Ezekiel 14:20
New International Version
as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.

New Living Translation
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their righteousness.

English Standard Version
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

King James Bible
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

New King James Version
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

New American Standard Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.”

NASB 1995
even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

NASB 1977
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

Legacy Standard Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

Amplified Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they could not save either their son or their daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness [that is, their right-standing with God—their moral and spiritual integrity].”

Christian Standard Bible
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord GOD—“they could not rescue their son or daughter. They would rescue only themselves by their righteousness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live"—the declaration of the Lord GOD—"they could not deliver their son or daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

American Standard Version
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Contemporary English Version
Again, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were living there, I, the LORD, promise that the children of these faithful men would also die. Only the three of them would be spared.

English Revised Version
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

Good News Translation
even if Noah, Danel, and Job lived there--as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God--they would not be able to save even their own children. Their goodness would save only their own lives."

International Standard Version
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were among them, as I live" says the Lord GOD, "they couldn't save their own sons or daughters. They would only save their own souls due to their own righteousness."

Majority Standard Bible
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

NET Bible
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own son or daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.

New Heart English Bible
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they could not save either son nor daughter; they would save only their own souls by their righteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall deliver their own souls only by their righteousness.

World English Bible
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and [despite] Noah, Daniel, and Job, in its midst—[as] I live,” a declaration of Lord YHWH, “they deliver neither son nor daughter; they, by their righteousness, [only] deliver their own soul.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Noah, Daniel, and Job, in its midst: I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah -- neither son nor daughter do they deliver; they, by their righteousness, deliver their own soul.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Noah, Daniel, and Job, in its midst, I live, says the Lord Jehovah, if son if daughter they shall deliver; they by their justice shall deliver their soul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Noe, and Daniel, and Job be in the midst thereof: as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter: but they shall only deliver their own souls by their justice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and if Noah, and Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live, says the Lord God, they will deliver neither son, nor daughter, but they will deliver only their own souls by their justice.

New American Bible
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live—oracle of the Lord GOD—they could save neither son nor daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness.

New Revised Standard Version
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would save neither son nor daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, says the LORD God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; but they would only deliver themselves by their righteousness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Noah and Daniel and Job are within it, I am living, says THE LORD OF LORDS, that they shall save neither sons nor daughters, but those three in their righteousness would save themselves
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and should Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, there shall be left them neither sons nor daughters; only they by their righteousness shall deliver their souls.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Irrevocable Sentence
19Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast, 20then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves. 21For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?…

Cross References
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Genesis 6:9
This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.

Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

Daniel 9:23
At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

2 Peter 2:5
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

Genesis 18:23-32
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? / What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? / Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” ...

Jeremiah 15:1
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!

Romans 3:10
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Genesis 19:29
So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Luke 17:26-30
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. / It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ...

Genesis 19:16
But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.


Treasury of Scripture

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, said the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Noah.

Ezekiel 14:14,16
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD…

Daniel.

Daniel 1:1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 Kings 23:36
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

2 Kings 8:1
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

by

Ezekiel 18:20,22
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him…

Job 5:19-24
He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee…

Psalm 33:18,19
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; …

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Affirmation Daniel Daughter Declares Deliver Either Job Live Midst Noah Righteousness Safe Soul Souls Sovereign Surely Themselves
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Affirmation Daniel Daughter Declares Deliver Either Job Live Midst Noah Righteousness Safe Soul Souls Sovereign Surely Themselves
Ezekiel 14
1. God answers idolaters according to their own heart
6. They are exhorted to repent, for fear of judgments, by means of seduced prophets
12. God's irrevocable sentence of famine
15. of wild beasts
17. of the sword
19. and of pestilence
22. A remnant shall be reserved for example of others














as surely as I live
This phrase is a solemn oath, underscoring the certainty and seriousness of God's declaration. In Hebrew, "חי אני" (chai ani) is a divine affirmation of God's eternal existence and unchanging nature. It emphasizes the truth and reliability of His words, reminding us that God's promises and judgments are as certain as His own existence.

declares the Lord GOD
The Hebrew term "נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה" (ne'um Adonai YHWH) is a formal proclamation from God, highlighting His supreme authority. This phrase assures us that the message is not from a human prophet but directly from the sovereign Creator, reinforcing the weight and divine origin of the prophecy.

even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it
These three men are exemplars of righteousness and faithfulness in the Hebrew Scriptures. Noah, known for his obedience and faith during the flood (Genesis 6-9), Daniel for his unwavering devotion in Babylon (Daniel 1-6), and Job for his perseverance through suffering (Job 1-42). Their mention signifies the highest standard of righteousness, yet even their presence would not avert judgment, illustrating the severity of the situation.

they could deliver neither son nor daughter
This phrase emphasizes personal responsibility and the limits of intercessory righteousness. In the context of ancient Israel, family and community were central, and the idea that even the most righteous individuals could not save their own children underscores the inescapability of divine judgment. It serves as a sobering reminder that each person is accountable for their own relationship with God.

Their righteousness could deliver only themselves
The Hebrew word for righteousness, "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), refers to a life lived in accordance with God's standards. This statement highlights the personal nature of salvation and righteousness. It reflects the biblical principle that while the righteous can influence and intercede, ultimately, each individual must stand before God on their own merit. This calls believers to personal holiness and a direct relationship with God, rather than relying on the righteousness of others.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
then as surely
אָ֗נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

as I live,
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

declares
נְאֻם֙ (nə·’um)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD,
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

even if Noah,
וְנֹ֨חַ (wə·nō·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5146: Noah -- 'rest', patriarch who survived the flood

Daniel,
דָּנִיֵּ֣אל‪‬ (dā·nî·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1840: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', the name of several Israelites

and Job
וְאִיּוֹב֮ (wə·’î·yō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347: Job -- a patriarch

were in it,
בְּתוֹכָהּ֒ (bə·ṯō·w·ḵāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

they could deliver
יַצִּ֑ילוּ (yaṣ·ṣî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

neither
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

son
בֵּ֥ן (bên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

nor
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

daughter.
בַּ֖ת (baṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

Their righteousness
בְצִדְקָתָ֖ם (ḇə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

could save
יַצִּ֥ילוּ (yaṣ·ṣî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

only themselves.
נַפְשָֽׁם׃ (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah Daniel and Job were (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 14:19
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