Definition: And her prophets have daubed them with untempered [morter], seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Ezekiel 22:28. It’s a really important warning about how prophets (people who interpret God’s word) can be manipulated and misleading. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that the prophets were deliberately trying to trick people with false information. They weren't speaking honestly about God, but they were using clever words and deceptive tactics to make themselves look good and convince others to believe them. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And her prophets…” : This refers to a group of prophets who were specifically tasked with interpreting the word of God (God's message). “…have daubed them with untempered [morter]” : “Morter” is an old word for a kind of mixture used in ancient times. “Daubed” means to smear or paint something with a thick layer. So, the prophets were smearing the truth with this deceptive mixture. It was like trying to hide something obvious. “…seeing vanity…” : This means they were being deliberately misleading and showing off their own cleverness rather than revealing God's true word. They weren’t being truthful; they were trying to impress others with their own knowledge. “and divining lies unto them…” : "Divining" means to try to find something hidden or uncover secrets. This suggests they were carefully crafting and presenting false explanations, offering misleading answers. “saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD…” : This is a direct quote from God himself – He's telling us what’s happening. The Overall Meaning: Essentially, the verse warns against the potential for prophets to be dishonest and manipulate people with false teachings. They were trying to appear wise and important by twisting words and presenting misleading information. Why is this a warning? It's a reminder that faith and belief should always be grounded in truth and honesty. We should always question things carefully, look for evidence, and trust God’s word – not just what someone tells us to believe. Important Note: The concept of “morter” is somewhat symbolic and refers to the deliberate attempt to obscure or distort a message. It's a powerful image that highlights the potential for deception. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you an example of how this could have been used in ancient times? Discuss the significance of this verse within the context of biblical teachings?