Ezekiel 33:11-12

11 Say to them, 1As I live, declares the Lord GOD, 2I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; 3turn back, turn back from your evil ways, 4for why will you die, O house of Israel?
12 5"And you, son of man, say to 6your people, 7The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, 8and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, 9and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness[a] when he sins.

Ezekiel 33:11-12 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 9

  • 1. See Ezekiel 16:48
  • 2. See Ezekiel 18:23
  • 3. Ezekiel 18:31
  • 4. Ezekiel 18:31
  • 5. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 6. See ver. 2
  • 7. [ver. 18]; See Ezekiel 18:24
  • 8. [2 Chronicles 7:14]
  • 9. [ver. 18]; See Ezekiel 18:24

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.