Ezekiel 18:23
in Ezekiel 18Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
KJV
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
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This verse in Ezekiel 18
Commentary
6 notes on this verse(Verse 23) In his righteousness, which he has worked, he will live. My righteousness will live not so much as mine, but as his. It is allowed for my righteousness to give good things to the good and bad things to the bad. Is it my will that the wicked should die, says the Lord God, and not that he should turn from his ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23) Therefore it is the will of the Lord that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
This site's exposition
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed
on Ezekiel 18:21-23
The principle turns from static standing to moving repentance: a wicked man who turns and keeps God's statutes shall surely live, his past transgressions not mentioned against him. The chapter's own question follows, have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?, God's stated preference named directly rather than left to be inferred from his patience. Henry reads verse 23 as the emotional center of the whole passage, judgment never presented as something God wants, only as something justice requires when repentance is refused.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God,.... Perish by sword, famine, or pestilence, or go into captivity; this, though the Lord's will and work, yet is his strange work; mercy is his delight.
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? It is spoken here comparatively; he has not pleasure in the ruin of sinners, for he would rather they should turn from their ways and live; he is better pleased when his mercy is glorified in their salvation than when his justice is glorified in their damnation. A fair warning given to righteous people not to turn from their righteousness,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
on Ezekiel 18:21-24
Two last cases, showing the equity of God: (1) The penitent sinner is dealt with according to his new obedience, not according to his former sins. (2) The righteous man who turns from righteousness to sin shall be punished for the latter, and his former righteousness will be of no avail to him. he shall surely live--Despair drives men into hardened recklessness;
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
If men perish, it is because they will not come to the Lord for salvation; not that the Lord is not willing to save them (Joh 5:40). They trample on not merely justice, but mercy; what farther hope can there be for them, when even mercy is against them?
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֶחָפֹ֤ץ | hechafotz | ¿ really <to take pleasure> | H2654 → | 74 times |
| אֶחְפֹּץ֙ | ʾechpotz | do I take pleasure in | H2654 → | 74 times |
| מ֣וֹת | mot | [the] death of | H4194 → | 156 times |
| רָשָׁ֔ע | rasha' | [the] wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| נְאֻ֖ם | neum | [the] utterance of | H5002 → | 376 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֣י | ʾadonai | [the] Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יְהוִ֑ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3069 → | 306 times |
| הֲל֛וֹא | halo' | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| בְּשׁוּב֥וֹ | beshuvo | when turning back he | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| מִדְּרָכָ֖יו | miderakhav | from ways his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וְחָיָֽה׃ ס | vechayah | and he will live | H2421 → | 282 times |
הֶחָפֹ֤ץ¿ really <to take pleasure>
hechafotzH2654 →74 times
אֶחְפֹּץ֙do I take pleasure in
ʾechpotzH2654 →74 times
מ֣וֹת[the] death of
motH4194 →156 times
רָשָׁ֔ע[the] wicked
rasha'H7563 →263 times
נְאֻ֖ם[the] utterance of
neumH5002 →376 times
אֲדֹנָ֣י[the] Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יְהוִ֑הYahweh
yahwehH3069 →306 times
הֲל֛וֹא¿ not
halo'H3808 →5168 times
בְּשׁוּב֥וֹwhen turning back he
beshuvoH7725 →1056 times
מִדְּרָכָ֖יוfrom ways his
miderakhavH1870 →707 times
וְחָיָֽה׃ סand he will live
vechayahH2421 →282 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:4
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Psalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
- Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
- 1 Timothy 2:4
Through
1 Timothy 2:4who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 18:32
For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!
- Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live.…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Peter 3:9
About Ezekiel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.