Ezekiel 14:14 kjv
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:14 nkjv
Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:14 niv
even if these three men?Noah, Daniel and Job?were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 14:14 esv
even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:14 nlt
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 14 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:14 | "If these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness..." | Ezekiel 14:14 |
| Genesis 6:8 | "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." | Salvation through God's favor |
| Genesis 19:29 | "God remembered Abraham and... rescued Lot from the overthrow..." | Divine intervention for the righteous |
| Job 42:10 | "And the LORD restored Job's fortunes... and gave him twice as much as he had before." | Restoration through faithfulness |
| Daniel 1:7 | "...the chief of the eunuchs gave them names..." | Daniel's obedience in exile |
| Daniel 2:48 | "Then the king promoted Daniel..." | Daniel's wisdom and position |
| Daniel 3:28 | "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He has sent his angel and rescued his servants..." | Deliverance of the faithful |
| Daniel 6:16 | "...the king gave orders and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions’ den." | Daniel's steadfastness |
| Daniel 6:23 | "Then the king... threw the men who had falsely accused Daniel into the lions’ den..." | Divine vindication |
| Romans 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." | Universal sinfulness |
| Romans 5:19 | "For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." | Righteousness through Christ |
| Romans 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Consequences of sin, gift of life |
| 1 Corinthians 15:10 | "But by the grace of God I am what I am..." | Grace enables righteousness |
| Galatians 2:16 | "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ..." | Justification by faith |
| Ephesians 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." | Salvation by grace |
| Philippians 3:9 | "...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." | Righteousness from God |
| 1 Peter 3:12 | "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." | God's regard for the righteous |
| 1 Peter 3:20 | "...when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared..." | Noah's time of testing |
| Jeremiah 5:1 | "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note. Search its squares and marketplaces. See if you can find one person there who deals justly and seeks truth, so that I may show favor to the city." | Seeking one righteous person |
| Matthew 24:37 | "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." | Days of Noah paralleled |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 14 Meaning
This verse declares that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job, three profoundly righteous individuals, were present in the land, they would only be able to save themselves by their righteousness, not the land or its people. Their righteousness would act as a deliverance for their own lives.
Ezekiel 14 14 Context
Ezekiel is prophesying to the elders of Israel who have come seeking guidance. God instructs Ezekiel to inform them that their idols and sinful practices have made the land corrupt. He uses hypothetical scenarios, like the presence of Noah, Daniel, and Job, to emphasize that even such highly righteous individuals could not atone for the widespread sin of the people. Their personal righteousness would only secure their own deliverance from judgment. This chapter highlights the severe consequences of persistent idolatry and rebellion against God, even in the face of divine judgment. It underscores the fact that righteousness is personal and cannot vicariously save a thoroughly unrighteous nation.
Ezekiel 14 14 Word Analysis
"If" - A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation.
"these" - Refers to the three specific individuals mentioned.
"three" - The number emphasizing the esteemed status of Noah, Daniel, and Job.
"men" - Refers to human beings.
"Noah" - The patriarch renowned for his righteousness and obedience in building the ark during the great flood (Genesis 6-9). Hebrew: נֹ֫חַ (Noach).
"Daniel" - The prophet known for his faithfulness and integrity in exile, famously delivered from the lions' den (Daniel 1-6). Hebrew: דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniy'el).
"and" - Connects the names.
"Job" - The righteous man who endured immense suffering with unwavering faith (Job 1-42). Hebrew: אִיּוֹב (Iyov).
"were" - Past tense, setting up the hypothetical.
"in" - Within the land being discussed.
"it" - The land of Israel, or the situation described.
"they" - Noah, Daniel, and Job.
"would" - Future conditional, expressing what would happen.
"deliver" - To save, rescue, or set free. Hebrew: יַצִּילוּ (yatzilu) - meaning to pluck out, rescue, save.
"only" - Emphasizing limitation; they could not save others.
"themselves" - Their own lives and souls.
"by" - Through or because of.
"their" - Possessive pronoun referring to the individuals.
"righteousness" - Their moral and spiritual integrity and adherence to God's will. Hebrew: צִדְקָתָם (tzedkatahm) - derived from tzedek, meaning righteousness, justice.
"saith" - Declares or says, attributing the statement to the LORD. Hebrew: נְאֻם־יְהוָה (ne'um-YHWH) - the utterance of the LORD.
Group Analysis: "Noah, Daniel, and Job"
- These are chosen as exemplars of profound righteousness in different historical periods and circumstances: Noah through faithfulness amidst a corrupt world; Daniel through steadfast piety in foreign exile; Job through enduring suffering while maintaining integrity. Their inclusion stresses that even the highest human righteousness has limits when confronting widespread, unrepented sin.
Group Analysis: "deliver only themselves by their righteousness"
- This phrase highlights the principle of personal accountability and the limits of intercessory power for those who do not participate in the sin. While their righteousness would earn their own salvation, it wouldn't shield a corrupt populace from judgment. Their deliverance is individual, not redemptive for others who rejected God.
Ezekiel 14 14 Bonus Section
The choice of these three figures is significant:
- Noah lived before the Mosaic Law, showing righteousness was possible and valued even under patriarchal covenant.
- Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile, a time of national spiritual crisis and compromise for many, and exemplified unwavering adherence to God’s statutes in a foreign, pagan environment.
- Job experienced extreme personal suffering due to trials instigated by Satan, and his righteousness was tested through affliction rather than public pressure or systemic corruption.
Their selection covers diverse challenges to righteousness. The prophetic message implicitly rebukes those who might be relying on the reputation of past righteous ancestors or leaders, stating that present personal integrity is what matters to God. It also subtly prepares the people for the concept that God's judgment will fall on those who share in or permit the sin, regardless of how many righteous individuals might be present, unless those righteous individuals are actively interceding and are themselves found pure.
Ezekiel 14 14 Commentary
This verse underscores that God's justice demands that individuals face the consequences of their actions, or inactions, even in a land of pervasive sin. While the righteous may find favor and personal deliverance (as Noah did with his family in the ark, or Daniel with his friends), their individual purity cannot be a substitute for the repentance and righteousness of an entire community. God's standard for national or community salvation involves a broader base of collective obedience. The verse powerfully illustrates that righteousness is intensely personal, and while it guarantees personal salvation, it does not grant general absolution for a society given over to sin. It sets a solemn precedent for accountability and the inherent inability of even the most devout to atone for the sins of others on a mass scale, pointing forward to a divine mediator who can bridge this gap for all who believe.