Ezekiel 33:12

Translations

Modern

Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’

Traditional

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

Literal

And you, son of man, say to the sons of your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not snatch him up in the day of his transgression, and the wickedness of the wicked will not cause him to stumble because of it in the day of his turning from his wickedness. And the righteous one will not be able to live by it in the day of his sinning.’

Latin

Tu itaque, fili hominis, dic ad filios populi tui: Justitia justi non liberabit eum, in quacumque die peccaverit, et impietas impii non nocebit ei, in quacumque die conversus fuerit ab impietate sua: et justus non poterit vivere in justitia sua, in quacumque die peccaverit.

Original

Hebrew

English

Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’

Notes

Ezekiel 33:12–16

The principle in Ezekiel 33:10–11 is explained through two examples.

The first example concerns righteous people. Some trust in their past good behavior to save them. But later they turn to sin. God says he will judge them for their present sin, even if they once lived righteously. Their past obedience will not protect them if they now reject what is right.

The second example concerns wicked people who repent. If they turn away from their evil actions and begin to do what is just and right, God will forgive them completely. No matter what they did in the past, they will live if they truly change.

This teaching repeats an earlier message. In Ezekiel 18, the people said they were suffering because of their parents’ sins. Here, they seem to say something different. They think their parents’ sins have placed the nation under a permanent curse. Because of this, they believe repentance is useless.

Theme notes and profiles

Apostasy and Renewal

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Ezekiel 33:18–19
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.
2 Chronicles 7:14
…and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
Ezekiel 18:21
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
Ezekiel 3:20–21
Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.
1 Kings 8:48–50
…and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,
1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Ezekiel 33:2
“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
Matthew 21:28–31
But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
Ezekiel 18:24–32
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Apostasy: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel God: Judge, and his Justice Opportunity: The Measure of Responsibility Penitent: Promises To Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Responsibility: According to Privilege Supererogation: The Doctrine of Excessive and Meritorious Righteousness Works: Insufficiency of, for Salvation

Ezekiel 33:12

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