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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ezekiel addresses the exiles in Babylon, dismantling the proverb that children inherit their fathers' guilt (v. 20). This verse is the pivot: individual responsibility means individual choice.

The words — יָשׁוּב (yāshûv, "he will turn away") is the standard Hebrew verb for repentance; it denotes a physical change of direction, not an emotional state. The verse pairs it with שָׁמַר (shāmar, "he will keep"), making the turn concrete in obedience.

The thread — Ezekiel 33:19 and 18:27 repeat the same formula with nearly identical language. Titus 2:11 picks up the underlying principle from the other side: grace as what makes the turn possible.

Why it lands — The verse offers no vague forgiveness; it names the cost of the turn — keeping statutes, doing what is just and right. It asks the reader to stop treating repentance as a feeling and start treating it as a direction change with observable consequences.

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

וְהָרָשָׁ֗עve./ha./ra.Sha'and/ the/ wicked [person]כִּ֤יkiif יָשׁוּב֙ya.Shuvhe will turn away מִכָּל־mi./kolfrom/ all חַטֹּאתָיו֙cha.ta.to/vsins/ his אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich עָשָׂ֔ה'a.Sahhe has done וְשָׁמַר֙ve./sha.Marand/ he will keep אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all חֻקּוֹתַ֔יchu.ko.Ta/istatutes/ my וְעָשָׂ֥הve./'a.Sahand/ he will do מִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.Patjustice וּצְדָקָ֑הu./tze.da.Kahand/ righteousness חָיֹ֥הcha.Yohcertainly <live>יִחְיֶ֖הyich.Yehhe will live לֹ֥אlo'not יָמֽוּת׃ya.Muthe will die

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 33:19 But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
Ezekiel 18:27 But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Ezekiel 18:9 He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 18:5 Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.