The Meaning of Ezekiel 13:4 Explained

Ezekiel 13:4

KJV: O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

YLT: As foxes in the wastes, Thy prophets, O Israel, have been.

Darby: O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in desert places.

ASV: O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O Israel,  thy prophets  are like the foxes  in the deserts. 

What does Ezekiel 13:4 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 13:4 mean?

Like the foxes in deserts Your prophets Israel are
כְּשֻׁעָלִ֖ים בָּחֳרָב֑וֹת נְבִיאֶ֥יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָיֽוּ

כְּשֻׁעָלִ֖ים  Like  the  foxes 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שׁוּעָל  
Sense: fox, a burrower.
בָּחֳרָב֑וֹת  in  deserts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: חָרְבָּה  
Sense: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation.
נְבִיאֶ֥יךָ  Your  prophets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.