Eze 13:18 | NET2full | STEP | and say ‘ This is what the Sovereign Lord says : Woe to those who sew bands on all their wrists and make headbands for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives ! Will you entrap my people’s lives , yet preserve your own lives ?

‏ Ezekiel 13:18

18 and say ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to those who sew bands ^{▼▼sn The wristbands mentioned here probably represented magic bands or charms. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:413.} on all their wrists ^{▼▼tn Heb “joints of the hands.” This may include the elbow and shoulder joints.} and make headbands ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew term occurs in the Bible only here and in v. 21. It has also been understood as a veil or type of head covering. D. I. Block (Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:414) suggests that given the context of magical devices, the expected parallel to the magical arm bands, and the meaning of this Hebrew root (סָפַח [safakh, “to attach” or “join”]), it may refer to headbands or necklaces on which magical amulets were worn.} for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives! ^{▼▼tn Heb “human lives” or “souls” (three times in v. 18 and twice in v. 19).} Will you entrap my people’s lives, yet preserve your own lives?