Ezekiel 18:9

9 [and] in my statutes he goes about and my regulations he keeps, {performing faithfully} --[then] he is righteous, [and] certainly he will live," {declares} the Lord Yahweh.

Ezekiel 18:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 18:9

Hath walked in my statutes
Respecting the worship of God and true religion; being observant of all laws and ordinances relating thereunto: and hath kept my judgments to deal truly;
in things moral and civil among men; regarding all such laws of God as oblige to such things: he [is] just;
such a man is a just man, at least externally; and if he does all these things from a right principle, without trusting to them for justification before God, and acceptance with him, but looking to the righteousness of Christ for these things, he is truly, and in the sight of God, a just man: he shall surely live, saith the Lord God;
spiritually and comfortably here, and an eternal life hereafter; or rather he shall not be distressed with famine, sword, or plague, or go into captivity; but shall live in his own land, and eat the good things of it; and this shall be his case, let his father have been what he will, ever so great a sinner.

Ezekiel 18:9 In-Context

7 and he oppresses {no one} [and] he returns [a] pledge for his loan {and he commits no robbery} [and] he gives his bread to [the] hungry and he covers a naked person [with] a garment,

8 [and] {he does not charge interest} and he takes no usury, [and] he holds back his hand from injustice [and] he executes [a] judgment of fairness between {persons},

9 [and] in my statutes he goes about and my regulations he keeps, {performing faithfully} --[then] he is righteous, [and] certainly he will live," {declares} the Lord Yahweh.

10 "And [now] he has a son, a violent one, {who sheds blood} {and does any of these things}

11 (though he did not do all of these [things]), for [the son] also eats on the mountains and he defiles the wife of his neighbor.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "watches"
• [b]. Literally "to do with [with] faithfulness"
• [c]. Literally "declaration of"