Ezekiel 18:24
New International Version
“But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.

New Living Translation
However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

English Standard Version
But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

Berean Standard Bible
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

King James Bible
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

New King James Version
“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

New American Standard Bible
“But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

NASB 1995
“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

NASB 1977
“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his unfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

Amplified Bible
“But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin and acts in accordance with all the repulsive things that the wicked man does, will he live? All of his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered because of the treachery that he has committed and for his sin which he has committed; for them he shall die.

Christian Standard Bible
But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.”

American Standard Version
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Contemporary English Version
But when good people start sinning and doing disgusting things, will they live? No! All their good deeds will be forgotten, and they will be put to death because of their sins.

English Revised Version
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But suppose a righteous person turns away from doing right and he does evil things. He does all the disgusting things that the wicked person did. Will he live? All the right things that he has done will not be remembered because of his unfaithfulness and because of his sin. He will die because of them.

Good News Translation
"But if a righteous person stops doing good and starts doing all the evil, disgusting things that evil people do, will he go on living? No! None of the good he did will be remembered. He will die because of his unfaithfulness and his sins.

International Standard Version
But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he won't live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. He'll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed."

Majority Standard Bible
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

NET Bible
"But if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing according to all the abominable practices the wicked carry out, will he live? All his righteous acts will not be remembered; because of the unfaithful acts he has done and the sin he has committed, he will die.

New Heart English Bible
But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

Webster's Bible Translation
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

World English Bible
“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And in the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, "" And he has done perversity, "" According to all the abominations "" That the wicked has done, "" Does he then live? All his righteous deeds that he has done are not remembered, "" For his trespass that he has trespassed, "" And for his sin that he has sinned, "" For them he dies.

Young's Literal Translation
And in the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, And he hath done perversity, According to all the abominations That the wicked hath done, he doth -- thus he liveth, All his righteousnesses that he hath done are not remembered, For his trespass that he hath trespassed, And for his sin that he hath sinned, For them he doth die.

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the just turning back from his justice, and doing iniquity according to all the abominations which the unjust one did, will he do and live? all his justices which he did shall not be remembered: in his transgression which he transgressed and in his sins which he sinned, in them he shall die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he shall die.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if a just man turns himself away from his justice, and does iniquity in accord with all the abominations that the impious man so often does, why should he live? All his justices, which he has accomplished, shall not be remembered. By the transgression, in which he has transgressed, and by his sin, in which he has sinned, by these he shall die.

New American Bible
And if the just turn from justice and do evil, like all the abominations the wicked do, can they do this evil and still live? None of the justice they did shall be remembered, because they acted treacherously and committed these sins; because of this, they shall die.

New Revised Standard Version
But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and abominations like those that the sinner has done, all the righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered to him, but in the iniquity which he has committed and in the sins that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the righteous will turn from his righteousness and he will do evil and abomination as these that the sinner did, all his righteousness that he did shall not be remembered for him, but in the evil that he did and in the sin that he sinned, in them he shall die
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered; for his trespass that he trespassed, and for his sin that he hath sinned, for them shall he die.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, according to all the transgressions which the transgressor has wrought, none of his righteousness which he has wrought shall be at all remembered: in his trespass wherein he has trespassed, and in his sins wherein he has sinned, in them shall he die.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Soul who Sins will Die
23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live? 24But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die. 25Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?…

Cross References
Hebrews 10:26-27
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, / but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.

2 Peter 2:20-22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Matthew 12:43-45
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. / Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. / Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

Galatians 5:4
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

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.

Luke 11:24-26
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ / On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. / Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”

Romans 11:22
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Revelation 2:5
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.

Matthew 24:13
But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Timothy 1:19
holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.

2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;


Treasury of Scripture

But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

when

Ezekiel 18:26
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Ezekiel 3:20,21
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand…

Ezekiel 33:12,13,18
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth…

and doeth

Ezekiel 18:10-13
If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, …

Matthew 12:43-45
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none…

Romans 1:28-31
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; …

All his

Ezekiel 18:22
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Galatians 3:4
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

in his

Ezekiel 18:18
As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Proverbs 14:32
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

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Ezekiel 18
1. God defends his justice
31. and exhorts to repentance














But if a righteous man
The phrase "righteous man" in Hebrew is "צַדִּיק" (tzaddik), which refers to someone who is just, lawful, and morally upright according to God's standards. In the context of ancient Israel, righteousness was not merely a legalistic adherence to the law but a relational fidelity to God. This sets the stage for understanding the gravity of turning away from such a state.

turns from his righteousness
The Hebrew word for "turns" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), meaning to turn back or return. This implies a deliberate action of moving away from a path of righteousness. In the biblical narrative, this turning away is often associated with a heart that has grown cold or rebellious against God, highlighting the importance of perseverance in faith.

and practices iniquity
"Iniquity" is translated from the Hebrew word "עָוֹן" (avon), which denotes guilt or sin, often with a sense of perversity or moral distortion. Practicing iniquity suggests a lifestyle or habitual engagement in actions that are contrary to God's will, emphasizing the seriousness of such a departure from righteousness.

committing the same abominations as the wicked
"Abominations" in Hebrew is "תּוֹעֵבָה" (to'evah), referring to actions that are detestable or loathsome to God. This phrase underscores the severity of the righteous man's fall, equating his actions with those of the wicked, who are often depicted in Scripture as being under God's judgment.

will he live?
This rhetorical question challenges the reader to consider the consequences of turning away from righteousness. In the biblical context, life is not merely physical existence but encompasses spiritual vitality and communion with God. The question implies that such a turning away jeopardizes one's spiritual life.

None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered
The Hebrew concept of "remembering" (זָכַר, zakar) often involves more than mental recall; it includes acting upon that memory. Here, it suggests that past righteous deeds are nullified by current unfaithfulness, emphasizing the need for ongoing faithfulness rather than relying on past merits.

because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed
"Unfaithfulness" (מַעַל, ma'al) conveys a breach of trust or betrayal, often used in the context of covenantal relationships. This highlights the relational aspect of sin, where turning away from righteousness is seen as a betrayal of the covenant with God.

He will die
Death in this context is not just physical but spiritual, representing separation from God, the source of life. This stark conclusion serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of apostasy and the importance of steadfastness in one's walk with God.

Verse 24. - In the previous argument (ver. 21) the truth that the individual character may change had been stated as a ground of hope. Here it appears as a ground, for fear and watchfulness. The "grey-haired saint may fail at last," the apostle may become a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27), and the righteousness of a life may be cancelled by the sins of a year or of a day. Whether there was an opening for repentance, even after that fall, the prophet does not say, but the law that a man is in spiritual life or death according to what he is at any given moment of his course, seems to require the extension of the hope, unless we assume that the nature of the fall in the case supposed fetters the freedom of the will, and makes repentance impossible (Hebrews 6:4-7; 2 Peter 2:20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But when a righteous man
צַדִּ֤יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

turns
וּבְשׁ֨וּב (ū·ḇə·šūḇ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

from his righteousness
מִצִּדְקָתוֹ֙ (miṣ·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

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

iniquity,
עָ֔וֶל (‘ā·wel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5766: Injustice, unrighteousness

committing
עָשָׂ֧ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the same abominations
הַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹת (hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

as
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

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

will he live?
וָחָ֑י (wā·ḥāy)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive

None
כְּכֹ֨ל (kə·ḵōl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of the righteous acts
צִדְקֹתָ֤יו (ṣiḏ·qō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

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

will be remembered.
תִזָּכַ֔רְנָה (ṯiz·zā·ḵar·nāh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

Because of the unfaithfulness
מָעַ֛ל (mā·‘al)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4604: An unfaithful or treacherous act

and sin
וּבְחַטָּאת֥וֹ (ū·ḇə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

he has committed,
חָטָ֖א (ḥā·ṭā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

he will 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 18:24 But when the righteous turns away (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 18:23
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