Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 18:21
21“But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.
Ezekiel 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
- New International Version (NIV)“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Context of Ezekiel 18:21
19But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity? ’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live. 20The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him. “But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. 22None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced. 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
Read all of Ezekiel 18Ezekiel 18:21 word by word
וְהָרָשָׁ֗ע כִּ֤י יָשׁוּב֙ מִכָּל־חַטֹּאתָיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְשָׁמַר֙ אֶת־כָּל־חֻקּוֹתַ֔י וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה חָיֹ֥ה יִחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But if the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- will turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
- from all his sinsחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
- that he hath committedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- and keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
- all my statutesחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
- and doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- that which is lawfulמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
- and rightצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- he shall surelyחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- he shall not dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Ezekiel 18:21
- Ezekiel 18:27But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
- Ezekiel 33:11Tell them, ‘As I live — this is the declaration of the Lord God — I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’
- 2 Chronicles 33:12When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
- Proverbs 28:13The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near.
- Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.
- Luke 24:47and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Acts 3:19Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
- James 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ezekiel 18:9He follows my statutes and keeps my ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
- Ezekiel 36:27I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
- Genesis 26:5because Abraham listened to me and kept my mandate, my commands, my statutes, and my instructions.”
- Psalms 119:80May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes so that I will not be put to shame.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins - And afterwards walk according to the character of the righteous already specified shall he find mercy, and be for ever saved? Yes.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 The wicked man would be saved, if he turned from his evil ways. The true penitent is a true believer. None of his former transgressions shall be mentioned unto him, but in the righteousness which he has done, as the fruit of faith and the effect of conversion, he shall surely live. The question is not whether the truly righteous ever become apostates. It is certain that many who for a time were thought to be righteous, do so, while Ezek…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-24Ezekiel gives two more examples. First, wicked people (those who do evil) who turn away from their sins can receive God’s forgiveness. Second, righteous people (those who live in a right way before God) who begin to sin will face judgment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2421-24. 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; God therefore allures men to repentance by holding out hope [Calvin]. To threats the…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 18:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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