Ezekiel 14:20

20 and Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst thereof, I live, saith the Lord God, for they shall not deliver a son and a daughter, but they by their rightfulness shall deliver their souls. (and if Noah, and Daniel, and Job, were in its midst, as I live, saith the Lord God, they would not be able to save even their own son, or their own daughter, but they would save only their own souls, or their own lives, by their righteousness.)

Ezekiel 14:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 14:20

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it
Who are again mentioned by name, as in ( Ezekiel 14:14 ) ; and are the three men referred to in ( Ezekiel 14:16 Ezekiel 14:18 ) ; [as] I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor
daughter;
not so much as an only son, or an only daughter, no, not even a single child: the plural number is used before, as in ( Ezekiel 14:16 Ezekiel 14:18 ) ; here the singular, to show how resolutely determined the Lord was upon the destruction of the land; that even the prayers of the best of men among them should not prevail with him to save a single person, no, not a single infant: they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness;
(See Gill on Ezekiel 14:14).

Ezekiel 14:20 In-Context

18 and these three men be in the midst thereof, I live, saith the Lord God, that they shall not deliver sons neither daughters, but they alone shall be delivered. (and if these three men were in its midst, as I live, saith the Lord God, they would not be able to save even their own sons, or their own daughters, but they alone would be saved.)
19 Forsooth if I bring in also pestilence on that land, and I shed out mine indignation on it in blood, that I do away from it man and beast, (And if I also bring in pestilence upon that land, and I pour out my indignation upon it in blood, so that I do away man and beast from it,)
20 and Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst thereof, I live, saith the Lord God, for they shall not deliver a son and a daughter, but they by their rightfulness shall deliver their souls. (and if Noah, and Daniel, and Job, were in its midst, as I live, saith the Lord God, they would not be able to save even their own son, or their own daughter, but they would save only their own souls, or their own lives, by their righteousness.)
21 For the Lord God saith these things, That though I send in my four worst dooms, sword, and hunger, and evil beasts, and pestilence, into Jerusalem, that I slay of it man and beast, (For the Lord God saith these things, Even though I send in my four worst judgements, sword, and famine, and wild beasts, and pestilence, into Jerusalem, so that I kill the people and the animals in it,)
22 nevertheless salvation of them that led out sons and daughters, shall be left therein. Lo! they shall go out to you, and ye shall see the way of them, and the findings of them; and ye shall be comforted on the evil, which I brought in on Jerusalem, in all things which I bare in on it. (nevertheless some of them shall be left alive there, and they shall be brought out, both sons and daughters. Lo! they shall go out to you, and ye shall see their ways, and their deeds; and ye shall be comforted, or satisfied, for all the evil, which I brought in upon Jerusalem, yea, for all the things which I brought in upon it.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.