Contradiction with Deuteronomy 18:20
While Ezekiel 13:3 condemns false prophets, Deuteronomy 18:20 provides for the death penalty for a prophet who presumes to speak a word in God's name without His command, emphasizing a more severe consequence.
Deuteronomy 18:20: But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 23:16
Ezekiel 13:3 condemns false prophets, but Jeremiah 23:16 warns against listening to false prophets who fill people with vain hopes, highlighting the deception rather than just the folly.
Jeremiah 23:16: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Contradiction with Matthew 7:15
Jesus warns against false prophets in sheep's clothing, focusing on their deceptive appearance rather than simply their folly as in Ezekiel 13:3.
Matthew 7:15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Contradiction with 1 John 4:1
Encourages testing the spirits to see if they are from God, a constructive approach compared to simply condemning the prophets as foolish.
1 John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Contradiction with Hosea 9:7
Speaks of the prophet as a fool due to Israel's sin, showing that the context of foolishness can differ and is not solely on the prophet's account.
Hosea 9:7: The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. [spiritual...: Heb. man of the spirit]
Paradox #1
The contradiction or conflict in Ezekiel 13:3 might arise from the idea of false prophecy. On one hand, prophets in the Bible are often portrayed as divinely inspired individuals conveying God's truth. However, this verse warns against false prophets who claim to speak for God but actually mislead people. The conflict here lies in discerning true divine messages from false ones, questioning how individuals can be sure of a prophet's authenticity and how to deal with false claims of divine authority.