Ezekiel 7 13

Ezekiel 7:13 kjv

For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

Ezekiel 7:13 nkjv

For the seller shall not return to what has been sold, Though he may still be alive; For the vision concerns the whole multitude, And it shall not turn back; No one will strengthen himself Who lives in iniquity.

Ezekiel 7:13 niv

The seller will not recover the property that was sold? as long as both buyer and seller live. For the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed. Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life.

Ezekiel 7:13 esv

For the seller shall not return to what he has sold, while they live. For the vision concerns all their multitude; it shall not turn back; and because of his iniquity, none can maintain his life.

Ezekiel 7:13 nlt

Even if the merchants survive,
they will never return to their business.
For what God has said applies to everyone ?
it will not be changed!
Not one person whose life is twisted by sin
will ever recover.

Ezekiel 7 verses

Ezekiel 7 13 meaning

Ezekiel 7:13 announces the absolute finality of God's impending judgment upon Israel. It declares that the seller of property will permanently lose claim to it, even if they survive past the period when such a return might traditionally occur (like the Jubilee year). This profound decree stems from an unchangeable divine "vision" of judgment against the entire population. The verse underscores that no individual will find strength, security, or escape from this calamity through their iniquity or worldly cunning; rather, their very sinfulness leads to their ultimate downfall and prevents any restoration.

Ezekiel 7 13 Context

Ezekiel chapter 7 presents a stark and urgent pronouncement of the imminent, pervasive, and final judgment on the land of Israel. It shifts from general lamentation to concrete predictions of utter desolation, focusing on the swift arrival of "the end." The chapter depicts a society in total collapse—religious, social, economic, and political—where every aspect of life is consumed by God's wrath. This verse (7:13) specifically targets the economic security and covenant provisions, such as the Jubilee law (Lev 25), that the Israelites might have relied upon. By declaring the permanent loss of property, even for survivors, it signifies the exceptional nature of this judgment, superseding established legal and social norms due to the profound and persistent iniquity of the people. The impending Babylonian invasion, destruction of Jerusalem, and exile form the immediate historical backdrop, but the prophecy uses language of an ultimate divine reckoning.

Ezekiel 7 13 Word analysis

• For the seller (כִּי־מוֹכֵר - kî moḵēr): Moḵēr refers to someone who has sold ancestral land. This action, often born of necessity, traditionally carried a right of redemption or return in the Jubilee. The "seller" here represents any individual affected by these economic shifts and holding an expectation of future restoration.
• shall not return (לֹא יָשׁוּב - lo yāshûv): A forceful negative. Yāshûv means "to turn, return, restore." Here, it signifies the permanent cessation of rights; no restoration of the sold property will occur. This explicitly negates the core promise of the Jubilee law for property restitution.
• to that which is sold (עַל־הַמִּמְכָּר - ʿal-hammiḵmār): Literally "on/concerning the sold item." This refers to the specific property or land that was alienated. Land was central to Israelite covenant identity and survival.
• though they were still alive (וְעֹדָם בַּחַיִּים - wəʿôḏām baḥayyîm): This crucial phrase emphasizes that even the original owner's survival (which would, by Jubilee law, typically ensure eventual repossession of land for the family at the fifty-year mark) will not change the outcome. Their mere existence in the land cannot save their property from permanent loss.
• for the vision (כִּי־הֶחָזוֹן - kî heḥāzôn): Ḥāzôn denotes a divine revelation, a prophetic sight or oracle. It authenticates the judgment as divinely sourced, serious, and utterly reliable, not merely human prediction.
• concerning the whole multitude (אֶל־כָּל־הֲמוֹנָהּ - ʾel-kol-hămôṇāh): Refers to the entire collective population and their possessions or abundant wealth. The judgment is comprehensive, affecting everyone and everything within the nation. It highlights the widespread nature of the iniquity that necessitated such universal judgment.
• shall not be recalled (לֹא יָשׁוּב - lo yāshûv): Another use of yāshûv, meaning the divine "vision" or decree will not turn back or be revoked. It emphasizes the irrevocability of the judgment, stressing its divine, fixed, and unalterable nature.
• nor shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life (וְאִישׁ בַּעֲוֹנוֹ לֹא יִתְחַזֵּק חַיָּתוֹ - wəʾîš baʿăwōnwō lōʾ yitḥazzēq ḥayyātô): This phrase has nuances. ʿĀwōn means iniquity, guilt, or the punishment for it. Yitḥazzēq from ḥāzaq means "to strengthen oneself, be firm."
  • "strengthen himself": Indicates any attempt by individuals to maintain, preserve, or assert their life/survival, possibly through shrewdness, power, or even relying on accumulated wealth derived from their sins.
  • "in the iniquity of his life": This links the individual's sinful conduct directly to their inability to endure or escape. Their very wickedness, which they might think secures them, actually becomes the instrument of their downfall. It conveys that their unrepented sin offers no means of self-preservation or avoiding divine wrath; it actively makes them vulnerable to it.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, though they were still alive": This powerfully undermines any hope rooted in Israel's foundational laws. The Jubilee (return of land in the 50th year) was a cornerstone of God's provision for justice and perpetual family inheritance (Lev 25:10, 13). This judgment signifies such extreme national sin that even these divine safeguards are nullified, illustrating a comprehensive economic and social collapse.
  • "for the vision concerning the whole multitude shall not be recalled": This emphasizes the divine origin, comprehensive scope, and absolute certainty of the judgment. It's not a mere political setback but a direct, unalterable act of God affecting every person in the land. This contrasts sharply with false prophecies offering comfort (Ezek 13).
  • "nor shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life": This refutes any notion that individual cunning, wealth acquired by injustice, or sinful strategies can provide a means of survival or protection. Sin, which people often trust for security or advantage, becomes the very element that guarantees their downfall and utter inability to preserve life or position.

Ezekiel 7 13 Bonus section

This verse carries significant polemical force against the prevalent belief among the people that their legal structures (like the Jubilee) or the perceived unbreakability of the covenant meant they could always revert to a prior state of blessing, regardless of their sin. It functions as a severe warning, communicated through Ezekiel in exile, shattering false securities that perhaps the temple would stand, or that the land would eventually be recovered. Instead, the prophecy insists that their spiritual bankruptcy has brought an economic and social finality previously unimaginable within their covenant framework. The radical nature of this judgment prepares the way for the necessity of a new covenant (Ezek 36) where restoration is entirely by God's grace, not by human action or prior legal tradition. The emphasis on "whole multitude" underscores corporate responsibility while "any strengthen himself" addresses individual delusion regarding escape from divine accountability.

Ezekiel 7 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 7:13 delivers an unwavering statement of divine judgment's irreversibility and comprehensive scope. It dismantles Israel's conventional hopes for economic recovery or personal resilience, signaling an unprecedented period of destruction. The suspension of the Jubilee law underscores that their covenant violations have become so extreme that even fundamental provisions of divine grace are momentarily withdrawn, not due to God's changeableness, but due to human persistence in iniquity. The "vision" being irreversible highlights God's resolve and prophetic certainty, leaving no room for negotiation or escape. Critically, it dismisses the misguided belief that individual wealth, status, or self-reliant actions—especially those tainted by sin—could offer a bulwark against the universal wrath to come. This verse prefaces the complete socio-economic unraveling that judgment would bring, showcasing the futility of trusting in anything other than the Lord for true security and life.