Ezekiel 20:11

11 I gave them my statutes, and shown them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

Ezekiel 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:11

And I gave them my statutes
The precepts of his law, the law on Mount Sinai, of which there were not the like among other nations; nor were they given unto them, but were a special gift unto Israel, and greatly to be valued, ( Deuteronomy 4:8 ) ( Psalms 147:19 Psalms 147:20 ) ( 19:8-10 ) ; and showed them judgments:
the nature, use, and excellency of the the necessity and advantage of observing them: the same as before, called "statutes", because appointed, fixed, and certain, being of inviolable and lasting obligation; and "judgments", being according to strict justice and equity: these, though they were originally written on man's heart, yet so obliterated by sin that there was need not only of their being afresh written and published, but of their being taught and made known; or of pointing out the use of them, and obligation to them: which [if] a man do, he shall live in them;
or "by them" F7; in the land of Canaan, enjoying all the blessings of a long and happy life: reference seems to be had to ( Leviticus 18:5 ) . The Targum adds,

``in eternal life;''
but eternal life is not to be obtained by the works of the law, since no man can perfectly obey or fulfil it, but is the pure gift of the grace of God.
FOOTNOTES:

F7 (Mhb) "per ea", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Piscator; "propter ea", Pagninus.

Ezekiel 20:11 In-Context

9 But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Mitzrayim.
10 So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Mitzrayim, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 I gave them my statutes, and shown them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.
12 Moreover also I gave them my Shabbatot, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13 But the house of Yisra'el rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn't walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Shabbatot they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.