Ezekiel 18 25

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 verses

Ezekiel 18 25 Meaning

Ezekiel 18:25 encapsulates the rebellious accusation of the people of Israel during their Babylonian exile, who were lamenting their circumstances and attributing injustice to God. They claimed that the way God administrated justice, the principles by which He governed and judged, was unfair and not morally acceptable. This assertion was a direct challenge to God's character and righteousness, expressing their disbelief that their suffering was truly deserved or justly proportioned.

Ezekiel 18 25 Context

Ezekiel 18 is a pivotal chapter challenging a widespread proverb among the exiled Israelites: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ezek 18:2; cf. Jer 31:29). This proverb implied a fatalistic view that the current generation was suffering not for their own sins, but due to the accumulated iniquities of their ancestors, particularly Manasseh's idolatry, for which Jerusalem fell. It served as an excuse to deny personal responsibility and accuse God of injustice.

Verse 25 is a direct articulation of this accusation from the people's perspective, representing their conclusion based on their perception of their national plight. God, through Ezekiel, then thoroughly refutes this claim, emphatically stating His perfect justice and establishing the principle of individual accountability for sin. He details various scenarios: the righteous person, the wicked person, the righteous person who turns to wickedness, and the wicked person who repents, demonstrating that each individual will be judged based on their own actions and choices, not their parents' or children's. This passage radically shifted the focus from communal guilt as a sole cause to personal spiritual state as the determinant of fate, urging repentance and personal righteousness.

Ezekiel 18 25 Word analysis

• But you say (וְאָמַרְתֶּם – ve’amartem): "And you have said." This phrase marks a direct confrontation and a transition from God's declarations to the people's dissenting opinion. It highlights a sharp contrast between God's perspective of justice and their human, fallible perception. The pronoun "you" is plural, addressing the collective "house of Israel," emphasizing this as a widespread and corporate complaint.
• The way of the LORD (דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה – Derek YHWH):
  • Way (דֶּרֶךְ – Derek): Means a "path, road," but figuratively refers to a "manner, custom, course of life, conduct, behavior," or a "plan, procedure, principle." Here, it signifies God's system of governance, His administrative policies, His dealings with humanity, or His moral standard. It's not just a path He walks, but the inherent principles by which He acts.
  • LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His promises. When linked with Derek, it denotes the very essence of divine character and action. The complaint thus challenges the very nature and integrity of God as the supreme arbiter.
• is not just (לֹא יִתָּכֵן – lo' yitaken):
  • not (לֹא – lo'): A straightforward negation.
  • just (יִתָּכֵן – yitaken): This verb means "to be firm, proper, right, suitable, acceptable, fit, established." The specific Hebrew term here, yitaken, carries a nuance beyond simply "not fair" or "unrighteous" (like lo' tzedeq). It suggests that God's way is "not consistent with right principles," "not properly adjusted," or "not fit" by their human criteria. The people perceive a fundamental misalignment between God's actions and what they believe ought to be right. They judge God's character and actions as flawed or incorrectly implemented rather than outright evil, yet it’s still a profound challenge to His righteousness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But you say, ‘The way of the LORD is not just.’": This full declaration serves as the foundational accusation God is about to dismantle. It summarizes the collective human frustration and perception that God's governance, especially regarding justice and suffering, does not align with their expected standards of fairness. It reveals a profound spiritual struggle, where humanity (in its exiled state) doubts divine benevolence and righteous judgment, opting instead to interpret hardship as evidence of God's failure or indifference. This statement encapsulates humanity's tendency to question God's character when facing adversity, projecting their own limited understanding of justice onto the perfect and holy Creator.

Ezekiel 18 25 Bonus section

• The accusation in Ezekiel 18:25 reveals a deep psychological aspect of human sin: the tendency to rationalize and externalize blame. By claiming God is unjust, the people effectively deflect responsibility from themselves and avoid the painful process of repentance.
• This verse stands as a stark reminder that human perspectives on justice are often self-serving and limited by immediate circumstances, failing to grasp the broader, eternal, and perfectly holy standard of divine justice.
• God's patient and detailed response throughout Ezekiel 18 to this accusation demonstrates His willingness to engage with humanity's questions and correct their misunderstandings, providing clear truth regarding His character and the principles of His kingdom.
• This verse (and the chapter's response) sets an important precedent for understanding individual accountability under the New Covenant, where personal faith and repentance are paramount.

Ezekiel 18 25 Commentary

Ezekiel 18:25 presents a candid record of the Israelites' lament, reflecting a common human inclination to accuse God when faced with suffering and consequences, rather than introspectively examining one's own role. The phrase "The way of the LORD is not just" signifies a profound theological crisis within the exilic community, who felt that their current plight disproportionately punished them for their ancestors' sins, effectively accusing God of being either unfair or inconsistent in His judgment. The original Hebrew phrase lo' yitaken is not merely stating God is unfair but suggests His actions are "not proper," "not fitting," or "not well-adjusted" to what they perceive as moral or logical. This deeply flawed human judgment misinterprets God's perfect justice and mercy, demonstrating a complete inversion of responsibility: blaming the righteous Judge instead of recognizing their own corporate and individual guilt. The subsequent verses in Ezekiel 18 meticulously detail God's refutation, affirming His unwavering justice and emphasizing the crucial principle of individual responsibility and the availability of true repentance, providing a pathway to life rather than persistent accusation.