Ezekiel 33:14
in Ezekiel 33But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
KJV
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
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This verse in Ezekiel 33
Commentary
7 notes on this verseAgain, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die,.... That is, provided he continues in the same course of life, impenitent and unbelieving: but if he turn from his sin; repent of it, and forsake it: and do that which is lawful and right; or "judgment and justice"; do that which is agreeably to the law of God, and what is right between man and man; lives soberly, righteously, and godly, as well as denies ungodliness and worldly lusts; whereby it appears that his repentance is genuine and true.
This site's exposition
righteous man will not deliver him
on Ezekiel 33:12-16
The chapter restates the argument of chapter 18: past righteousness cannot cover a present fall, and past wickedness cannot condemn a present turning. Verses 14 to 16 give the case of a wicked man. The Lord says, “None of the sins he has committed will be held against him”.
This site's exposition
he turns from his sin
Turn translates shub, the Old Testament word for repentance. Just and right renders mishpat and tsedaqah, the pair used of Abraham's household at Genesis 18:19. The wicked man's turn from sin shows itself in conduct.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Versed 10ff.) Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them: 'Our transgressions and sins are upon us, and we waste away because of them. How then can we live?' 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 turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'
We are taught that we ought not obstinately stick to our determination, but that we should with gentle pity soften down the threats which derived from some necessity.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Remember God, that He too might always remember you; and when He has kept you in His memory and preserved you safe to the end, you will receive every blessing from Him. Do not forget Him, your mind being distracted with futile concerns, lest He …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Here is a particular message sent to those who yet remained in the land of Israel, and (which is very strange) grew secure there, and confident that they should take root there again, to tell them that their hopes would fail them because they persisted in their sins,
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
none.. will be remembered to save him from being punished for his sin.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
the pledge the pledge that I commanded [one] to return at sunset.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּבְאָמְרִ֥י | uveameri | and when say I | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לָֽרָשָׁ֖ע | larasha' | to the wicked [person] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| מ֣וֹת | mot | surely <die> | H4191 → | 839 times |
| תָּמ֑וּת | tamut | you will die | H4191 → | 839 times |
| וְשָׁב֙ | veshav | and he will turn back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| מֵֽחַטָּאת֔וֹ | mechatato | from sin his | H2403 → | 295 times |
| וְעָשָׂ֥ה | veasah | and he will do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| מִשְׁפָּ֖ט | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּצְדָקָֽה׃ | utzedakah | and righteousness | H6666 → | 157 times |
וּבְאָמְרִ֥יand when say I
uveameriH559 →5305 times
לָֽרָשָׁ֖עto the wicked [person]
larasha'H7563 →263 times
מ֣וֹתsurely <die>
motH4191 →839 times
תָּמ֑וּתyou will die
tamutH4191 →839 times
וְשָׁב֙and he will turn back
veshavH7725 →1056 times
מֵֽחַטָּאת֔וֹfrom sin his
mechatatoH2403 →295 times
וְעָשָׂ֥הand he will do
veasahH6213 →2628 times
מִשְׁפָּ֖טjustice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וּצְדָקָֽה׃and righteousness
utzedakahH6666 →157 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
Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely…
it leads to
- Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- James 4:8–10
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ezekiel 18:21–23
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
- Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
- Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- Proverbs 28:13
Through
Hosea 14:1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
it leads to
- Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.
- Joel 2:12–13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
- Hosea 6:1
Through
Ezekiel 33:8If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity,…
it leads to
- Acts 20:26–27
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- Acts 20:26–27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ezekiel
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Ezekiel; Isaac of Nineveh, ASCETICAL HOMILIES 5; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Cassian, CONFERENCE 17:25; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel and Patrick Fairbairn, Ezekiel and the Book of His Prophecy.