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread; you kill those who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to My people, who listen to lies.” American Standard Version And ye have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces 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 hearken unto lies. Contemporary English Version They charge my people a few handfuls of barley and a couple pieces of bread, and then give messages that are insulting to me. They use lies to sentence the innocent to death and to help the guilty go free. And my people believe them! English Revised Version And ye have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces 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 hearken unto lies. GOD'S WORD® Translation You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn't die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn't live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen. Good News Translation You dishonor me in front of my people in order to get a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who don't deserve to die, and you keep people alive who don't deserve to live. So you tell lies to my people, and they believe you." International Standard Version You've profaned me among my people for a handful of barley and a morsel of bread. You're causing people to die who shouldn't have to die, and you're causing people to live who shouldn't survive, when you deceive my people who tend to listen to lies." Majority Standard Bible You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived. NET Bible You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You have put to death people who should not die and kept alive those who should not live by your lies to my people, who listen to lies! New Heart English Bible You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies." Webster's Bible Translation And will ye profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces 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 hear your lies? World English Bible You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIndeed, you 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—listening to lies. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation Ye will profane me to my people for handfuls of barley and for morsels of bread, to kill the souls which shall not die, and to preserve alive the souls which shall not live, by your falsehood to my people hearing the falsehood? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that believe lies. Catholic Public Domain Version And they violated me among my people, for the sake of a handful of barley and a fragment of bread, so that they would kill the souls that should not die, and enliven the souls that should not live, lying to my people who believe in falsehoods. New American Bible You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, slaying those who should not be slain, and keeping alive those who should not live, lying to my people, who listen to lies. New Revised Standard Version You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death persons who should not die and keeping alive persons who should not live, by your lies to my people, who listen to lies. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou have polluted my people for a handful of barley and a piece of bread, to kill persons who were not guilty of death, and to save the lives of those who should not live, and you have lied to a people who listen to lies. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you have polluted my people with a handful of barley and with a piece of bread to kill those souls that did not deserve to die, and to save the life of the those souls that did not deserve to live, and you have lied to the people that hear falsehood OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And ye have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for crumbs 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 hearken unto lies. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they have dishonoured me before my people for a handful of barley, and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls which should not die, and to save alive the souls which should not live, while ye speak to a people hearing vain speeches. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The False Prophetesses…18and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own? 19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived. 20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. So I will free the souls you have ensnared like birds.… Cross References Jeremiah 23:14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” Micah 3:5 This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: Matthew 23:14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. 2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end? Isaiah 56:11 Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: 1 Timothy 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. Jeremiah 14:14 “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds. 2 Timothy 3:6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, Lamentations 2:14 The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading. Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Jeremiah 6:13 “For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. Zechariah 11:5 whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them. Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Treasury of Scripture And will you pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces 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 hear your lies? pollute Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. for handfuls 1 Samuel 2:16,17 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force… Proverbs 28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. Micah 3:5,11 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him… to slay Ezekiel 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. to save Jeremiah 23:14,17 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah… Jump to Previous Alive Barley Bread Death Die Fragments Handfuls Hear Hearken Kill Live Pieces Pollute Profaned Putting Save Slay SoulsJump to Next Alive Barley Bread Death Die Fragments Handfuls Hear Hearken Kill Live Pieces Pollute Profaned Putting Save Slay SoulsEzekiel 13 1. The reproof of false prophets10. and their untempered mortar 17. Of prophecies and their pillows You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. This phrase highlights the corruption and sacrilege committed by false prophets in Israel. The act of profaning God indicates a severe disrespect and misuse of His name and authority. In ancient Israel, barley and bread were basic food items, symbolizing the trivial and insignificant rewards for which these false prophets were willing to compromise their integrity and divine truth. This reflects a broader biblical theme where material gain is often pursued at the expense of spiritual fidelity (e.g., Micah 3:5, where prophets lead people astray for food). The historical context suggests that during times of scarcity, such as the Babylonian siege, even small amounts of food could be tempting bribes. This phrase underscores the gravity of valuing material gain over spiritual truth, a theme echoed in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 6:24, where Jesus teaches about serving God versus wealth). By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. He is known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions. 2. False Prophets Individuals in Israel who claimed to speak for God but were actually spreading lies and deceit for personal gain. 3. The Israelites God's chosen people, who were in exile in Babylon due to their disobedience and idolatry. 4. Babylon The place of exile for the Israelites, representing a period of judgment and purification. 5. God The sovereign Lord who is addressing the false prophets through Ezekiel, condemning their actions and lies. Teaching Points The Danger of False ProphetsFalse prophets can lead people away from God's truth, causing spiritual harm. It's crucial to discern and reject teachings that contradict Scripture. The Value of Truth Truth is precious and should not be compromised for material gain or personal advantage. Upholding truth honors God and protects His people. Accountability to God Those who claim to speak for God are held to a high standard. Misrepresenting God’s word is a serious offense with severe consequences. The Importance of Discernment Believers must be vigilant and discerning, testing all teachings against the truth of Scripture to avoid being misled. God's Justice and Mercy God is just and will hold false prophets accountable, but He is also merciful, offering forgiveness to those who repent and turn back to Him.(19) Handfuls of barley.--It was an ancient custom to bring presents to a prophet on consulting him (1Samuel 9:7-8; 1Kings 14:3); but as barley was a cheap grain, and handfuls a very small quantity, these words show the exceedingly small gains for which these false prophetesses were willing to pervert the truth, and lead the people to destruction. God was "polluted" by attaching His name and authority to that which was not true, and would not come to pass, thus "making Him a liar" like themselves. Like all falsehood, their lies tended both ways--to entice the upright to their ruin, and to give false security to the wicked. It is always impossible that a perversion of the truth, especially in regard to the Divine judgments, can be harmless. Hear your lies.--Or, hearken to a lie. The words imply a willingness to listen to the pleasing falsehood, and the state of things is that described by Jeremiah 5:31. "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so." Verse 19. - Will ye pollute me, etc.? rather, with the Revised Version, ye have profaned, the interrogative form not being continued in the Hebrew. The prophet dwells with scorn on the miserable pay for which the prophetesses were guilty of so great a sin. Not for rewards of divination, like those of Balsam (Numbers 22:7), but for gifts like those bestowed on the harlot or the beggar (l 1 Samuel 2:36; Hosea 3:2) - for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread - they plied their wretched trade. For examples of the lower gifts in kind offered to prophets, compare those of Saul (1 Samuel 9:8), of Jeroboam's wife (1 Kings 14:3), the false prophets in Micah 3:5. And they did this in direct opposition to the will of Jehovah. They "slew," i.e. drew on to destruction, the souls that were meant for life. They "saved the souls alive," i.e. "their own, which were worthy of death." That was the outcome of their "lying" divinations.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You have profanedוַתְּחַלֶּלְ֨נָה (wat·tə·ḥal·lel·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine plural Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play Me אֹתִ֜י (’ō·ṯî) Direct object marker | first person common singular Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case among אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to My people עַמִּ֗י (‘am·mî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock for handfuls בְּשַׁעֲלֵ֣י (bə·ša·‘ă·lê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 8168: Hollow hand, handful of barley שְׂעֹרִים֮ (śə·‘ō·rîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8184: Barley and scraps וּבִפְת֣וֹתֵי (ū·ḇip̄·ṯō·w·ṯê) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 6595: Fragment, bit, morsel of bread. לֶחֶם֒ (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain By lying בְּכַ֨זֶּבְכֶ֔ם (bə·ḵaz·zeḇ·ḵem) Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 3576: To lie, be a liar to My people לְעַמִּ֖י (lə·‘am·mî) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock who would listen, שֹׁמְעֵ֥י (šō·mə·‘ê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently you have killed לְהָמִ֤ית (lə·hā·mîṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 4191: To die, to kill those נְפָשׁוֹת֙ (nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that should not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no have died תְמוּתֶ֔נָה (ṯə·mū·ṯe·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill and spared וּלְחַיּ֥וֹת (ū·lə·ḥay·yō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 2421: To live, to revive those נְפָשׁ֖וֹת (nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that should not לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no have lived.? תִֽחְיֶ֑ינָה (ṯiḥ·ye·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 2421: To live, to revive Links Ezekiel 13:19 NIVEzekiel 13:19 NLT Ezekiel 13:19 ESV Ezekiel 13:19 NASB Ezekiel 13:19 KJV Ezekiel 13:19 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 13:19 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 13:19 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 13:19 French Bible Ezekiel 13:19 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 13:19 You have profaned me among my people (Ezek. 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