Ezekiel 14:18 kjv
Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
Ezekiel 14:18 nkjv
even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.
Ezekiel 14:18 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.
Ezekiel 14:18 esv
though these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be delivered.
Ezekiel 14:18 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.
Ezekiel 14 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:8 | "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." | Noah's personal righteousness |
| Gen 7:1 | "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me..." | Noah's family saved through his righteousness |
| Gen 18:23-32 | Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, failed to find ten righteous | Limitation of intercession when sin is overwhelming |
| Exod 32:30-33 | Moses pleads for Israel, but God insists He will blot out the one who has sinned. | Limited scope of even Moses' powerful intercession |
| Deut 24:16 | "Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin." | Principle of individual accountability |
| Job 1:1 | "There was a man... whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." | Job's exemplary righteousness |
| Pss 7:10 | "My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart." | God saves the personally righteous |
| Prov 11:4 | "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." | Righteousness as a means of personal deliverance |
| Jer 7:16 | "As for you, do not pray for this people... for I will not hear you." | God prohibiting prophetic intercession |
| Jer 15:1 | "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people..." | Even mighty intercessors unable to stop judgment |
| Jer 31:29-30 | "Everyone shall die for his own iniquity; everyone who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge." | Individual accountability for sin |
| Ezek 18:4 | "The soul who sins shall die." | Absolute individual responsibility for sin |
| Ezek 18:20 | "The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father... The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself..." | Direct reinforcement of personal righteousness/sin |
| Dan 1:8 | "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself..." | Daniel's commitment to personal purity |
| Dan 6:22 | "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths... because I was found blameless before him..." | Daniel's personal deliverance by God |
| Isa 59:1-2 | "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God..." | Sin creating a barrier to God's favor |
| Isa 59:16 | "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede..." | Absence of effective human intercession |
| Amos 3:2 | "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." | God's unique relationship does not preclude punishment |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked..." | Distinction based on personal standing before God |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works." | God's righteous judgment based on deeds |
| Rom 3:20 | "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight..." | Human righteousness is ultimately insufficient (contrast with Ezek context, pointing to Christ) |
| Rom 14:12 | "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." | Every individual is accountable before God |
| Heb 11:7 | "By faith Noah, being warned by God... constructed an ark for the saving of his household." | Noah's faith-driven righteousness |
| Jas 5:16 | "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." | Power of righteous prayer (contextual nuance/limit) |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 18 Meaning
Ezekiel 14:18 unequivocally declares that when God's severe judgment is set upon a land due to its pervasive sin, even the exemplary righteousness of three renowned figures like Noah, Daniel, and Job would be insufficient to avert the declared punishment. Their virtue would secure only their own individual lives, not offer any reprieve for the land or its inhabitants destined for divine wrath. The verse underscores both the immutable nature of God's determined judgment and the principle of individual accountability in the face of widespread corporate iniquity.
Ezekiel 14 18 Context
Ezekiel 14 directly addresses the problem of Israelite elders coming to Ezekiel, ostensibly to inquire of the Lord, while secretly cherishing idols in their hearts. God declares that He will not be inquired of by such hypocrites; instead, He will answer them by confronting them with the consequences of their idolatry. The chapter escalates God's pronouncements of severe judgment upon a rebellious land through various forms—famine, wild beasts, sword, and plague. In this sequence, Ezekiel 14:18 specifically drives home the unalterable nature of God's wrath when judgment is final, illustrating that even the most righteous human intercessors—like Noah, Daniel, and Job—cannot save an utterly corrupted people or land. This powerfully counters any false hope or complacent belief that God's covenant with Israel or the presence of a few righteous individuals within the nation would inherently shield them from ultimate devastation due to their persistent sin.
Ezekiel 14 18 Word analysis
though (וְכִי - vechiy): A conjunction introducing a strong hypothetical, almost concessive clause. It emphasizes that even if such a seemingly impossible condition were met (the presence of these ultimate righteous figures), the outcome would still be limited. It underscores the severity and finality of the declared judgment.
these three men: The explicit mention of Noah, Daniel, and Job as a specific triad highlights their unique, archetypal status in ancient Israelite tradition as epitomes of individual righteousness, each navigating extreme circumstances with integrity.
- Noah (נֹחַ - Noach): Known for his righteousness in a utterly corrupt generation, preserving humanity from the flood (Gen 6:8-9). He represents an upright man pre-Law, found righteous amid widespread apostasy.
- Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל - Daniyyel): Living during the Babylonian exile, he maintained unwavering devotion to God even under pagan rule and severe pressure (Dan 1:8, 6:10). He symbolizes a righteous figure during the time of national captivity.
- Job (אִיּוֹב - 'Iyyov): A figure renowned for his blamelessness, integrity, and patience amidst immense suffering, affirmed by God Himself (Job 1:1, 42:7). He represents righteousness challenged by immense personal trial, potentially from a patriarchal or non-Israelite context, signifying universal righteousness.
were in it: Refers to "the land" mentioned in previous verses (Ezek 14:13, 15, 17, 19). It indicates their literal physical presence within the condemned territory, not merely a remote spiritual influence or intercession.
they would deliver but their own souls: This phrase sharply defines the limit of their exceptional righteousness. "Deliver" (נָצַל - natsal) means to rescue, save, or snatch away. "Souls" (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh) signifies their individual lives, persons, or very being. Their personal salvation would be solely confined to themselves, without capacity to extend protection to the surrounding wicked population.
by their righteousness: (בְּצִדְקָתָם - betsidqatham). "Righteousness" (צְדָקָה - tsedakah) refers to moral integrity, right conduct, justice, and being in a right relationship with God. This clarifies the basis of their personal deliverance: it's not arbitrary or based on special favor independent of their actions, but directly linked to their lived devotion and obedience to God.
declares the Lord GOD: (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהֹוִה - ne'um Adonai YHWH). A formulaic and authoritative statement from God Himself. It confirms the absolute truth, finality, and immutable nature of this decree, emphasizing divine sovereignty and resolve. Adonai (Lord) represents His majesty and authority, while YHWH (GOD, the covenant name) represents His faithfulness, suggesting that even His covenant people will face consequences.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "though these three men... were in it": This phrase highlights an almost unthinkable scenario. Even if these absolute pinnacles of human piety were present within the land under judgment, they couldn't avert disaster. It emphasizes the saturation of sin and the depth of God's resolve, showing that no level of human righteousness, however exalted, can overcome a corporate decision for divine wrath.
- "they would deliver but their own souls by their righteousness": This segment is crucial for understanding the twin principles of judgment. Firstly, the extreme limitation of even the most potent human intercession when God's mind is made up for severe, corporate judgment. Secondly, it affirms individual accountability: personal righteousness brings personal salvation. The focus is squarely on the individual (their own souls) and the basis (their righteousness). The concept of merit is here seen operating strictly on a personal level in such an ultimate scenario.
- "declares the Lord GOD": This final statement seals the absolute certainty of the pronouncement. It leaves no room for debate, negotiation, or evasion. It underscores God's omniscient justice and sovereign power to execute His will precisely as declared, confirming the irrevocability of the judgment against the land and the principle of individual salvation within it.
Ezekiel 14 18 Bonus section
The inclusion of Noah, Daniel, and Job is highly significant. These three span different eras and contexts of righteousness: Noah from the pre-Mosaic patriarchal period, representing salvation from a global cataclysm; Job, potentially a contemporary of the patriarchs but outside the Israelite line, showing a Gentile example of faith and endurance; and Daniel from the era of Babylonian exile, representing faithfulness under foreign dominion during a time of national decline. Their combined testimony, covering diverse historical and cultural milieus, provides an almost exhaustive argument that no form of human righteousness, regardless of context or magnitude, can withstand God's ultimate decision for judgment against a sin-laden land. This triplet underlines that God’s justice is universal and unwavering. It also starkly contrasts with Abraham's intercession for Sodom (Gen 18), where God was willing to spare the city if even ten righteous people were found, showing that by Ezekiel's time, the wickedness of Jerusalem and Judah had surpassed such a threshold, moving beyond the possibility of widespread reprieve through a righteous remnant.
Ezekiel 14 18 Commentary
Ezekiel 14:18 powerfully asserts God's uncompromising justice when a nation reaches a tipping point of sin, demonstrating that divine judgment can be so irrevocably set that not even the cumulative righteousness of figures like Noah, Daniel, and Job can provide a collective reprieve. Their personal piety, though admirable, would serve only for their own deliverance, illustrating a crucial lesson in individual accountability versus corporate fate. This passage strips away false hopes that proximity to the righteous or past covenant relationships would shield a people from merited wrath, ultimately pointing to a divine principle where an individual's relationship with God becomes paramount in extreme times.