Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

◄ Ezekiel 18:21 ►

New International Version
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.

New Living Translation
But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.

English Standard Version
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Berean Standard Bible
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

King James Bible
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

New King James Version
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

New American Standard Bible
“But if the wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.

NASB 1995
“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

NASB 1977
“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Amplified Bible
“But if the wicked man turns [away] from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.

Christian Standard Bible
“But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.

American Standard Version
But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Contemporary English Version
Suppose wicked people stop sinning and start obeying my laws and doing right. They won't be put to death.

English Revised Version
But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die.

Good News Translation
"If someone evil stops sinning and keeps my laws, if he does what is right and good, he will not die; he will certainly live.

International Standard Version
But if the wicked person turns from all his sins, which he did and keeps my statutes, then he'll live. He won't die.

Majority Standard Bible
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

NET Bible
"But if the wicked person turns from all the sin he has committed and observes all my statutes and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

New Heart English Bible
"But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

World English Bible
“But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the wicked—when he turns back "" From all his sins that he has done, "" And he has kept all My statutes, "" And has done judgment and righteousness, "" He surely lives, he does not die.

Young's Literal Translation
And the wicked -- when he turneth back From all his sins that he hath done, And he hath kept all My statutes, And hath done judgment and righteousness, He doth surely live, he doth not die.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if the unjust one shall turn back from all his sins which he did, and he watched all my laws and did judgment and justice; living, he shall live; he shall not die.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if the impious man does penance for all his sins which he has committed, and if he keeps all my precepts, and accomplishes judgment and justice, then he shall certainly live, and he shall not die.

New American Bible
But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die!

New Revised Standard Version
But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins which he has committed, and keep all my commandments, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But if the evil one shall return from all his sins that he has done, and he will keep my commands, and he will do judgment and righteousness, he shall surely live and he shall not die

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if the transgressor turn away from all his iniquities which he has committed, and keep all my commandments, and do justice and mercy, he shall surely live, and shall no means die.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Soul who Sins will Die
…20The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. 21But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Jeremiah 18:7-8
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

Luke 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

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.

Matthew 3:8
Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Treasury of Scripture

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

if the

Ezekiel 18:27,28,30
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive…

Ezekiel 33:11-16,19
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? …

2 Chronicles 33:12,13
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, …

and keep

Ezekiel 18:9
Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Genesis 26:5
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

and do

Psalm 119:1
ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, …

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, …

he shall surely

Ezekiel 18:17,28
That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live…

Ezekiel 3:21
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

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Ezekiel 18

1. God defends his justice
31. and exhorts to repentance

Berean Study Bible

But if the wicked man turns
The Hebrew word for "turns" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to return or repent. This concept of turning is central to the biblical theme of repentance. It implies a complete change of direction, a conscious decision to abandon sinful ways and return to God. In the historical context of Israel, this call to repentance was a recurring theme as the prophets urged the people to return to the covenantal relationship with Yahweh. The emphasis here is on the possibility of redemption and transformation, highlighting God's mercy and willingness to forgive those who genuinely repent.

from all the sins he has committed
The phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of repentance. It is not selective but involves turning away from "all" sins. The Hebrew word for "sins" is "חַטָּאָה" (chatta'ah), which refers to offenses against God's law. This reflects the biblical understanding that sin is a serious breach of divine law, requiring sincere repentance. Historically, Israel's repeated failure to uphold the law led to exile, but God's promise of restoration was always contingent upon genuine repentance.

keeps all My statutes
The word "keeps" is derived from the Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard, observe, or give heed. This implies a diligent and careful adherence to God's commandments. The term "statutes" refers to "חֻקָּה" (chuqqah), which are decrees or laws given by God. In the scriptural context, keeping God's statutes is a demonstration of faithfulness and obedience, essential for maintaining a covenant relationship with Him. This reflects the conservative Christian view that obedience to God's word is a vital aspect of a believer's life.

and does what is just and right
The Hebrew words for "just" and "right" are "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat) and "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), respectively. "Mishpat" refers to justice or judgment, while "tsedaqah" denotes righteousness or moral integrity. Together, they encapsulate the ethical and moral standards expected of God's people. In the historical context, these terms were often used by the prophets to call Israel back to social justice and personal righteousness. This aligns with the conservative Christian emphasis on living a life that reflects God's character and upholds His standards.

he will surely live; he will not die
The assurance "he will surely live" is a promise of life, both physically and spiritually. The Hebrew phrase "חָיֹה יִחְיֶה" (chayah yichyeh) emphasizes certainty and assurance. In contrast, "he will not die" underscores the avoidance of spiritual death, which is separation from God. This promise reflects the biblical principle that repentance and obedience lead to life, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. From a conservative Christian perspective, this verse highlights the hope and assurance of eternal life for those who turn to God in repentance and faith.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) If the wicked will turn.--The prophet now takes up the fourth and last case--that of a change in the individual character. This has necessarily two sub-divisions: (1) that of the wicked repenting and doing righteousness (Ezekiel 18:21-23, and Ezekiel 18:27-28), and (2) that of the righteous falling into wickedness, (Ezekiel 18:24-26), which latter case is more briefly treated, because the object is to encourage hope in repentance. This case, in both its parts, is first treated in Ezekiel 18:21-24, and then, for the sake of emphasis, repeated in reverse order in Ezekiel 18:26-28.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 21, 22. - But if the wicked will turn, etc. Here, however, there is a distinct advance. The question is carried further into the relations between the past and the present of the same man, between his old and his new self. And in answering that question also Ezekiel becomes the preacher of a gospel. The judgment of God deals with each man according to his present state, not his past. Repentance and conversion and obedience shall cancel, as it were, the very memory of his former sins (Ezekiel's language is necessarily that of a hold anthropopathy), and his transgressions shall not be mentioned unto him (comp. Ezekiel 33:16; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 64:9; Jeremiah 31:34). Assuming the later date of Isaiah 40-66, the last three utterances have the interest of being those of nearly contemporary prophets to whom the same truth had been revealed.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But if
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the wicked man
וְהָרָשָׁ֗ע (wə·hā·rā·šā‘)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

turns
יָשׁוּב֙ (yā·šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

from all
מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the sins
חַטֹּאתָיו֙ (ḥaṭ·ṭō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

he has committed,
עָשָׂ֔ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

keeps
וְשָׁמַר֙ (wə·šā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

My statutes,
חֻקּוֹתַ֔י (ḥu·qō·w·ṯay)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

and does
וְעָשָׂ֥ה (wə·‘ā·śāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

what is just
מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

and right,
וּצְדָקָ֑ה (ū·ṣə·ḏā·qāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

he will surely live;
חָיֹ֥ה (ḥā·yōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

he will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die.
יָמֽוּת׃ (yā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked turn from all (Ezek. Eze Ezk)