Ezekiel 33:11 kjv
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11 nkjv
Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'
Ezekiel 33:11 niv
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 turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'
Ezekiel 33:11 esv
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11 nlt
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
Ezekiel 33 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 33:11 | "Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." | Direct statement of God's desire for life |
| Ezek 18:23 | "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, that he should turn from his ways and live?" | Echoes the same sentiment, emphasizing life. |
| Ezek 18:32 | "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live." | Reiteration of the call to turn and live. |
| Prov 1:23 | "Turn back at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you." | God's invitation to turn with a promise. |
| Prov 8:36 | "but he who fails to find meInjures himself; all who hate me love death." | Contrasts those who seek wisdom with those who love death. |
| Isa 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." | Emphasizes God's abundant pardon upon repentance. |
| Hos 11:8 | "How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender." | Shows God's deep paternal affection and reluctance to give up His people. |
| Luke 15:7 | "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." | Jesus emphasizes the joy in heaven over a repenting sinner. |
| Luke 19:10 | "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." | Christ's mission statement, aligning with God's desire for the lost to live. |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | The ultimate expression of God's love, offering life through belief. |
| Acts 17:30 | "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent," | God's command to repent, universally applied. |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." | Underscores God's patience and desire for all to repent. |
| 1 Tim 2:4 | "who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." | God's universal salvific will. |
| 1 John 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | The assurance of forgiveness upon confession. |
| Psalm 103:8 | "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." | Describes God's merciful nature. |
| Psalm 145:9 | "The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all that he has made." | God's universal compassion. |
| Rom 5:8 | "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | Demonstrates God's love in action, offering salvation even to sinners. |
| Rom 11:32 | "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all." | God's plan to show mercy to all. |
| Rev 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." | A strong exhortation to repent with a warning of consequence. |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 11 Meaning
The Lord declares that He does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather desires that they turn from their wicked ways and live. This is a message of hope and a call to repentance.
Ezekiel 33 11 Context
Ezekiel chapter 33 presents Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel. He has been commissioned to warn the people about the consequences of their sin and to call them to repentance. This particular verse comes in the midst of God's strong rebuke of the unfaithfulness of the shepherds (leaders) of Israel who have neglected their duty to care for the flock. The surrounding verses (33:1-20) emphasize that God holds leaders accountable for not warning the people and the people accountable for their own response to warnings. Verse 11 stands as a divine declaration that frames God's judgment and His redemptive intention. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period when Jerusalem had fallen and the remnant of Judah was in despair. They might have questioned God's justice and faithfulness. This verse, therefore, serves to reassure them that God's ultimate desire is for their well-being and life, not their destruction.
Ezekiel 33 11 Word Analysis
- "Say": (Hebrew: amar) - A common verb meaning "to say," "to speak," or "to tell." Here, it signifies a direct command from God to Ezekiel.
- "to them": Refers to the people of Israel.
- "As I live": (Hebrew: chai-ani) - A strong oath-swearing formula in the Old Testament, indicating absolute truth and certainty, referencing God's own eternal existence. This elevates the significance of the following statement.
- "declares": (Hebrew: ne'um YHWH Elohim) - "Thus says the Lord GOD." This is a common prophetic formula, emphasizing the divine origin of the message.
- "the Lord God": (Hebrew: Adonai Yahweh) - A combination of titles highlighting both God's sovereignty (Adonai) and His covenant name (Yahweh).
- "I have no pleasure": (Hebrew: ein li cheftz) - Expresses God's lack of desire or delight. It conveys that death, particularly the spiritual and eternal death of a sinner, is not God's intended outcome.
- "in the death": (Hebrew: bamot) - Refers to death in various forms, but here contextually signifies spiritual separation from God and its ultimate consequences.
- "of the wicked": (Hebrew: ha-rasha) - Describes those who persistently practice evil, injustice, and rebellion against God.
- "but": (Hebrew: ki im) - Introduces a contrasting preference, highlighting what God does desire.
- "that the wicked turn": (Hebrew: yashuv) - The Hebrew word for "turn" is a core concept of repentance (Hebrew: teshuvah). It signifies a turning from sin and a turning back to God.
- "from his way": Indicates a directional change, away from a path of sin and towards God's path.
- "and live": (Hebrew: ve-chai) - Not merely physical existence, but spiritual vitality and eternal life in fellowship with God.
Group by words-group analysis:
- "As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked": This powerful declaration establishes the fundamental nature of God: He is not a capricious or bloodthirsty deity who relishes destruction. His essence is life, and His actions stem from a desire for the flourishing of His creation, especially humanity. The oath “As I live” emphasizes that this statement is as fundamental to His being as His eternal existence.
- "but that the wicked turn from his way and live": This clause presents the alternative, and indeed the desired outcome. It is not simply an absence of pleasure in death, but an active desire for repentance and life. The repetition of "turn and live" (as seen in v. 11, echoing v. 4 and 18:23, 32) underlines this emphasis throughout Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 33 11 Bonus Section
This verse aligns with the broader theme in the Old Testament of God's covenantal faithfulness, where His judgments are often seen as a corrective measure to bring His people back into right relationship with Him. The Hebrew word teshuvah (repentance), which is strongly implied by "turn from his way," encompasses a turning from actions, attitudes, and ultimately, from a life focused on self rather than on God. This concept is powerfully demonstrated in the New Testament through Jesus' ministry and teachings, particularly the parables of seeking the lost (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son), all of which illustrate God's joy over the repentant sinner. The Apostle Paul further expands on this theme, stating that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4), reflecting the very essence of Ezekiel's declaration. The patience of God mentioned in 2 Peter 3:9 directly echoes this sentiment, indicating that God's delay in judgment is due to His gracious longing for all to repent.
Ezekiel 33 11 Commentary
This verse is foundational to understanding God's heart towards humanity, particularly towards those living in sin. It dispels any notion that God desires destruction for its own sake. Instead, His sovereign will includes the repentance and salvation of all. His judgments, while severe, are intended to bring about such a change. The statement underscores the gravity of sin by highlighting the consequence—death—but immediately offers a way out through repentance and turning back to God. This desire for life and repentance is not a passive wish but an active engagement of God with humanity through His Word, prophets, and ultimately Christ. The concept of God finding "pleasure" or "delight" in certain outcomes is anthropomorphic language to convey His deep disposition and will. His joy is found not in finality of sin leading to ruin, but in life, transformation, and reconciliation.
- Practical Application: When facing personal sin or the sin of others, remember that God's ultimate desire is for life and reconciliation. This should motivate intercession and speaking truth in love, rather than despair.
- Reflection: Consider times when God's patience has been evident in your own life or the lives of those around you. This verse reminds us that such patience is rooted in His unwillingness for anyone to perish.