Ezekiel 33:14-16

14 "But when I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and he 1turns from his sin and practices 2justice and righteousness,
15 if a wicked man restores a pledge, 3pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the 4statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
16 "5None * of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live.

Ezekiel 33:14-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33

This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threatening of destruction to those who remained in the land after the taking of the city; and a detection of the hypocrisy of the prophet's hearers. The duty of a watchman in general is declared, Eze 33:1-6, an application of this to the prophet, Eze 33:7: the sum of whose business is to warn the wicked man of his wickedness; and the consequence of doing, or not doing it, is expressed, Eze 33:8,9, an objection of the people, and the prophet's answer to it, Eze 33:10,11, who is bid to acquaint them, that a righteous man trusting to his righteousness, and sinning, should not live; and that a sinner repenting of his sins should not die, Eze 33:12-16, the people's charge of inequality in the ways of God is retorted upon them, and removed from the Lord, and proved against them, Eze 33:17-20, then follows a prophecy, delivered out after the news was brought of the taking of the city, threatening with ruin those that remained in the land, confident of safety, and that for their sins, which are particularly enumerated, Eze 33:21-29, and the chapter is closed with a discovery of the hypocrisy of those that attended the prophet's ministry, Eze 33:30-33.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 18:7, 8; Ezekiel 18:27; Ezekiel 33:8, 19; Hosea 14:1, 4
  • 2. Micah 6:8
  • 3. Exodus 22:1-4; Leviticus 6:4, 5; Luke 19:8
  • 4. Psalms 119:59; Psalms 143:8; Ezekiel 20:11
  • 5. Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 43:25; Ezekiel 18:22

Footnotes 1

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