Ezekiel 33:10 kjv
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
Ezekiel 33:10 nkjv
"Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'Thus you say, "If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?" '
Ezekiel 33:10 niv
"Son of man, say to the Israelites, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"?'
Ezekiel 33:10 esv
"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: 'Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?'
Ezekiel 33:10 nlt
"Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, 'Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?'
Ezekiel 33 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 18:32 | For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! | God's desire for repentance |
| 2 Peter 3:9 | The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some people understand slowness. Instead he is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. | God's patience and repentance |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins can be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord | Call to repentance and forgiveness |
| Luke 15:7 | I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. | Joy in repentance |
| Jeremiah 3:13 | “Return, faithless Israel,” declares the Lord, “I will not look on you with favor; because I am merciful, declares the Lord, I will not be angry forever. | God's call to return |
| Isaiah 55:7 | Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. | God's forgiveness upon turning |
| Lamentations 3:33 | For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. | God's reluctance in suffering |
| Psalm 37:7 | Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their wicked ways, when they carry out their evil plans. | Waiting and God's justice |
| John 14:6 | Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. | Way to God |
| Romans 5:10 | For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! | Reconciliation through Christ |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. | Confession and forgiveness |
| Matthew 11:28 | “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. | Invitation to rest |
| Ezekiel 33:11 | Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they may turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why would you die, people of Israel?’ | Direct reiteration of God's desire |
| Amos 5:14-15 | Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Then perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. | Seeking good, hating evil |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. | God provides a way out of sin |
| Acts 17:30 | In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. | Universal command to repent |
| Colossians 1:13 | For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. | Rescue from darkness |
| Revelation 2:5 | Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. | Warning to repent and return to first works |
| Ezekiel 18:23 | Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, do I not desire their turning from their ways and so that they may live? | God's desire for their turning |
| 2 Kings 14:27 | The Lord had not yet decided to destroy Jerusalem, for he said he would remove Israel from his presence. | God's intention not to destroy absolutely |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 10 Meaning
The people of Israel are directly addressed by Ezekiel, their contemporary prophet. They have declared their guilt and suffering, believing God's judgment against them to be unfair or excessive. Ezekiel is tasked with responding to their plea, conveying God's message of reconciliation and restoration. This verse reveals God's desire for His people to acknowledge their sins and turn to Him for forgiveness. The people are meant to realize that their present suffering is a consequence of their own disobedience.
Ezekiel 33 10 Context
Ezekiel chapter 33 is delivered during the Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem has fallen and the people of Judah are captive. Many exiles were feeling discouraged and were questioning God's justice and their own faithfulness, believing their suffering was unjust. They saw themselves as innocent sufferers. This verse comes after Ezekiel has presented himself as a watchman for Israel in chapter 33:1-9, emphasizing his duty to warn the wicked and his accountability to God. Now, he addresses the people directly regarding their own professions of guilt and their assertion that God's actions are unfair. The prophetic message here is intended to correct their misunderstanding of their own sinfulness and God's righteous judgment, offering them a path to reconciliation.
Ezekiel 33 10 Word Analysis
- "And say to them": (v.a'tam'mĕru lahem) The imperative form, "say," highlights Ezekiel's role as a divine messenger. "Tam" means to speak, and "lahem" is the plural pronoun "to them," referring to the people of Israel.
- "As I live": (chay ani) A strong oath affirming the certainty of God's declaration, often used by God to emphasize truth and his existence. It signifies His absolute immutability and reality.
- "The Sovereign Lord": (Adonai yhwh) The dual title of God, "Adonai" (Lord, Master) and "YHWH" (the covenantal name of God), underscores His supreme authority and His covenant faithfulness, even in judgment.
- "I take no pleasure": (lo chephets) "Lo" signifies negation, "chephets" refers to delight, desire, or will. It emphasizes that God's will is not the destruction of the wicked; it is contrary to His nature.
- "in the death of the wicked": (bemot rasha') "Bemot" is the construct form of "mavet" (death), indicating the state of death or the process of dying. "Rasha'" means wicked, unjust, or guilty. It refers to those actively living in opposition to God's ways.
- "but rather": (ki im) A contrasting conjunction, "but rather" or "only" introducing the alternative, God's true desire.
- "that the wicked turn": (yeshubu hara') "Yeshubu" is from the root "shuv" (to turn, return, repent), emphasizing a complete change of direction. "Hara'" is the masculine plural form meaning "wickedness" or "evil," signifying their return from evil deeds.
- "from his ways": (mid'rachav) "Mid'rachav" signifies pathways or ways of life, referring to their habitual actions and lifestyle choices.
- "and live": (vachay) The conjunctive "vav" connects "turn" and "live," showing that repentance is the means to life. "Vachay" means "and he shall live," denoting the continuation or restoration of life.
Group Analysis:The phrase "As I live, the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his ways and live" presents a core theological assertion about God's character and purpose. It links His essential being ("As I live") to His attitude towards human actions ("no pleasure in death"). The pivot "but rather" clearly articulates His true desire, which is active repentance ("turn from his ways") leading to the positive outcome of life ("and live"). This is not a passive hope, but a divine imperative linked to a promise of continued existence, both temporally and eternally.
Ezekiel 33 10 Bonus Section
This verse strongly echoes themes found throughout scripture. God’s desire for the repentance and life of His people is a recurring motif, demonstrating His merciful nature. The oath "As I live" elevates the truth of this statement to an unbreakable divine promise. It’s crucial to understand "death" here not just as physical cessation, but as spiritual separation from God, and "life" as restored fellowship and eternal existence. This chapter, particularly this verse and the following one, underscores the prophet's vital role as a conduit of God’s will and warning. Ezekiel is not only relaying God’s desire but also reiterating the severity of continued disobedience.
Ezekiel 33 10 Commentary
God’s heart is for life, not for the finality of death brought about by sin. When the people of Israel lament their fate and question God's fairness, God's message through Ezekiel clarifies that their current suffering is a consequence of their unrighteous living, not God's capriciousness. God doesn't delight in the demise of those who have turned away from Him. Instead, His profound desire is for them to acknowledge their errors, turn away from sinful practices, and embrace a life that is in harmony with His will. This turning is not merely a change of mind but a change of behavior and direction. Life is the promised outcome of such genuine repentance.
Practical Application:
- When facing difficulties, examine your actions: Are your current troubles a consequence of straying from God’s path?
- Embrace repentance: Understand that turning back to God involves more than just regret; it requires actively changing your ways.
- Focus on God’s desire for your well-being: Trust that God wants you to live abundantly, not to suffer unnecessarily due to sin.