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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezk 18:23 | "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “rather than that they should turn from their ways and live?" | Echoes God's heart for repentance |
| Ezk 18:30-32 | "Therefore, Israel, I will judge you, each according to your ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin may not be your downfall. Throw off your transgressions—which you have committed—and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why would you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Turn, then, and live!" | Repentance and new life emphasized |
| Acts 17:30 | "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." | Universal call to repentance |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some people think. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." | God's patience and desire for repentance |
| Luke 15:7 | "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who require no repentance." | Joy in repentant sinners |
| Prov 1:20-23 | "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 'How long will you simple ones love your simplicity? How long will mockers delight in their mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my prompting; I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my ways.'" | Wisdom's call to repentance |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." | God's love leads to salvation through belief |
| Rom 5:8 | "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | Christ's sacrifice for sinners |
| Gal 6:15 | "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation." | The importance of transformation |
| Isa 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." | God's promise of abundant pardon |
| Jer 3:12-14 | "Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘“Return, faithless Israel,” declares the LORD. “I will not look on you with favor, because I am Kalman, and I will not stay angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt—you have rebelled against the LORD your God, you have scattered your enemies like wild horses running the plains—and have not listened to my voice,” declares the LORD. “Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your husband, and I will take you, one from a town and two from a clan, and bring you to Zion." | God's plea for Israel's return |
| Deut 30:19 | "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" | The choice between life and death |
| Rev 2:5 | "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent." | Warning and call to repent |
| 1 Tim 2:3-4 | "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." | God's universal salvific will |
| Matt 18:14 | "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." | God's care for the vulnerable |
| John 6:37 | "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." | Assurance of salvation for those who come to Jesus |
| Rom 11:20-22 | "That is true because of unbelief, but you were broken off because of disbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you either. Consider therefore God’s kindness and sternness: sternness toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off." | Consequences of unbelief and the importance of remaining in God's kindness |
| Heb 6:4-6 | "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." | The seriousness of falling away and the finality of rejecting Christ's atoning work |
| Col 1:21-23 | "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies of Christ in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, grounded and convinced, and are not moved away from the hope promised by the gospel that you have heard." | Reconciliation through Christ and the need to persevere |
| Eph 2:1-3 | "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler over the dominion of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are in rebellion. Like the rest, we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and we were by nature children of wrath, even as others." | Humanity's fallen state without God |
| 1 John 4:8 | "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | God's essential nature is love |
Ezekiel 18 verses
Ezekiel 18 22 Meaning
The verse emphasizes God's desire for the salvation and life of the wicked. It states that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live. This highlights God's attributes of mercy and justice, showing that while sin has consequences, the ultimate divine will is for reconciliation and life.
Ezekiel 18 22 Context
Ezekiel 18 is a chapter that addresses the theological concept of individual responsibility for sin, directly confronting the prevailing proverb of the time, "The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge" (Ezekiel 18:2). The prophet reiterates God's justice, stating that an individual will only be held accountable for their own sins. This specific verse, the 22nd, serves as a powerful statement of God's character. Following the detailed explanations of who is righteous and who is wicked, God reveals His disposition: He finds no joy in the demise of those who do wrong, but rather in their transformation and continued existence through repentance. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period where many Israelites felt God had abandoned them or unjustly punished them for their ancestors' sins. Ezekiel's message aims to correct this misunderstanding and to affirm God's equitable justice and His persistent offer of mercy to those who turn to Him.
Ezekiel 18 22 Word Analysis
- "Shall": (Hebrew: וְאַף , v'af). This conjunction connects to the preceding verses and carries a sense of continuation and amplification.
- "I": (Hebrew: אָנֹכִי , anokhi). The emphatic first-person pronoun, referring to God Himself, underlining His personal perspective.
- "have": (Hebrew: חָפֵץ , chafetz). This verb means to desire, delight in, or take pleasure in. It expresses a volitional aspect of God.
- "no": (Hebrew: לֹא , lo). A simple negation, directly stating the absence of pleasure.
- "pleasure": (Hebrew: מָוֶת , maveth). This is the noun for "death." The phrasing literally translates to "pleasure of death," implying finding satisfaction or delight in the act of dying. The Lord explicitly denies this.
- "in": (Hebrew: בְּ , be). A common preposition indicating "in" or "at."
- "the death": (Hebrew: הָרֶשַׁע , ha-rasha). Refers to the "wicked" person. The Hebrew uses the noun form of "wicked."
- "the wicked": (Hebrew: כִּי אִם־בְּשׁוּבִי , ki im-beshuviv). This clause translates to "but rather in his turning." It introduces the condition or alternative that God desires.
- "cometh": (Hebrew: מִדַּרְכָיו , midarkav). This means "from his ways," referring to their chosen paths of sin.
- "from his ways": (Hebrew: וְחָיָה , v'chayah). This means "and live." It's the consequence of turning from the wicked ways.
- "and live": (Hebrew: לָכֶם , lakem). Refers back to the people addressed, affirming the life is for them.
Word-group analysis:
- "pleasure in the death of the wicked": This idiom starkly contrasts God's true nature. God’s disposition is not to enjoy destruction but to delight in life and restoration.
- "but rather in his turning from his ways and live": This forms the core of God's desire: a dynamic change of heart and behavior leading to life, which brings Him pleasure. It’s about conversion and flourishing.
Ezekiel 18 22 Bonus Section
The phrasing "pleasure in the death" (חָפֵץ בְּמֹות , chafetz bemoth) is strong and negative. God does not derive satisfaction or benefit from the final, eternal separation from Him that constitutes death. This is in contrast to the "pleasure" He takes in the return and continued life of His people. This emphasizes God's nature as the God of life. Scholars note that this verse serves as a vital apologetic against any notion of a vengeful or capricious deity. Ezekiel 18 strongly rebukes the fatalistic idea that one's destiny is predetermined by lineage or past actions, stressing God's continuous engagement with individuals through His word and the choice for repentance that is always available.
Ezekiel 18 22 Commentary
This verse succinctly encapsulates a fundamental aspect of God's heart for humanity. Despite His righteous judgment against sin, His ultimate desire is not the perishing of sinners, but their turning to Him and embracing the life He offers. The emphasis is on repentance ("turning from his ways") as the gateway to life. God's "pleasure" is found in obedience and restored relationship, not in retribution. This passage underscores God's grace and longsuffering patience, which waits for the sinner's change of heart. It's a message of hope that extends even to those living in wicked ways, presenting them with an opportunity for life.
- Practical Example: Imagine a parent whose child has gone down a destructive path. The parent grieves the child's harmful actions and the potential consequences, but their deepest desire is for the child to recognize their mistakes, turn back, and find a healthy, fulfilling life. God's desire for humanity mirrors this parental longing on a divine scale.