Ezekiel 13:18

From Textus Receptus

Ezekiel 13:18 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

Pillows or Magic Bands

This verse is different in modern versions where it reads:

and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the lives of others for yourselves? (Ezek 13:18, NASB)

The KJV is condemning women who "sew pillows to all armholes [sleeves]" and who "make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature." Modern versions change the pillows on sleeves to "magic bands on wrists." So we are left with the impression that the women are being condemned for witchcraft in the modern versions and for something quite different in the KJV. Let's take a look at the context to get a better understanding of what this passage is all about.

The prophets are condemned in the first part of the chapter for claiming to give God's people His word when, in fact, it was a word from their own hearts. And what was this word? It was declaring peace where there was no peace (Ezek 13:10). These prophets build a wall of protection around the people of Israel that they might find comfort, when the Lord has not built the wall nor given His people comfort (Ezek 13:10-15).

After the prophets, the Lord turns to condemn the women. The women are guilty of the same sins but in a different manner. So while the prophets are telling the people "peace and comfort" the women are sewing pillows for their peace and comfort. And while the prophets tell the people that they will be blessed, the women make kerchiefs for everyone's head as a garment of pride and prosperity.

To move from condemning the prophets for saying "peace" to condemning the women for witchcraft would be a strange move indeed. Rather, the KJV rendering makes the best sense in the context of God judging the people, both men and women, for different aspects of the same sin.