Ezekiel 14:9: God "deceives" the prophet?

Achilles6129

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Here's an interesting passage from the book of Ezekiel. I'll post a couple different translations:

"9 If a prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel." Ezek. 14:9 (NRSV)

"9 “But if the prophet is [f]prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the Lord, who have [g]prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. " Ezek. 14:9 (NASB)

Here's the word for "prevailed" in the NASB ("deceived" in the NRSV):

Genesis Chapter 1 (NASB)

Thoughts?
 

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Achilles6129, I didn't recall that verse, so I looked up a commentary.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
9–11. Fate of the prophet who gives an answer to idolatrous inquirers: he and they shall perish together

9. be deceived when he hath spoken] Rather, be deceived (or, enticed) and speak a word, i.e. a prophetic word, ch. Ezekiel 12:25 seq. The meaning appears to be: if the prophet, entering into the “heart” of the idolaters, the circle and direction of their thoughts, and the general spirit which animates them, gives them a prophetic oracle which coincides with the line of their thoughts, and thus helps to foster their delusions, that prophet himself has been seduced or enticed; and it is the Lord who has enticed him. The passage has a resemblance to 1 Kings 22:20. There a lying spirit came forth from the Lord and entered into the prophets of Ahab and deceived them, so that they entered into the designs of the wicked king and gave an answer favourable to him. Here it is the Lord himself who entices the prophet. In both cases this enticement or deception was in punishment for previous sin. Ezekiel does not appear to reflect upon the point whether the prophet before being deceived was true or false. The “prophet” became false when deceived, when he entered into the spirit and purposes of the idolaters, and spoke a word to them in the line of their sinful conduct and hopes. And this word merely hardened them in their mind and was a step towards taking them in their own heart (Ezekiel 14:5).
Ezekiel 14:9 Commentaries: "But if the prophet is prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the LORD, who have prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

I hope that's helpful, because I'm very busy this time of year.
 
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Winken

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If an evil messenger enters into a deceptive group of people and adds to their deception through further disinformation, God is the one who provides the recipe for their destruction. It's like he was wearing an explosive vest provided by the good guys, who were watching from a drone.
 
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Ken Behrens

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The Scriptures are 2 Thess. 2:11 and I Kings 22: 22-23 where the word for "deceive" is translated "persuade" and "lying" is a different word. The explanation is that God allows people to be lied to, but He does not do the lying, only the permitting, so that the people who allow this can be brought to a position where the lies might be exposed and they might seek Him.
 
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Achilles6129

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The Scriptures are 2 Thess. 2:11 and I Kings 22: 22-23 where the word for "deceive" is translated "persuade" and "lying" is a different word. The explanation is that God allows people to be lied to, but He does not do the lying, only the permitting, so that the people who allow this can be brought to a position where the lies might be exposed and they might seek Him.

Interesting passages, Ken. Thanks for reminding me of them. 2 Thess. 2 is a particular interesting one:

"11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Th. 2:11-12 (ESV)

Apparently God does this to people who have rejected his commands. The case in Ezekiel 14 must be similar.
 
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