Ezekiel 14 16

Ezekiel 14:16 kjv

Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Ezekiel 14:16 nkjv

even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.

Ezekiel 14:16 niv

as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.

Ezekiel 14:16 esv

even if these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

Ezekiel 14:16 nlt

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, even if those three men were there, they wouldn't be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be made desolate.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 16 Meaning

Ezekiel 14:16 declares the absolute certainty and severity of God's impending judgment upon the land, specifically Jerusalem. Even if the most righteous individuals known in history—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were present in the midst of the condemned people, their righteousness would only deliver themselves. God, by an inviolable oath, states that their intercession or presence would not extend salvation to their children or any other inhabitants; only the righteous individuals themselves would escape the direct consequences of the widespread apostasy and idolatry. It underscores a principle of individual accountability in the face of widespread divine judgment, limiting the saving power of even extraordinary righteousness.

Ezekiel 14 16 Context

Ezekiel 14 takes place during the Babylonian exile. The chapter primarily addresses the issue of idolaters within Israel who consult the prophets, yet secretly harbor idols in their hearts. God rejects their inquiries and pronounces severe, unalterable judgment upon Jerusalem due to its deep-seated idolatry and apostasy, warning that even genuine prophets could be deceived or used by God to deliver a message of judgment. The specific passage (Ez 14:12-23) reiterates God's unwavering resolve to inflict devastating punishments (famine, wild beasts, sword, plague) on the land. Verse 16 specifically appears in the sequence of these divine declarations, following an initial mention in Ez 14:14. It functions as a powerful rhetorical device to underscore that Jerusalem's sin has reached such an egregious level that even the intercession or righteous presence of the most renowned righteous men would be completely ineffective in saving anyone other than themselves from the coming desolation. It sets a boundary on the concept of corporate salvation through a few righteous individuals, emphasizing individual responsibility before an offended holy God.

Ezekiel 14 16 Word analysis

• "Though" (כִּ֥י / kî): Conveys a strong concession. Despite this highly significant condition (the presence of these men), the outcome remains unchanged.
• "these three men" (שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים / sheloshet ha'anashim): Refers specifically to Noah, Daniel, and Job, as identified in Ez 14:14. These are quintessential examples of righteousness, integrity, and intercession within God's dealings with humanity, known for being delivered from overwhelming judgment or distress.
• "were in it": Denotes their actual presence and assumed involvement in the situation of judgment within the land.
• "as I live" (חַי־אָ֖נִי / ḥai-anî): A solemn divine oath, emphasizing the absolute certainty and irreversibility of what follows. God stakes His very existence on the truth of this declaration. This phrase is used throughout Scripture to affirm an unchangeable decree.
• "declares the Lord GOD" (נְאֻם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים / ne'um Yahweh Elohim): A formal, authoritative declaration, often sealing a prophetic message. It affirms the divine origin and incontrovertibility of the word.
• "they shall deliver" (יַצִּ֖ילוּ / yaṣṣîlû): The verb means "to deliver," "to rescue," "to save." Here, it speaks of actively bringing someone out of danger.
• "neither sons nor daughters" (לֹא־בָנִ֥ים וְלֹא־בָנ֖וֹת / lō’-ḇānîm wəlō’-ḇānōṯ): This emphasizes the total lack of family, kinship, or even offspring benefiting from the righteous presence. It highlights the extent of the judgment – it will leave no survivors among the non-righteous.
• "but they alone shall be delivered" (כִּ֣י הֵ֤ם לְבַדָּם֙ יִנָּצֵ֔לוּ / kî hēm leḇaddām yinnāṣēlû): Reinforces the principle of strict individual deliverance. Their righteousness benefits no one else, not even their own direct descendants, in this scenario of ultimate judgment. The passive "shall be delivered" implies God's action in saving them.

Ezekiel 14 16 Bonus section

This verse implicitly challenges a common ancient Near Eastern belief (and sometimes even an Israelite expectation) that the righteousness or intercession of revered holy men could inherently protect an entire community or ensure the well-being of their descendants irrespective of their own actions. God here asserts His absolute sovereignty over life and death, severing the perceived link between an external righteous person and the undeserving population's deliverance. The selection of Noah, Daniel, and Job is precise: Noah saved his family through obedience to God's direct command for an ark, not solely by his righteousness in a corrupt land; Daniel was delivered from persecution personally; and Job's suffering was a test of his own faith, his intercession for his friends came after his vindication, and his children were lost in the testing period. Their examples, therefore, underscore individual integrity more than general collective salvation through their mere presence. The repetition of "deliver neither sons nor daughters" in verses 14, 16, 18, 20 serves as a literary device to hammer home the finality and extent of the judgment.

Ezekiel 14 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:16 is a profound statement on divine judgment and individual accountability. It elevates the discussion from mere human intercession to an unyielding divine decree. God, using the strongest possible oath ("as I live"), declares that His judgment upon the idolatrous nation is so severe and definite that even the most righteous of men – Noah, Daniel, and Job, renowned for their integrity and, in some cases, for saving others or interceding – could not save anyone beyond themselves. This signifies a breaking point in corporate responsibility. While historically the righteousness of a few (like Abraham interceding for Sodom) could avert or mitigate judgment, here God reveals a threshold where sin's magnitude negates such corporate protection. The verse highlights that personal faith and righteous living become paramount when a society has wholly corrupted itself. It's a stark warning: while God is merciful and responsive to intercession, there comes a point of no return where only individual, unmediated salvation from divine wrath remains possible. The consequence of widespread, deeply ingrained sin culminates in a judgment where even family ties and proximity to holiness offer no protective shield.