Ezekiel 14:20

Translations

Modern

…then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

Traditional

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Literal

…even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the midst of it—as I live, a declaration of the Lord YHWH—neither the son nor daughter they could deliver! They by their righteousness would deliver only their own soul.

Latin

…et Noë, et Daniel, et Job fuerint in medio ejus: vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, quia filium et filiam non liberabunt, sed ipsi justitia sua liberabunt animas suas.

Original

Hebrew

English

…then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

Notes

Ezekiel 14:12–20

Israel had not been treated unfairly. God did not judge Israel without reason. If any nation sinned against the Lord in this way, that nation would face the same result.
However, this passage clearly speaks about Israel. The words used to describe their sin also describe breaking the covenant (the binding promises between God and his people). Israel had broken this covenant. Because of that, the nation would rightly experience the covenant curses (the punishments promised for disobedience) listed in Leviticus 26. The people had agreed to these terms when the covenant was first made.
The covenant curses appear here in four test cases. Each case shows one of the judgments listed in Leviticus 26:
1. Famine (a severe lack of food), as described in Ezekiel 14:13–14 and Leviticus 26:26.
2. Wild animals attacking the land, as described in Ezekiel 14:15–16 and Leviticus 26:22.
3. War, as described in Ezekiel 14:17–18 and Leviticus 26:25.
4. Disease, as described in Ezekiel 14:19–20 and Leviticus 26:25.
These examples show that Israel’s suffering was not random. It was the direct result of breaking the covenant with the Lord.

Theme notes and profiles

Daniel Noah God’s Covenant with Noah

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Ezekiel 14:14
…then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
1 John 3:10
By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
Job 5:19–24
He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
Ezekiel 18:22
None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
1 John 2:29
If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
Ezekiel 14:16
…then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
Psalm 33:18–19
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
Acts 10:35
…but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
Isaiah 3:10
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

People

Daniel: Prophet in Babylon, known for wisdom and visions Job: A righteous man who endured great suffering LORD: Names or title used to refer to God Noah: Righteous man, built ark, survived flood

Glossary

Daniel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Job (Person) Noah

Topics

Animals: Suffer Under Divine Judgments, Sent Upon Man Intercession: Intercessional Influence of the Righteous Job: A Man Who Lived in Uz: Righteousness of Sickness: One of God's Four Sore Judgments on a Guilty Land Works: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Ezekiel 14:20

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