New International Version
Ezekiel 18:21
21“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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.
Context of Ezekiel 18:21
19“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. 20The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them. “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. 22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their 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
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 away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.
- Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
- 2 Chronicles 33:12In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.
- Proverbs 28:13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- Isaiah 1:16Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
- Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
- Luke 24:47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Acts 3:19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- 1 Timothy 1:13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
- James 4:8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ezekiel 18:9He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord.
- Ezekiel 36:27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
- Genesis 26:5because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”
- Psalms 119:80May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may 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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