Ezekiel 18:27

27 And when a wicked man turneth away himself from his wickedness which he wrought, and doeth doom and rightfulness, he shall quicken his soul. (And when a wicked person turneth himself away from his wickedness which he hath done, and doeth what is just and right, he shall quicken his soul, that is, he shall save his own life.)

Ezekiel 18:27 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 18:27

Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness
that he hath committed
Repents of his sins, and forsakes the vicious course of life he has lived: and doeth that which is lawful and right;
or "judgment" and "righteousness" F14; that which is agreeable to the law and will of God, and is just and right between man and man: he shall save his soul alive;
from famine, pestilence, the sword, or captivity; he shall be preserved, and not be involved in calamities and distress: or, "shall quicken his own soul" F15; which, in a spiritual sense, is only done by the Spirit and grace of God, and not by man himself; nor is the enjoyment of eternal life by the works of men, but through the grace of God, and righteousness of Christ.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (hqduw jpvm) "judicium et justitiam", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Cocceius.
F15 (hyxy wvpn ta awh) "animam suam vivificabit", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "vivificat", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 18:27 In-Context

25 And ye said, The way of the Lord is not even. Therefore, the house of Israel, hear ye, whether my way is not even, and not more, your ways be depraved? (And ye said, The way of the Lord is not equal, or not fair. And so, O house of Israel, hear ye, is not my way equal, or fair, and not only that, but that your ways be depraved?)
26 For when a rightful man turneth away himself from his rightfulness, and doeth wickedness, he shall die in it; he shall die in the unrightfulness which he wrought. (For when a righteous person turneth himself away from his righteousness, and doeth wickedness, he shall die in it; he shall die in the unrighteousness which he hath done.)
27 And when a wicked man turneth away himself from his wickedness which he wrought, and doeth doom and rightfulness, he shall quicken his soul. (And when a wicked person turneth himself away from his wickedness which he hath done, and doeth what is just and right, he shall quicken his soul, that is, he shall save his own life.)
28 For he beholding and turning away himself from all his wickednesses which he wrought, [he] shall live in life, and shall not die. (For by considering and then turning himself away from all of the wickednesses which he hath done, he shall live, and shall not die.)
29 And the sons of Israel say, The way of the Lord is not even. Whether my ways be not even, ye house of Israel, and not more, your ways be depraved? (And the Israelites say, The way of the Lord is not equal, or not fair. Is not my way equal, or fair, ye house of Israel, and not only that, but that your ways be depraved? Yea!)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.