Ezekiel 13:20

Therefore 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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to false prophetesses who have profaned Him by accepting barley and scraps of bread to lie to His people.

The words — The Hebrew phrase כִּסְּתוֹתֵי כֶ֙נָה (ki.se.to.tei./Khe.nah) literally translates to "your bands" or "your magic charms," referring to the physical objects used to bind or control others.

The thread — The declaration "I am against" repeats the judgment formula found in Ezekiel 13:8 and Ezekiel 13:18, while the promise to tear away these objects and free captives aligns with the prophetic pattern of divine deliverance.

Why it lands — The text states that God will actively destroy the tools of spiritual manipulation and release those exploited by them, requiring readers to reject deceptive practices and acknowledge His sole authority over life and death.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לָכֵ֞ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore כֹּה־koh-thus אָמַ֣ר׀'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֗הYah.wehYahweh הִנְנִ֤יhi./Nihere/ I אֶל־'el-[am] against כִּסְּתוֹתֵיכֶ֙נָה֙ki.se.to.tei./Khe.nahbands/ your אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich אַ֠תֵּנָה'A.te.nahyou מְצֹדְד֨וֹתme.tzo.de.Dot[are] hunting שָׁ֤םshamthere אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ha./ne.fa.shOtthe/ persons לְפֹ֣רְח֔וֹתle./Fo.re.Chotfor/ birds וְקָרַעְתִּ֣יve./ka.ra'.Tiand/ I will tear away אֹתָ֔ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them מֵעַ֖לme./'Alfrom/ on זְרוֹעֹֽתֵיכֶ֑םze.ro.'o.tei./Khemarms/ your וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי֙ve./shi.lach.Tiand/ I will set free אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַנְּפָשׁ֔וֹתha./ne.fa.Shotthe/ persons אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhom אַתֶּ֛ם'a.Temyou מְצֹדְד֥וֹתme.tzo.de.Dot[are] hunting אֶת־'et-<obj.>נְפָשִׁ֖יםne.fa.Shimpersons לְפֹרְחֹֽת׃le./fo.re.Chotfor/ birds

King James Version

Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; 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 will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 13:18 and 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?
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
Ezekiel 13:8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 13:15 And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it—