Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 13:17-23

"And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of [persons of] every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves? 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. Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make [them] fly. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. Because with lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive: Therefore ye shall no more see false visions, nor divine divinations: and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah." — Ezekiel 13:17-23 (ASV)

A rebuke to the false prophetesses, and a declaration that God will confound them and deliver their victims from their snares. Women were sometimes inspired by the true God, as were Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, and Huldah; but an order of prophetesses was unknown among the people of God, and the existence of such a class in the last days of the kings of Judah was a fresh instance of decline into pagan usages.

Regarding Ezekiel 13:18-21, it can be translated as follows: Woe to the women that put charms on every finger-joint, that set veils upon heads of every height to ensnare souls.

Will you ensnare the souls of My people and keep your own souls alive? And will you profane My name among My people for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to keep alive the souls that should not live, by lying to My people who listen to a lie? Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will come upon your charms, where you are ensnaring the souls like birds; and I will tear them from your arms and will let the souls go free, even the souls which you are ensnaring like birds. Your veils also will I tear, and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be ensnared; and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Most ancient and many modern interpreters have understood the “pillows” (or charms) and “kerchiefs” (or veils) as devices to which the sorcerers resorted to attract notice. The veil was a conspicuous ornament in the East—women of every “stature” (or height) wore them—and it was also used by magicians to appear more mysterious and awe-inspiring.

Pollute Me (Ezekiel 13:19)—This means to profane Me with your false words, which you pretend are from Me.

Handfuls of barley—Such were the gifts with which men used to approach a seer (compare 1 Samuel 9:7–8; 1 Kings 14:3).

To make them fly (Ezekiel 13:20)—If the marginal reading “into gardens” is adopted, it must mean that you entice men to the gardens or groves where magical arts were practiced. It is well known that groves were used for this purpose and for idolatrous rites.