Ezekiel 18:5 kjv
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
Ezekiel 18:5 nkjv
But if a man is just And does what is lawful and right;
Ezekiel 18:5 niv
"Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
Ezekiel 18:5 esv
"If a man is righteous and does what is just and right ?
Ezekiel 18:5 nlt
"Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.
Ezekiel 18 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 18:5 | If a man is righteous and does what is just and right-- | Ezekiel 18:5 (Direct match) |
| Leviticus 19:2 | Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. | Leviticus 19:2 (Holiness) |
| Psalm 15:1-5 | LORD, who may dwell in your tent? Who may abide on your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his neighbor; He esteems the lowly, but does not regard the proud. He who treasures honor and hates wickedness. His sacrifices of honesty, and justice, his commitment to truth, and love for righteousness. He who does not practice wickedness nor in his dealings with his neighbor he neither engages in unjust transactions nor takes interest from them. The fear of the Lord keeps us from evil actions and ensures good character; it encourages those who possess it to perform righteousness as the ultimate sacrifice. | Psalm 15:1-5 (Righteous character) |
| Isaiah 58:6-7 | Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see someone naked, you cover him, And do not hide yourself from your own flesh? | Isaiah 58:6-7 (Actions of righteousness) |
| Matthew 5:19 | Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. | Matthew 5:19 (Obeying commandments) |
| Matthew 7:21 | “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. | Matthew 7:21 (Doing God's will) |
| Romans 2:13 | For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. | Romans 2:13 (Doers of the law) |
| 1 John 3:7 | Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. | 1 John 3:7 (Practicing righteousness) |
| Jeremiah 7:21-23 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat meat. For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is the thing that I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’” | Jeremiah 7:21-23 (Obedience over ritual) |
| Deuteronomy 18:1-5 | The LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. “As for the Levitical priests, the sons of Aaron, from the sons of Merari who are of the tribe of the descendants of Levi, you shall give them all the tribe of Reuben, all of Reuben, and all of Levi, according to their families; and they shall take upon themselves his burden and the burden of the people on the day when they carry the altar, the vessels of the sanctuary, the gallery of the Levites, and the burden of the sons of Ithamar, with the tent of meeting. “And he shall take account of the pieces of meat, that he may offer the portions that are consecrated and the fine flour, for an offering of food, for the sacrifice of the feast of dedication, for a burnt offering to the LORD, for the offerings of peace. He shall consecrate the altar, and he shall consecrate the vessels of the sanctuary, and the altar of burnt offering, and all its utensils, and the laver and its base. He shall consecrate the vessels of the sanctuary, and the altar of burnt offering, and all its utensils, and the laver and its base. And he shall bring them before the tabernacle of meeting, before the burnt offering, and before the altar; and they shall serve him. They shall stand in their place, according to their portions, according to their families, according to the divisions of the most blessed of them, and of the least of them. Thus shall they minister in the house of the LORD, appointed over the responsibilities of the house of our God, the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are appointed in their appointed responsibilities, to carry burdens, and to minister in the tabernacle of meeting. | Deuteronomy 18:1-5 (Priestly duties) |
| Exodus 22:19 | “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. | Exodus 22:19 (Abomination) |
| Leviticus 18:6-20 | "No one of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover nakedness, except Your relatives, like your father's wife's son and daughter: this is unlawful." “You shall not approach a woman during her menstrual uncleanness, to uncover her nakedness. “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, for that is an abomination. "Nor shall you lie with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion. “You shall not defile yourselves with any of these things, for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am driving out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land itself vomits out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, any native-born man or stranger who dwells among you. For the people of the land who were before you committed all these abominations, and the land is therefore defiled. Make sure that the land does not vomit you out as you defile it by hating it, as it hated those before you. “For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. “Therefore, you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them; I am the LORD your God.”" | Leviticus 18:6-20 (Prohibitions) |
| Proverbs 6:29 | "So is everyone who lies with another's wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent." | Proverbs 6:29 (Adultery) |
| Matthew 5:27-28 | “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. | Matthew 5:27-28 (Lust) |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. | 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Unrighteous actions) |
| Revelation 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” | Revelation 21:8 (Wickedness leading to death) |
| Genesis 17:1 | When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. | Genesis 17:1 (Walk before Me) |
| Hebrews 12:14 | Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: | Hebrews 12:14 (Holiness) |
Ezekiel 18 verses
Ezekiel 18 5 Meaning
This verse states that a person who is righteous and practices justice, refraining from eating sacrifices on the mountains or lifting up their eyes to the abominations of the house of Israel, and does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor comes near to a menstruous woman, is truly righteous and shall surely live. It defines a standard of righteousness through specific actions that reflect a sincere devotion to God and ethical behavior towards others.
Ezekiel 18 5 Context
Ezekiel 18 is a crucial chapter addressing the principle of individual responsibility in the Old Testament, countering the common saying that "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." The prophet confronts the people of Judah with a strong assertion that God judges each person according to their own actions, not their ancestors'. Verse 5 introduces the concept of a righteous individual within this framework. It sets the stage for a detailed description of what constitutes righteousness in God's eyes, contrasting it with the wicked actions that lead to divine judgment. Historically, this message came during the Babylonian exile, a period of national catastrophe that the exiles likely attributed to the sins of previous generations. Ezekiel's message, therefore, served to correct this communal blaming and to emphasize personal accountability before God.
Ezekiel 18 5 Word analysis
- "righteous" (tsaddiq - צַדִּיק): Refers to being just, equitable, morally upright, and in right relationship with God.
- "practices" (asah - עָשָׂה): Denotes doing, making, performing. It implies consistent action rather than a singular deed.
- "justice" (mishpat - מִשְׁפָּט): Refers to right, judgment, law, custom. It encompasses what is fair, lawful, and socially just.
- "right" (tsedeq - צֶדֶק): Means righteousness, justice, equity. It signifies a state of being right or in the right, aligned with divine standards.
- "if" (im - אִם): Introduces a conditional statement.
- "man" (ish - אִישׁ): A man, an individual.
- "eats" (akhal - אָכַל): To eat, consume. In the context of sacrifices, it refers to partaking in what is offered.
- "sacrifices" (zebach - זֶבַח): A sacrifice, an offering, often referring to peace offerings where portions were eaten.
- "upon the mountains" (al-harim - עַל־הָרִים): Refers to unauthorized places of worship, often associated with idolatrous practices, contrasting with the prescribed worship at the central sanctuary.
- "lifts up his eyes" (v'etharim aynayim - וְעֹתַרִים עֵינַיִם): Literally, "causes his eyes to ascend." It implies looking towards or desiring the detestable things, participating in or endorsing idolatry.
- "abominations" (shiqquts - שִׁקּוּץ): Detestable things, idols, unclean practices, generally referring to pagan worship and its rituals.
- "house of Israel" (beyth yisrael - בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל): Refers to the entire nation of Israel.
- "defiles" (galal - גָּלַל): To roll, pollute, defile. In this context, it signifies a serious transgression against marital purity.
- "neighbor's wife" (esheth re`athahu - אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ): Literally, "wife of his neighbor." It points to adultery, a violation of marital covenants.
- "comes near unto" (negash el - נָגַשׁ אֶל): To approach, come close to.
- "a menstruous woman" (nidah - נִדָּה): A woman in a state of menstrual impurity. Levitical law prescribed separation during this time, and ritual purity was a significant aspect of worship.
Words Group Analysis:
- "righteous and does what is just and right": This phrase emphasizes both an inner disposition ("righteous") and outward actions ("just and right"). True righteousness is demonstrated through consistent ethical behavior that aligns with divine law and fairness.
- "eating sacrifices upon the mountains": This specifically targets a deviation from proper worship, likely referring to participation in idolatrous feasts or illegitimate sacrifices offered outside the divinely appointed sanctuary, a practice condemned throughout the Law.
- "lifting up his eyes to the abominations of the house of Israel": This captures the internal turning of the heart and mind towards forbidden idolatry and detestable practices associated with pagan worship and even corrupted Israelite worship.
- "defile his neighbor's wife" / "comes near unto a menstruous woman": These describe specific prohibitions against sexual impurity, highlighting violations of covenant fidelity (adultery) and purity laws.
Ezekiel 18 5 Bonus section
This verse establishes a positive depiction of righteousness, which is essential for understanding the "shall surely live" outcome promised in Ezekiel's argument. The description here aligns with the covenant blessings detailed throughout the Torah, where obedience to God's laws resulted in life and prosperity. The rejection of "sacrifices upon the mountains" and "abominations" reflects the monotheistic core of Israelite faith, a direct polemic against the syncretistic and idolatrous practices prevalent in surrounding nations and even among some Israelites. The emphasis on purity, both in worship and in personal conduct, foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on the holiness required for experiencing God's presence and salvation, as seen in Hebrews 12:14. The detailed specifications serve to leave no room for ambiguity regarding what constitutes acceptable living before a holy God.
Ezekiel 18 5 Commentary
Ezekiel 18:5 paints a vivid picture of a truly righteous person, not merely in profession but in practiced life. The righteous individual here embodies God's standard for ethical living and pure worship. The verse explicitly contrasts correct worship practices with corrupt ones. Eating sacrifices "upon the mountains" likely alludes to engaging in illicit cultic meals outside the divinely appointed sanctuary at Jerusalem, often associated with Canaanite fertility rites or other pagan idolatry. Similarly, "lifting up his eyes to the abominations" signifies a corrupted inner devotion, where the heart is drawn to idolatrous symbols and practices. This highlights that righteousness includes a right orientation of worship and a rejection of false gods and their rituals.
Furthermore, the verse underscores relational righteousness by prohibiting adultery ("defiles his neighbor's wife") and touching a woman in ritual impurity ("comes near unto a menstruous woman"). The prohibition regarding a menstruous woman refers to the Levitical purity laws (Leviticus 15:19-24), emphasizing a respect for divinely instituted boundaries of purity and separation, reflecting a broader commitment to living in accordance with God's holy commands. Together, these actions paint a picture of someone who reveres God's appointed worship, avoids idolatry in thought and deed, and upholds ethical and purity standards in their personal life and relationships. This detailed definition of righteousness prepares the ground for understanding that personal actions are the basis of individual accountability before God.