The Meaning of Ezekiel 13:3 Explained

Ezekiel 13:3

KJV: Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

YLT: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the prophets who are foolish, Who are going after their own spirit, And they have seen nothing.

Darby: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

ASV: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  Woe  unto the foolish  prophets,  that follow  their own spirit,  and have seen  nothing! 

What does Ezekiel 13:3 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 13

1  The reproof of false prophets
10  and their untempered mortar
17  Of prophecies and their pillows

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 13:3 mean?

thus says the Lord GOD Woe to the prophets foolish who walk after their own spirit and nothing have seen
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה ה֖וֹי עַל־ הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים הַנְּבָלִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹלְכִ֛ים אַחַ֥ר רוּחָ֖ם ! וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י רָאֽוּ

כֹּ֤ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַר֙  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲדֹנָ֣י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֔ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
ה֖וֹי  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֹוי  
Sense: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!.
הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים  the  prophets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
הַנְּבָלִ֑ים  foolish 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: foolish, senseless, fool.
הֹלְכִ֛ים  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אַחַ֥ר  after 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
רוּחָ֖ם  their  own  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
! וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י  and  nothing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
רָאֽוּ  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.