Ezekiel 33:14

Verse

But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—

American Standard Version (1901)

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Bible in Basic English

And when I say to the evil-doer, Death will certainly be your fate; if he is turned from his sin and does what is ordered and right;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And if I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice,

Free Bible Version

But if I tell a bad person, ‘You're going to die’ and they stop sinning and do what is good and right,

King James (Authorized) Version

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Translation for Translators

And if I say to some wicked person, ‘You will surely die because of your sins,’ that person may turn away from his sinful behavior and do what is just and right [DOU].

Unlocked Literal Bible

So if I say to the wicked, “You will surely die,” but if he then repents from his sins and does what is just and right—

Noah Webster Bible

Again, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he shall turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

World English Bible

Again, when I say to the wicked, “You will surely die,” if he turns from his sin and does that which is lawful and right,

Young's Literal Translation

And in My saying to the wicked: Thou surely diest, And — he hath turned back from his sin, And hath done judgment and righteousness,

Context

The Message of the Watchman

¹³If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.¹⁴But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—¹⁵if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die.

Summary

In Ezekiel 33:14, God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing His justice and mercy. The verse illustrates the principle of individual accountability before God, highlighting that one's past righteousness does not guarantee salvation if they turn away from God. Conversely, even those who have lived in disobedience can find forgiveness and restoration by turning back to God in repentance. This verse serves as a reminder of God's desire for all to come to Him in genuine repentance, experiencing His grace and mercy.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

If the wicked restore the pledge,.... His neighbour's raiment, which he has taken as a pledge for money lent him; and which, according to the law, was to be restored before sunset, Exo 22:26 which wicked men did not attend unto; but when such a man is brought to a sense of his wickedness, and repentance for it, as an evidence of it he would restore the pledge: and give again that he had robbed; to him whom he had robbed; as a thief was obliged to do, four or five fold, according to the law, Exo 22:1, and which, when a man did voluntarily, from the convictions of his own mind, and not by force of the civil magistrate, it was a sign of true repentance; see Luk 19:8, and walk in the statutes of life; the rule of life and conversation, and to the keeping of which the promise of long life is annexed; and which preserve persons from dying a shameful death by the hand of the civil magistrate; statutes, which, if a man do, he shall live in them; see Eze 20:11, without committing iniquity; not living entirely without sin, which the best of men do not; but without committing grosser sins, as before; and without making a trade of sinning, and living in it: he shall surely live, he shall not die; he shall live comfortably now, and happily hereafter; he shall live a spiritual life, and not die the second death.

Ezekiel 33:14

The Message of the Watchman

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—

American Standard Version (1901)

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Bible in Basic English

And when I say to the evil-doer, Death will certainly be your fate; if he is turned from his sin and does what is ordered and right;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And if I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice,

Free Bible Version

But if I tell a bad person, ‘You're going to die’ and they stop sinning and do what is good and right,

King James (Authorized) Version

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Translation for Translators

And if I say to some wicked person, ‘You will surely die because of your sins,’ that person may turn away from his sinful behavior and do what is just and right [DOU].

Unlocked Literal Bible

So if I say to the wicked, “You will surely die,” but if he then repents from his sins and does what is just and right—

Noah Webster Bible

Again, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he shall turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

World English Bible

Again, when I say to the wicked, “You will surely die,” if he turns from his sin and does that which is lawful and right,

Young's Literal Translation

And in My saying to the wicked: Thou surely diest, And — he hath turned back from his sin, And hath done judgment and righteousness,