New American Standard Bible 1995
Ezekiel 18:21
21“But if the 1wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall 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
19“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
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
- But ifכִּיkîy · forH3588
- wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- turnsשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
- from allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- his sinsחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
- whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- he has committedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- and observesשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
- My statutesחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
- and practicesעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- justiceמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
- and righteousnessצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- he shall not dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Ezekiel 18:21
- Ezekiel 18:27Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.
- Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
- 2 Chronicles 33:12When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
- Proverbs 28:13He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
- Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
- Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
- Luke 24:47and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
- Acts 3:19Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
- 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
- James 4:8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ezekiel 18:9if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully--he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God.
- Ezekiel 36:27I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
- Genesis 26:5because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”
- Psalms 119:80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed.
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
Notes
- 1. Ezekiel 18:21 Ezek 18:27, 28; 33:12, 19 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries