Bible Strands
Ezekiel 14:20
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Lord God addresses Israelites who consult prophets while persisting in idolatry, immediately following a warning about pouring out wrath through bloodshed.
The words — חַי־אָנִי (chai-'ani) literally means "by my life," functioning as a binding oath formula. נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי (ne'um 'adonai) translates to "the utterance of the Lord," marking the statement as direct divine declaration.
The thread — The verse repeats the triad of Noah, Daniel, and Job from Ezekiel 14:14 and aligns with the righteousness criterion in 1 John 3:10.
Why it lands — The text states that even the most revered righteous figures cannot rescue others from judgment, and personal righteousness secures only the individual’s own survival.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 14:14 then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
- 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
- Job 5:19 He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
- Psalms 33:18 Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Ezekiel 14:16 then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
- Ezekiel 18:22 None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
- Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
- Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
- Acts 10:35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.