Ezekiel 18 24

Ezekiel 18:24 kjv

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Ezekiel 18:24 nkjv

"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

Ezekiel 18:24 niv

"But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.

Ezekiel 18:24 esv

But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

Ezekiel 18:24 nlt

However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

Ezekiel 18 verses

Ezekiel 18 24 Meaning

Ezekiel 18:24 declares that if a person who has practiced righteousness abandons that way of life, turning to habitual injustice and committing all the abhorrent acts typically associated with the wicked, then that individual will not be granted life. This "life" refers to the covenant blessing of prosperity, well-being, and continued existence in God's favor, contrasting sharply with being cut off through judgment. The verse emphasizes individual accountability, serving as a solemn warning against apostasy and highlighting that past righteousness does not negate current sin.

Ezekiel 18 24 Context

Ezekiel chapter 18 directly addresses a common proverb among the Israelite exiles: "The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ez 18:2). This proverb reflected a belief in generational guilt, implying that individuals suffered for the sins of their ancestors, leading to a sense of fatalism and injustice among the people in exile. God, through Ezekiel, emphatically refutes this deterministic worldview, proclaiming individual accountability before Him. The chapter repeatedly states that "the person who sins will die" (Ez 18:4) and outlines both the characteristics of a righteous person who will live (Ez 18:5-9) and the wicked person who will die (Ez 18:10-13). It also addresses the righteous child of a wicked parent and the wicked child of a righteous parent, emphasizing personal responsibility regardless of lineage. Ezekiel 18:24 comes after establishing these principles, serving as a powerful warning: just as a wicked person can turn and live (Ez 18:21-23), a righteous person can also turn away and die. It underscores that spiritual state is not fixed by past deeds but by present choices and habitual behavior. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where a demoralized and questioning people needed to understand God's justice and the path to genuine restoration, which began with individual repentance and faithfulness.

Ezekiel 18 24 Word analysis

• But when: Marks a shift in focus from the wicked turning to righteousness (Ez 18:21-23) to the converse situation of the righteous turning to wickedness.
• a righteous person: The Hebrew is צַדִּיק ( tzaddiq). This refers to someone who has demonstrated genuine obedience to God's laws and commandments, living in accordance with His covenant requirements. It's not a mere outward show but implies a consistent pattern of upright living.
• turns away from: The Hebrew verb is שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back, return, repent, restore." Here, with the preposition "from," it indicates a turning away from, an apostasy or a backsliding. It implies a conscious and deliberate reorientation of life, not merely a single misstep but a fundamental departure from the previous path.
• their righteousness: The Hebrew is מִצִּדְקָתוֹ (mitsidqato), "from his righteousness." This signifies that the individual was genuinely considered righteous by God, not merely appearing so. The falling is from a state of true alignment with God's will.
• and does injustice: The Hebrew is וְעָשָׂה עָוֶל (v'asah avvel), "and he does iniquity/wrong." This moves beyond just a "turning away" of the heart to active, practical engagement in sinful deeds. Avvel denotes perversion or distortion of what is right, a fundamental moral wrongdoing.
• and does all the detestable practices: The Hebrew phrase is כְּכֹל הַתּוֹעֲבוֹת (k'khol hat-to'evot), "according to all the abominations/detestable things." To'evah is a very strong term in the Old Testament, often referring to practices highly offensive to God, particularly idolatry, sexual immorality, child sacrifice, and other acts contrary to covenant holiness. The "all" indicates a comprehensive embrace of such wickedness, not isolated incidents.
• that the wicked person does: The Hebrew is אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָרָשָׁע (asher asah harasha'), "which the wicked one does." This emphasizes that the "righteous" person's new lifestyle becomes indistinguishable from that of the inherently wicked. It's not just committing isolated sins but aligning oneself fully with the practices and mindset of those outside of God's covenant favor.
• will they live?: The Hebrew is יִחְיֶה (yiḥyeh), "will he live?" This is a rhetorical question, demanding a resounding "No." "Life" in this context refers primarily to continued temporal existence, well-being, and blessings within the covenant land. It signifies being "cut off" from God's favor and ultimately from life itself (spiritual and physical), contrasted with the promise of life for the righteous or for the wicked who repent. It implies facing God's judgment and death (being removed from the community or existence under God's wrath).

Words-group analysis:

• "But when a righteous person turns away from their righteousness": This phrase highlights a dynamic spiritual state, directly confronting any notion of "once righteous, always righteous" if such righteousness is not maintained. It speaks of a departure from an established, God-approved path.
• "and does injustice and does all the detestable practices that the wicked person does": This emphasizes not just a lapse, but a profound and consistent commitment to sin, where the former righteous individual fully adopts the lifestyle and character of the ungodly. The repetition of "does" stresses habitual action. The linking of actions to "detestable practices" and "wicked person" underlines the severity and depth of the apostasy.
• "will they live?": This climactic rhetorical question powerfully conveys the consequence: divine judgment leading to spiritual and often physical (covenantal) death, the very opposite of the life promised to those in right standing with God.

Ezekiel 18 24 Bonus section

The rhetorical question "will they live?" (יִחְיֶה - yiḥyeh) implies a negative answer ("No, they will not"). This form of questioning is a common prophetic device to emphasize a self-evident truth and often signifies judgment or demise. The concept of "life" in Ezekiel 18 is deeply rooted in the Old Testament covenant context, where it often means well-being, prosperity, security, and continuation in the land. "Death" similarly meant being "cut off" from God's presence, blessings, or even from existence in the community, often via judgment. While this doesn't directly address New Testament concepts of eternal salvation in the same way, the spiritual principle is consistent: turning from God and His ways ultimately leads to separation from Him, whether physically, spiritually, or eternally. The polemic nature of this verse is against the deterministic view that one's fate is sealed either by ancestry or by an unchangeable "once righteous, always righteous" status despite blatant apostasy. It stresses the active and continuous requirement for faith evidenced by works, aligning with the broader biblical emphasis on perseverance in faith.

Ezekiel 18 24 Commentary

Ezekiel 18:24 delivers a stark and essential theological truth: God's justice is based on current conduct, not merely on past righteousness. It challenges the presumption that a righteous past guarantees a secure future regardless of present sin. This verse acts as a powerful warning against spiritual complacency and apostasy. It highlights that if someone, who was once living uprightly and in obedience to God, actively and habitually abandons that path to engage in serious, offensive sins—sins that characterize the ungodly—they will not experience the life promised to the righteous. This "life" is holistic, encompassing well-being, continued relationship with God, and deliverance from judgment. The core message is that divine judgment is impartial; it is based on the individual's deeds at the time of judgment. This underscores the need for continuous faithfulness and vigilance in one's walk with God, rather than relying on past achievements. The verse, therefore, promotes personal responsibility for maintaining one's covenant relationship through ongoing obedience and sincere devotion, urging perseverance rather than presumption.