Bible Strands
Ezekiel 18:25
Yet 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?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel addresses the house of Israel following his teaching that a righteous person who turns to wickedness will die. He delivers God’s direct rebuttal to the people’s complaint that divine governance is unfair.
The words — The Hebrew לֹא יִתָּכֵן (lo' yit'khen) literally means "it is not correct" or "it is not just," directly negating the people’s claim. The imperative שִׁמְעוּ (shim'u) commands immediate attention to God’s rhetorical question about whose ways are unjust.
The thread — This identical accusation reappears in Ezekiel 33:17, where the prophet again shifts blame from God to the people. Genesis 18:25 reinforces the same defense of divine fairness by rejecting the idea that God would judge the righteous and wicked identically.
Why it lands — The text states that the people’s complaint misplaces responsibility for their own unfaithfulness. It requires the reader to stop externalizing blame and acknowledge personal accountability before questioning God’s character.
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
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 33:17 Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.
- Malachi 3:13 “Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
- Genesis 18:25 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 12:1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- Ezekiel 33:20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.”
- Zephaniah 3:5 The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.
- Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
- Ezekiel 18:29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
- Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- Job 32:2 This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,