Ezekiel 33:14-16
Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God's promise of death to the wicked isn't a sealed verdict; it's conditional. The verse emphasizes that "turning from his sin" and "doing what is just and right" are the immediate actions that rewrite that grim prophecy. This isn't just about feeling sorry, but about a radical change in behavior that demonstrates a changed heart.
The prophet Ezekiel is responding to the Israelites' despair, who feel their sins have sealed their doom. God has declared judgment against Jerusalem, but here, He emphasizes that His pronouncements of doom are conditional, not final pronouncements on the soul. This verse, following God's assertion that the righteous will live and the wicked will die, reiterates that even a declared "wicked" person has a path to life if they truly turn from their sin and embrace justice and righteousness.
God declares judgment, but does that sentence stand forever? Ezekiel's message reveals a dynamic, not a static, divine word.
The Lord speaks with striking directness: to the wicked, He declares, 'You shall surely die.' This isn't a casual threat; it's a serious consequence for unrepentant sin. However, this pronouncement is followed by a crucial condition – a path away from destruction.
This highlights that God's pronouncements of judgment are often tied to the people's ongoing state. The certainty of death is for those who remain in their wicked ways, not for those who turn from them. It's a stark warning designed to awaken, not to crush hope.
Repentance isn't just feeling sorry; it's a profound shift in action. Ezekiel shows us what 'turning' really looks like.
The verse doesn't stop at the warning. It immediately pivots to the response required: 'if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right.' This isn't a passive regret, but an active transformation.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 33:14-16 is available in the Sola app.
Understand the original words
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
Divine regulations, ordinances, or commandments given by God to guide the conduct of His people and manifest His moral will.
chattā'th · Hebrew Noun
A transgression against divine law or a falling short of God's holy standard. It implies a departure from the path of righteousness and a rebellion against the will of God.
mishpāṭ · Hebrew Noun
A judicial, moral, and social standard reflecting God's character. It involves acting in conformity with God's law, fairness, and truth in one's dealings with God and others.
This passage comes during the Babylonian Exile, a time when the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple caused immense despair and questions about God's justice. Ezekiel's words offer hope not based on national destiny, but on individual repentance and turning to God.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many of Judah's elite are exiled to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity. This event shattered the confidence of many Israelites in God's protection and their future.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This catastrophic event brought about a deep crisis of faith and a sense of abandonment among the exiles.
c. 586-571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel, an exiled priest, receives visions and pronounces judgment and hope to the exiles living in Babylon. His message addresses their despair and questions about God's justice.
c. 571 BC
Prophecy of Jerusalem's Fall Fulfilled
News reaches the exiles in Babylon that Jerusalem has fallen. This fulfillment of prophecy intensified their spiritual crisis and the need for understanding God's ways.
This passage directly parallels Ezekiel 33:14, reiterating the principle that a wicked person who repents and turns from sin can live, highlighting God's mercy and justice.
Ezekiel 18:27This verse speaks to the same theme of repentance leading to life, reinforcing the idea that turning from wickedness brings salvation, just as turning to it brings condemnation.
2 Peter 3:9Peter echoes Ezekiel's message, emphasizing that God's patience and desire for salvation extend to all, not wanting anyone to perish but calling even the unrighteous to repentance.
Luke 15:7Jesus' parable of the lost sheep illustrates the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, mirroring the core message in Ezekiel that genuine repentance is met with divine favor.
Acts 3:19Peter's sermon in Jerusalem directly calls for repentance and turning to God, promising that sins will be blotted out, aligning with the promise of life for the repentant found in Ezekiel.
gillEzekiel 33:14: "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;"
Again, 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; l…
henryEzekiel 33:10-20: "Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?"
33:10-20 Those who despaired of finding mercy with God, are answered with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy. The ruin of the city and state was determined, but that did not relate to the final state of persons. God says to the righteous, that he shall surely live. But many wh…
God's promise of death to the wicked isn't a sealed verdict; it's conditional. The verse emphasizes that "turning from his sin" and "doing what is just and right" are the immediate actions that rewrite that grim prophecy. This isn't just about feeling sorry, but about a radical change in behavior that demonstrates a changed heart.
The prophet Ezekiel is responding to the Israelites' despair, who feel their sins have sealed their doom. God has declared judgment against Jerusalem, but here, He emphasizes that His pronouncements of doom are conditional, not final pronouncements on the soul. This verse, following God's assertion that the righteous will live and the wicked will die, reiterates that even a declared "wicked" person has a path to life if they truly turn from their sin and embrace justice and righteousness.
The prophet Ezekiel is responding to the Israelites' despair, who feel their sins have sealed their doom. God has declared judgment against Jerusalem, but here, He emphasizes that His pronouncements of doom are conditional, not final pronouncements on the soul. This verse, following God's assertion that the righteous will live and the wicked will die, reiterates that even a declared "wicked" person has a path to life if they truly turn from their sin and embrace justice and righteousness.
"Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doi…" — God's promise of death to the wicked isn't a sealed verdict; it's conditional. The verse emphasizes that "turning from his sin" and "doing what is just and right" are the immediate actions that rewri…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
