Ezekiel 18:25 kjv
Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Ezekiel 18:25 nkjv
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
Ezekiel 18:25 niv
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
Ezekiel 18:25 esv
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
Ezekiel 18:25 nlt
"Yet you say, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what's right, or is it you?
Ezekiel 18 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 18:25 | "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel;" | Direct statement |
| Ezekiel 18:29 | "But when the house of Israel saith, The way of the Lord is not equal..." | Repetition for emphasis |
| Psalms 11:7 | "For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." | God's nature |
| Psalms 145:17 | "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." | God's perfect character |
| Lamentations 1:18 | "The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment..." | Acknowledging God's justice |
| Deuteronomy 32:4 | "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment..." | God's faithfulness/justice |
| Romans 3:25-26 | "...whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood: To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past..." | God's righteousness revealed |
| 1 John 4:8 | "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." | God's nature as love |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." | God's love and desire for salvation |
| 2 Peter 3:9 | "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness..." | God's patience/desire for repentance |
| Acts 17:30 | "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" | Universal call to repentance |
| Romans 11:22 | "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness..." | God's dual nature of justice/mercy |
| Ezekiel 3:19 | "Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." | Responsibility of the prophet |
| Ezekiel 18:23 | "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD..." | God's desire for life |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD." | God's impartial judgment |
| Genesis 6:6 | "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." | God's sorrow over sin |
| Joshua 24:14 | "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth..." | Exhortation to righteous living |
| Matthew 5:48 | "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." | Call to emulate God's perfection |
| Revelation 16:5 | "And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus:" | Confirmation of God's righteousness |
| Isaiah 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." | Divine perspective difference |
| Matthew 7:27 | "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man..." | Consequence of disregarding God's word |
Ezekiel 18 verses
Ezekiel 18 25 Meaning
This verse directly addresses the people of Israel's belief that God's judgment and dealings are unfair. It asserts God's perfect righteousness in His actions, stating that His ways are just, and He does not desire the death of the wicked, but rather their repentance and life.
Ezekiel 18 25 Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel chapter 18, which is a powerful declaration by God to the house of Israel during their Babylonian exile. The prophet Ezekiel is addressing a specific accusation made by the people: that they are suffering unjustly because of their ancestors' sins, and that God's dealings are unfair. Ezekiel, throughout this chapter, systematically refutes this notion. He contrasts the actions of righteous fathers with wicked sons, and wicked fathers with righteous sons, to demonstrate that individual responsibility is paramount. God's judgment is based on each person's own deeds, not inherited guilt. This particular verse arises as a direct response to the people's complaint, "The way of the Lord is not equal." It emphasizes that their perception of injustice stems from their own limited perspective and their unwillingness to accept God's righteous standards and their own accountability. The overall context is one of theological explanation and personal responsibility in the face of national calamity.
Ezekiel 18 25 Word Analysis
- Yet (vâʼ weʼ): Conjunction indicating contrast or a concession. Here, it introduces the people's defiant statement against God's established principles.
- ye (ʼattem ʼāṯĕm): Second person plural pronoun. Refers directly to the collective house of Israel.
- say (ʼāmar ʼāmar): Verb meaning to speak, declare, or think. It highlights their spoken or internalized belief.
- The way (derek derek): Noun meaning path, road, journey, or manner of life/conduct. Refers to God's dealings, His methods, and His commands.
- of the Lord (Yĕhovah YHWH): The personal covenant name of God. Emphasizes His covenant relationship with Israel.
- is not (lôʼ ’ěmet lōʼ ʼěṯ): Negation of truth or correctness.
- equal (meṯūqĕqet meṯūqĕqĕṯ): Derived from the root šāqah, meaning to weigh or measure. Implies impartiality, fairness, or straightness. They are accusing God of being crooked or unbalanced in His judgment.
- Hear (šěmaʽ šəmaʻ): Imperative verb, meaning to listen, to obey, to pay attention. A strong call for attentiveness and willingness to understand.
- now (Attâ ʻaṯţâ): Adverb indicating immediacy.
- O house (bêṯ bêṯ): Noun meaning house or household. Refers to the entirety of the nation, the family of Israel.
- of Israel (yiśrāʼēl yiśrāʼēl): The collective name for the covenant people of God.
Word Group Analysis:
- "The way of the Lord is not equal": This phrase encapsulates the core of Israel's grievance. They perceive God's actions and His pronouncements on justice and retribution as inconsistent and unfair, particularly as they faced the consequences of their collective national sins during the Babylonian exile. They are attributing their suffering to a fault in God's character or system.
Ezekiel 18 25 Bonus Section
This verse challenges the human tendency to rationalize sin and blame external factors, including God, for personal misfortunes. It highlights the theological problem of theodicy—the vindication of God's goodness and justice in the face of evil and suffering. Ezekiel 18 teaches that while consequences can be experienced by a community, individual accountability is non-negotiable in God's eyes. The Israelites' perception of unfairness was a symptom of their spiritual disconnect and their pride, preventing them from internalizing the truth that God’s judgment is always in accordance with His perfect, albeit sometimes incomprehensible to humans, standards of righteousness.
Ezekiel 18 25 Commentary
The people of Israel, suffering the consequences of their actions and ancestral iniquity, felt abandoned and unfairly treated by God. Their statement, "The way of the Lord is not equal," reflects a spiritual blindness and a refusal to accept God's righteous standards of judgment. God, through Ezekiel, forcefully counters this by affirming His inherent righteousness. He declares that His ways are inherently just, consistent, and perfect. The misunderstanding arises from comparing God's divine perspective and eternal justice with their limited, immediate human experience. God’s desire is not for the demise of any soul but for all to turn from their wicked ways and live in covenant fellowship with Him. This verse is a foundational statement on God's character, asserting His absolute justice and His profound desire for human redemption over destruction.