Ezekiel 14 17

Ezekiel 14:17 kjv

Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

Ezekiel 14:17 nkjv

"Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land,' and I cut off man and beast from it,

Ezekiel 14:17 niv

"Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, 'Let the sword pass throughout the land,' and I kill its people and their animals,

Ezekiel 14:17 esv

"Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, Let a sword pass through the land, and I cut off from it man and beast,

Ezekiel 14:17 nlt

"Or suppose I were to bring war against the land, and I sent enemy armies to destroy both people and animals.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 17 Meaning

This verse declares God's immutable judgment against Jerusalem. Even if three righteous men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were present in the city, they would only save themselves by their righteousness. The severity of the sin would ensure the city's destruction, highlighting that individual righteousness cannot universally protect a place utterly devoted to sin.

Ezekiel 14 17 Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle concerning the land of Israel and its people, particularly addressing the hypocrisy and idolatry prevalent amongst them. The prophecy comes after a period of exile and severe judgment. In chapters 13 and 14, Ezekiel pronounces judgment on the elders of Israel who have consulted him. These elders, seeking spiritual guidance, were actually involved in idolatrous practices and sought false assurance.

The specific oracle in chapter 14, from which verse 17 is taken, is delivered by God in response to these elders seeking Him through Ezekiel. God declares His intent to respond to their seeking according to their idolatry. He then outlines specific judgments that would fall upon the land: famine, destructive beasts, and war.

The mention of Noah, Daniel, and Job serves as a specific rhetorical device. These are all men known for their righteousness and faithfulness in the Bible, representing the pinnacle of godly character in different eras and circumstances. By stating that even these renowned righteous individuals could only save themselves, God underscores the pervasive and deep-seated nature of the sin in Jerusalem. The sin had reached such a degree of collective corruption that even the presence of the most righteous would not be sufficient to avert divine punishment for the entire community.

The historical context is that Jerusalem, despite the warnings of prophets, has consistently turned away from God, embracing pagan practices and political alliances that signified a departure from their covenant with the Lord. The impending judgments of famine, wild beasts, and sword were not arbitrary but were understood within the covenantal framework as consequences of breaking God's laws.

Ezekiel 14 17 Word Analysis

• “And though these three men,”

  • And (Hebrew: וְ, ve) - Conjunction connecting this clause to the previous one, reinforcing the conditional nature.
  • though (Hebrew: אִם, im) - Conditional particle, indicating a hypothetical situation.
  • these (Hebrew: הָאֵלֶּה, ha'elleh) - Demonstrative pronoun pointing to the individuals about to be named.
  • three (Hebrew: שְׁלֹשָׁה, sh'losha) - Cardinal number, specifically identifying three individuals.
  • men (Hebrew: אֲנָשִׁים, anashim) - Plural of man; signifies human beings.

• “Noah, Daniel, and Job,”

  • Noah (Hebrew: נֹחַ, Noach) - Proper noun, a significant patriarch renowned for his righteousness and preserving humanity through the flood. The name itself relates to "rest" or "comfort."
  • Daniel (Hebrew: דָּנִיֵּאל, Daniy'el) - Proper noun, a righteous prophet and wise man taken captive to Babylon, known for his faithfulness and divine revelations. His name means "God is my judge."
  • and (Hebrew: וְ, ve) - Conjunction connecting Daniel and Job.
  • Job (Hebrew: אִיּוֹב, Iyyov) - Proper noun, a righteous man tested through immense suffering, embodying patience and endurance in faith. His name is often linked to concepts of opposition or enduring hardship.

• “were in it,”

  • were (Hebrew: הָיוּ, hayu) - Past tense verb, indicating their existence or presence.
  • in (Hebrew: בְּ, b') - Preposition indicating location.
  • it (Hebrew: תּוֹכָהּ, tokhah) - Refers to the land or city previously mentioned, typically Jerusalem or the land of Israel.

• “they should deliver only themselves by their righteousness,”

  • they (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hemmah) - Third-person masculine plural pronoun, referring back to Noah, Daniel, and Job.
  • should deliver (Hebrew: יַצִּילוּ, yatzilu) - Verb in the jussive mood, expressing a strong potential outcome or consequence. It implies the act of rescuing or saving.
  • only (Hebrew: אַךְ, akh) - Particle of limitation, restricting the extent of the deliverance.
  • themselves (Hebrew: אֶת־נַפְשָׁם, et-nafsham) - Reflexive pronoun, indicating self-salvation or rescue of their own persons. Nefesh can mean soul, life, self.
  • by (Hebrew: בְּ, b') - Preposition indicating the means or instrument.
  • their righteousness (Hebrew: צִדְקָתָם, tzidkatam) - Noun for righteousness, referring to the virtuous conduct and just character of these individuals. It is the basis for their potential deliverance.

• “declares the Lord God.”

  • declares (Hebrew: נְאֻם, ne'um) - Noun used to introduce a divine utterance or pronouncement; often translated as "oracle of" or "says."
  • the Lord God (Hebrew: יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, Adonai Elohim or Yahweh Elohim) - The covenant name of God combined with the general term for God. This authoritative declaration emphasizes the divine source and certainty of the statement.

Word Group Analysis

• "even if these three men... were in it": This phrase establishes a stringent hypothetical scenario. The inclusion of Noah (pre-flood righteousness), Daniel (exilic righteousness and divine wisdom), and Job (suffering and faithfulness) represents different types and eras of ultimate godly character. The point is that even the highest echelon of human righteousness, when placed in a context of pervasive societal sin, offers no universal safeguard.

• "they should deliver only themselves by their righteousness": This crucial part highlights the limit of individual righteousness as a protective shield for an entire community when that community is under divine judgment for widespread sin. Their own righteousness would serve as their personal deliverance, not as a means to exonerate others who are steeped in sin. This underscores that collective accountability exists.

Ezekiel 14 17 Bonus Section

The choice of Noah, Daniel, and Job is significant. Noah represents righteousness in a world universally corrupt before the Flood. Daniel represents righteousness maintained in exile and foreign culture, characterized by wisdom and divine communion. Job represents righteousness tested by severe affliction, where faithfulness is maintained even in the face of immense loss and theological questioning. These figures cover different strata of righteousness and demonstrate its various manifestations under distinct trials. This passage doesn't diminish the value of these men, but rather magnifies the gravity of the sin God was judging. It emphasizes that in cases of ultimate corporate sin, divine intervention on a mass scale is necessary, and that such intervention is based on God’s sovereign purposes, which include preserving a remnant, but not necessarily a whole generation based on the righteousness of a few.

Ezekiel 14 17 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:17 presents a profound theological principle: the limits of individual righteousness in averting corporate judgment. God declares that even three of the most revered righteous men in scripture – Noah, Daniel, and Job – could not redeem a sinful nation or city by their piety alone. Their righteousness would be sufficient to secure their own lives, acting as a testament to God’s faithfulness to those who remain faithful, but not to negate the consequences of collective apostasy and deep-seated corruption.

This verse powerfully illustrates that while individual faithfulness is precious to God and merits personal deliverance, it cannot shield a community wholly given over to sin from experiencing divine judgment. The prophet's message would have been a severe warning to his audience, showing that their current state of sin was so dire that even exemplary righteous figures could not be their salvation in a corporate sense. The nation's sin was not just a matter of individual failings but a systemic spiritual decay that required comprehensive judgment, with a remnant preserved by God’s mercy, not solely by the merit of any particular individuals within the condemned population. This echoes principles seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where only Lot and his family were saved.

Practical Application

• Personal Integrity: Strive for a walk with God that mirrors the faithfulness of Noah, Daniel, and Job, not for the sake of "earning" immunity for others, but for your own spiritual health and accountability before God.
• Corporate Responsibility: Recognize that communities and nations also bear responsibility before God. The righteousness of individuals does not absolve the collective sinfulness of a group or society from facing God's disciplinary actions.
• The True Intercessor: While individual intercessors have limits, Jesus Christ, the ultimate Righteous One, intercedes for believers, securing their ultimate salvation, and His righteousness is imputed to us through faith, enabling us to stand before God. This verse contrasts with Christ’s perfect intercession, who can save all who come to Him.