Ezekiel 18 27

Ezekiel 18:27 kjv

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Ezekiel 18:27 nkjv

Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.

Ezekiel 18:27 niv

But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.

Ezekiel 18:27 esv

Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.

Ezekiel 18:27 nlt

And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.

Ezekiel 18 verses

Ezekiel 18 27 Meaning

This verse from Ezekiel 18:27 encapsulates the core principle of divine justice: a wicked person who genuinely repents by turning away from their unrighteous actions and actively embracing lawful and right conduct will preserve their life. It emphasizes individual accountability and God's willingness to grant life to those who turn from evil.

Ezekiel 18 27 Context

Ezekiel chapter 18 directly confronts the popular proverb among the exiles: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ezek 18:2). This proverb propagated the fatalistic belief that the current generation was suffering not for their own sins, but for the iniquities of their ancestors. God, through Ezekiel, vehemently rejects this idea, asserting individual responsibility and the principle of immediate accountability: "The soul who sins shall die" (Ezek 18:4, 20). The chapter then meticulously outlines scenarios of righteousness and wickedness, emphasizing that divine judgment and blessing are meted out based on personal conduct, not inherited status or past actions. This verse, Ezekiel 18:27, is part of God's declaration that a truly righteous life or genuine repentance in the present can alter one's fate, underscoring God's just character and the availability of hope and life to those who genuinely turn to Him. Historically, this message brought vital encouragement to the demoralized exiles in Babylon, shifting focus from fatalism to the power of personal choice and transformation.

Ezekiel 18 27 Word analysis

• Again: Hebrew vegam (וְגַם). Indicates continuation or emphasis on another scenario in the sequence of judgments presented in Ezekiel 18, linking it to preceding cases of the righteous and the wicked.
• when: Implies a conditional action, setting up the circumstances under which the positive outcome follows.
• the wicked man: Hebrew ha-rasha' (הָרָשָׁע). Refers to someone legally, morally, or religiously condemned; a transgressor or unjust person actively living contrary to God's ways.
• turneth away: Hebrew shûv (שׁוּב). A crucial theological term (often "repent"). Denotes a fundamental change of direction, a spiritual turning from one path (wickedness) to another (righteousness), implying cessation of wrong and active embrace of good. It signifies more than regret; it's an active reorientation of life.
• from his wickedness: Hebrew mi-risha'to (מֵרִשְׁעָתוֹ). Refers to the specific actions and state of injustice, ungodliness, or rebellion against divine standards that characterized the wicked person's past.
• that he hath committed: Hebrew asher asah (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה). Specifies that the wickedness is not hypothetical but consists of actual deeds, implying personal culpability.
• and doeth: Hebrew v'asah (וְעָשָׂה). Indicates proactive behavior. Repentance is not passive; it involves taking positive actions aligned with God's will.
• that which is lawful and right: Hebrew mishpat u'tzdaqah (מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה).
  • Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט): Implies justice, judgment, legal right, established custom, or ordinance. Refers to living according to divine law and covenant stipulations.
  • Tzedakah (צְדָקָה): Refers to righteousness, justness, moral rectitude, and conformity to God's moral character. Together, these terms encompass ethical living, fulfilling social and religious obligations, and adhering to divine standards.
• he shall save his soul alive: Hebrew nephsho yecha'yeh (נַפְשׁוֹ יְחַיֶּה).
  • Nephsho (נַפְשׁוֹ): His soul, his life, his being. In Hebrew thought, the nephesh is the entire person, the essence of one's vitality.
  • Yecha'yeh (יְחַיֶּה): He shall live, keep alive, preserve.This phrase promises preservation, both from physical judgment (death, calamity) and spiritual alienation from God. It signifies a restoration to true life and divine favor, implying an escape from the death previously appointed for the wicked.

Words-group analysis

• "When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness": This phrase highlights the conditional nature for divine favor. It signifies a complete change of moral direction. The Hebrew shuv implies a radical personal decision, a spiritual re-orientation from the life defined by sin (risha') back towards God's ways. This emphasizes an internal transformation manifesting in outward action, distinguishing it from superficial regret.
• "and doeth that which is lawful and right": This demonstrates the active nature of true repentance. It is insufficient to merely stop sinning; one must actively engage in deeds of justice and righteousness (mishpat u'tzdaqah). This aligns with the Mosaic covenant's emphasis on ethical conduct as evidence of a right relationship with God and counters empty rituals or mere profession of faith without works.
• "he shall save his soul alive": This expresses the profound consequence and divine promise linked to genuine repentance and active righteousness. The "soul" (nephesh) refers to the entirety of the person's life, implying a holistic salvation. This includes being spared from God's wrath, granted spiritual vitality, and preserving physical life (especially in the immediate context of judgment during the exile), showcasing God's desire for life, not death.

Ezekiel 18 27 Bonus section

This verse, within Ezekiel 18, is often called the "Repentance Chapter" and fundamentally shifts the understanding of covenant justice from corporate responsibility to individual accountability within Israel. While the Mosaic Law sometimes highlighted corporate judgment, Ezekiel clarifies that individuals are ultimately judged based on their own choices and their immediate actions. This truth laid important theological groundwork, preventing fatalism among the exiles and urging personal revival. It establishes a pathway for individuals to escape the curses of the law by turning back to the Lord. While this verse speaks within the framework of Old Covenant righteousness leading to life, it indirectly points towards the deeper truth revealed in the New Covenant: the need for a divine enabling (Ezek 36:26-27; Jer 31:33) for such consistent mishpat u'tzdaqah, ultimately fulfilled through faith in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which truly empowers one to "turn" and "do that which is lawful and right." Thus, it forms a significant theological bridge between the law and the gospel concerning humanity's capacity for righteousness and God's saving grace.

Ezekiel 18 27 Commentary

Ezekiel 18:27 stands as a powerful testament to God's justice, mercy, and the principle of individual accountability. In an era where fatalism and ancestral blame dominated the exilic mindset, this verse decisively declared that personal conduct, not inherited sin or an immutable destiny, determines one's fate before God. The core message is one of transformative hope: no matter how profound one's past wickedness, genuine repentance opens the path to life. This "turning away" (Hebrew shuv) is more than mere regret; it is a profound change of moral direction, demonstrated by a cessation of evil deeds and, crucially, a proactive embrace of God's standards of justice and righteousness (mishpat u'tzdaqah). God is presented not as a rigid punisher, but as a righteous judge who is willing to forgive and sustain the one who turns. The "saving of his soul alive" points to the preservation of both spiritual life—restoring fellowship with God—and physical well-being, including exemption from the judgment previously destined for the unrepentant. This foundational principle prefigures the New Testament call to repentance, emphasizing that faith is evidenced by a transformed life and action consistent with God's will.

• Examples:
  • An individual known for deceit and dishonesty chooses to commit to truthfulness in all their dealings, even when difficult.
  • One who formerly oppressed others financially begins to act with equity, generosity, and justice toward those under their influence.
  • Someone whose life was characterized by rebellion against God's commands shifts to diligently seeking and obeying His Word daily.