And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word: Now God turns his attention to the prophets whom the idol worshipers were consulting. A true prophet will not answer them because they were living lives of sin. Only a false prophet will give them an answer, but it will be a “false answer” (Good News Translation). Those prophets who respond to requests from sinners will be deceived when they speak. The Hebrew verb rendered deceived comes from a root that means “simple-minded, easily enticed.” New Century Version has “tricked.” The verb be deceived poses a problem in languages where the passive voice is not natural and an agent is required. Although it is God who does the tricking, that should not be made explicit here, since he goes on to explain that if the person is tricked, it is he who does it. In such languages translators may render if the prophet be deceived as “If a prophet loses his way [or, falls into error],” “If a prophet makes a mistake” (Parole de Vie), or “If something [or, someone] tempts a prophet into speaking.” Speak a word means to give a prophecy (so New Century Version) or to give an answer that apparently comes from God.

I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet: This is a statement of divine sovereignty in which God says he will cause prophets who respond to give false answers. This clause may be rendered “I, Yahweh, I am the one who has tricked that prophet.”

And I will stretch out my hand against him: This figurative expression means God will punish the false prophet with his power (see the comments on 6.14). Translators should only use this idiom if it is meaningful in the receptor language. If not, they may say “I will take action against him” or “I will punish him.”

And will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel: God will punish the false prophets by removing them completely from his people. The Hebrew verb rendered destroy is very strong and refers to total annihilation and destruction. It carries the same idea as “cut off” in verse 8 but is much more emphatic. The false prophets will have absolutely no part in the nation of Israel. New Century Version has “and destroy him from among my people Israel.” New Jerusalem Bible is also good with “and rid my people Israel of him.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .