Ezekiel 18:22 kjv
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:22 nkjv
None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:22 niv
None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.
Ezekiel 18:22 esv
None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:22 nlt
All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
Ezekiel 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Forgiveness/Non-remembrance | ||
| Isa 43:25 | "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." | God removes sins and forgets them. |
| Jer 31:34 | "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." | God's complete forgiveness and non-remembrance. |
| Ps 103:12 | "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." | Distance God puts between us and our sins. |
| Mic 7:18-19 | "He does not retain his anger forever... He will again have compassion... He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." | God's forgiving nature, casting away sins. |
| Heb 8:12 | "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." | NT affirmation of new covenant forgiveness. |
| Heb 10:17 | "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." | Reiteration of God's complete forgiveness. |
| Repentance/Turning to Life | ||
| Ez 18:21 | "if the wicked person turns from all his sins... and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die." | Direct preceding context, emphasizing repentance and life. |
| Ez 18:27-28 | "Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness... and practices justice and righteousness, he shall save his life." | Reiterates the consequence of turning from wickedness. |
| Ez 18:30-32 | "Repent and turn from all your transgressions... Make yourselves a new heart... for I have no pleasure in the death of anyone." | God's call to repentance and desire for life. |
| Isa 55:7 | "let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts... he will abundantly pardon." | God's invitation to forsake sin and find pardon. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." | NT call to repentance for remission of sins. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | "Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret." | Repentance as a path to salvation. |
| Lk 15:7 | "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons." | Joy over a repentant sinner. |
| Righteousness and Life | ||
| Ez 18:9 | "He walks in my statutes... he is righteous; he shall surely live." | Defines living righteously as a path to life. |
| Ez 18:17 | "He executes my judgments, and walks in my statutes... he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live." | Link between personal righteousness and life. |
| Prov 11:19 | "Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live." | Proverbs linking righteousness and life. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Contrast of death from sin, life from God (NT lens). |
| Phil 3:9 | "not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ." | NT clarification on true righteousness being by faith. |
| Jas 2:24 | "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." | Faith expressing itself in righteous actions. |
| Individual Accountability/God's Character | ||
| Ez 18:4 | "the soul who sins shall die." | Principle of individual accountability. |
| Ez 18:20 | "The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father." | Direct challenge to inherited guilt, individual responsibility. |
| 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." | Law supporting individual accountability. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end." | God's unending compassion and faithfulness. |
Ezekiel 18 verses
Ezekiel 18 22 Meaning
Ezekiel 18:22 proclaims a profound principle of divine justice and mercy: when a wicked individual truly repents and lives righteously, God will completely overlook their past transgressions. Their former sins will not be brought up for judgment, and by virtue of their new, upright conduct, they will certainly live—implying not just physical survival but spiritual flourishing, favor with God, and ultimately true life. This verse underscores God's willingness to forgive completely and his desire for individuals to turn from evil and embrace life.
Ezekiel 18 22 Context
Ezekiel chapter 18 directly addresses a prevalent cynical proverb among the Israelite exiles: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ez 18:2). This proverb expressed their belief that they were unjustly suffering for the sins of their ancestors, leading to despair and an abdication of personal responsibility.
In response, God, through Ezekiel, powerfully asserts the principle of individual accountability: each person will be judged according to their own actions, whether righteous or wicked. The chapter contrasts various scenarios: a righteous father and a wicked son; a wicked father and a righteous son; a wicked man who turns righteous; and a righteous man who turns wicked. This verse (18:22) is part of the central argument concerning the wicked person who repents, demonstrating God's radical mercy and willingness to forgive and grant life when an individual genuinely turns from their sin. It emphasizes that God's justice is not merely punitive but redemptive, seeking life over death for those who choose righteousness.
Ezekiel 18 22 Word analysis
- None: An emphatic negative, meaning "not one." It leaves no room for partial remembrance.
- of the transgressions (פְּשָׁעָיו - p'sha'av): From the Hebrew root פָּשַׁע (pashac), which signifies rebellion, revolt, or conscious breaking of a covenant. This is a strong word for sin, indicating willful wrongdoing, not mere errors. The plural "transgressions" denotes the sum total of past wicked deeds.
- that he has committed: Emphasizes that these are the actions the individual was personally responsible for, directly countering the idea of inherited guilt.
- shall be remembered (יִזָּכְרוּ - yizacheru): This is a passive verb (Nifal imperfect plural from זָכַר - zakar), meaning "they will be caused to be remembered" or "they will be called to mind." In God's judicial sense, it means they will not be brought up in accusation or held against the individual for punishment. It doesn't mean God literally forgets, but judicially sets aside or "forgets" as in not acting upon them.
- against him: Denotes that these sins would otherwise stand as accusations leading to judgment.
- for: Connects the two clauses, showing the reason or condition for the forgiveness and life. It's a statement of cause and effect in the moral sphere.
- the righteousness (בְּצִדְקָתוֹ - b'tzidkato): Literally "in his righteousness" (with the preposition 'bet'). This refers to the righteous deeds that the formerly wicked person now practices after their repentance. This "righteousness" (tzidkah) signifies moral uprightness, acting in accordance with God's justice and law. It implies a complete change of life, not merely a single act. The New Testament later illuminates that this human righteousness, to be truly acceptable, must flow from faith (Rom 3:21-26, Phil 3:9), acknowledging human limitations while emphasizing the necessary ethical living.
- that he has practiced: Underlines the active and ongoing nature of this new righteous life. It's a lived righteousness, demonstrated through deeds.
- he shall live (יִחְיֶה - yichyeh): From the Hebrew root חָיָה (chayah), "to live," "revive," "restore to life." In Ezekiel's context, "life" signifies escape from divine judgment and punishment, being sustained by God, having favor and blessing, and enjoying spiritual vitality, peace, and well-being. It is the antithesis of the "death" (judgment, curse, separation from God) that is the wage of sin (Ez 18:4, 20).
- Words-group by words-group analysis
- "None of the transgressions... shall be remembered against him": This phrase highlights God's radical and complete forgiveness. It's a judicial declaration that the past slate is wiped clean. It speaks to the transforming power of repentance, negating past condemnations.
- "for the righteousness that he has practiced he shall live": This second part provides the condition and outcome. The new life and salvation are not arbitrary but directly linked to the individual's new direction and active pursuit of righteousness. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship between ongoing obedience to God's ways and receiving life from Him.
Ezekiel 18 22 Bonus section
The concept of God "not remembering" sins is a powerful anthropomorphism that highlights His character of compassion and faithfulness to His covenant promises. It signifies a complete removal of the legal basis for judgment stemming from those forgiven sins. This passage, particularly within its broader context in Ezekiel 18, is considered foundational for understanding individual ethical responsibility in Judaism and Christianity, emphasizing that divine justice is dynamic and responsive to an individual's ongoing moral trajectory, rather than being static and based solely on a fixed historical record. The life promised is multi-dimensional, encompassing spiritual, social, and often physical aspects within the covenant community.
Ezekiel 18 22 Commentary
Ezekiel 18:22 stands as a monumental declaration of God's redemptive justice and abundant mercy. It dispels the notion of inescapable condemnation due to past wrongs, offering profound hope to those who turn wholeheartedly to God. The divine act of "not remembering" sins is not amnesia, but a conscious judicial decision to withhold accusation and punishment, treating the repentant as if their sins had never been committed. This complete wiping clean of the record is contingent upon a genuine and active commitment to righteousness—a consistent turning from wickedness to obedience. The promise of "he shall live" signifies a restored relationship with God, freedom from judgment, and an enjoyment of divine favor and blessing. This truth lays the groundwork for New Testament teachings on grace and repentance, affirming God's unwavering desire for life for all who turn to Him.