Ezekiel 33:19

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this.

American Standard Version (1901)

And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

Bible in Basic English

And when the evil man, turning away from his evil-doing, does what is ordered and right, he will get life by it.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And when the wicked shall depart from his wickedness, and shall do judgments, and justice: be shall live in them.

Free Bible Version

On the other hand, if a bad person turns from their sins and they do what is good and right, they will live as a result.

King James (Authorized) Version

But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

Translation for Translators

And if a wicked person turns away from his wicked behavior and does what is right and fair [DOU], it is fair for him to remain alive because of doing that.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When the wicked turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and righteous, he will live because of those things!

Noah Webster Bible

But if the wicked shall turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, for that he shall live.

World English Bible

When the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right, he will live by it.

Young's Literal Translation

And in the turning back of the wicked from his wickedness, And he hath done judgment and righteousness, by them he liveth.

Context

The Message of the Watchman

¹⁸If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.¹⁹But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this.

Summary

In Ezekiel 33:19, God emphasizes His justice and righteousness by declaring that the wicked will face consequences for their actions, even if they repent late in life. This verse serves as a reminder that God's judgment is based on individual choices and behaviors, highlighting the importance of genuine repentance and turning away from sin. It also underscores the need for consistent obedience and faithfulness to God, rather than presuming on His grace until the last moment. Ultimately, Ezekiel 33:19 conveys the seriousness of sin and the necessity of seeking God wholeheartedly throughout one's life.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

He shall live thereby - "The wages of sin is death;" the "gift of God is eternal life." It is a miserable trade by which a man cannot live; such a trade is sin.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity,.... Of Jeconiah's captivity, when Ezekiel with others were carried into Babylon; see Eze 1:2. in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month; which was a year, four months, and some days, after the city of Jerusalem was taken; for that was destroyed in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, and so of the captivity, and in the fifth month, and tenth day of the month. Kg2 25:2. It is much it was not known at Babylon before; though so it might, and yet not one that escaped came to Ezekiel sooner to give him an account of it, which he had seen with his eyes. The Syriac version reads it, in the "eleventh year"; and so makes it but a few months after the destruction; and it may be observed that it is promised by the Lord, Eze 24:26, that on the day the city was taken, one should escape, and bring the prophet the news; that is, directly, immediately, in a very short time, as soon as it was possible that he could arrive to him; and yet, as taken notice, here were a year and almost five months before he reached him, which seems pretty strange. The difficulty may be solved in this manner: Ezekiel reckons from the captivity of Jeconiah, which began in the month Chisleu; and the computation in Kg2 25:2, is from Zedekiah's reign, which is to be reckoned from the month Nisan, and from the first Nisan of his reign; for it is a rule with the Jews, (h) that the beginning of the year for kings is the first of Nisan; so that the tenth month from the captivity is the sixth from Nisan; whence it appears there was not a full month from the city being burnt to the news being brought to Ezekiel; which was time short enough, in such a troublesome season, to take a journey from Jerusalem to Babylon; for Zedekiah not being crowned before the Nisan following the captivity, the computation of his reign did not begin till that Nisan, which makes this difference in the chronology. According to Bishop Usher (i), this messenger came to Ezekiel the twenty fifth of January, the fourth day of the week (Wednesday), in 3417 A.M. or before Christ 587: that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me; as it was foretold and promised he should, Eze 24:26, saying, the city is smitten; the city of Jerusalem; the walls were broken down, the houses burnt, and the whole destroyed. (h) Misn. Roshhashanah, c. 1. sect. 1. (i) Annales Vet. Test. A. M. 3417.