Ezekiel 13:10

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 13:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]:
Ezekiel 13:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because, even because they have seduced my people, &c.] Who were so by profession; otherwise such who are truly the people of God, though they may be deceived in civil things, yet not in religious matters, at least not totally and finally; in this sense it is impossible to deceive the elect of God; but as false teachers are deceivers, they lie in wait, and use all means to deceive them, and do deceive nominal professors, which is resented by the Lord; and this is given as a reason of their punishment; and which is doubled, as in (<032643>Leviticus 26:43); to show the heinousness of their sin, and the certainty of their punishment: saying, peace, and [there was] no peace; giving out that…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Because, even because--The repetition heightens the emphasis. Peace--safety to the nation. Ezekiel confirms Jer 6:14; Jer 8:11. one--literally, "this one"; said contemptuously, as in Ch2 28:22. a wall--rather, "a loose wall." Ezekiel had said that the false prophets did not "go up into the gaps, or make up the breaches" (Eze 13:5), as good architects do; now he adds that they make a bustling show of anxiety about repairing the wall; but it is without right mortar, and therefore of no use. one . . . others--besides individual effort, they jointly co-operated to delude the people. daubed . . . with untempered mortar--as sand without lime, mud without straw [GROTIUS]. FAIRBAIRN translates,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Wall - A partition wall; in Ezekiel 13:12, the word used is the usual word for the outer wall of a house or city. The fall of the partition wall would perhaps involve the fall of the whole house. Untempered morter - Or, whited plaster, employed to patch up a wall, so as to give it an appearance (without the reality) of strength and beauty. Compare Matthew 23:27. In the original there is a play upon a word rendered “folly” in Jeremiah 23:13. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Peace - They told sinners, no harm would happen to them. And those are the most dangerous seducers, who suggest to sinners that which tends to lessen their dread of sin, or their fear of God. These are compared to men who build a slight tottering wall, which others daub with untempered mortar; sorry stuff, that will not bind, nor hold the bricks together: doctrines not grounded on the word of God. Ezekiel 13:14”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:10-16 The people’s “righteousness” was a flimsy wall in danger of collapse. Rather than doing the hard work of constructing their wall properly by calling the people to repentance, the false prophets were content to give it a coat of whitewash by telling the people that peace would come to Jerusalem. This external touch-up made the wall appear more solid than it was. Its true weakness would be exposed by a heavy rainstorm. Water would flow into the unsealed cracks, wash away the mortar, and allow the stones to fall away. In this case, the storm would be the great flood of God’s anger, which would destroy the people’s pretense to righteousness and the false prophets who had encouraged it.…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“seduced: Kg2 21:9; Pro 12:26; Jer 23:13-15; Ti1 4:1; Ti2 3:13; Jo1 2:26; Rev 2:20 Peace: Eze 13:16; Isa 57:21; Jer 4:10, Jer 6:14, Jer 8:11, Jer 8:15, Jer 14:13, Jer 23:17, Jer 28:9; Mal 3:15 and one: These false prophets pretend to be a wall of defence; but their wall is bad, and their morter is worse. One gives a lying vision; another pledges himself that it is true; and the people believe what they say, and trust not in God, nor turn from their sins. a wall: or, a slight wall others: Eze 22:28; Ch2 18:12; Isa 30:10; Jer 5:31; Mic 2:11 Ezekiel 13:11”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification