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?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord addresses the house of Israel immediately after declaring that a wicked person who turns from sin will live. He confronts their complaint that follows His statement on repentance.

The words — The Hebrew וְ/אָֽמְרוּ (ve./'a.me.Ru) means "and they say," introducing the people's accusation. The phrase דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י (De.rekh 'a.do.Nai) literally translates to "the way of the Lord," which the Lord immediately contrasts with His own ways.

The thread — This exact accusation appears in Ezekiel 18:25, where the Lord repeats the question about His unjust ways. The theme of self-deception and blaming God for one's own path also runs in Proverbs 19:3.

Why it lands — The text states that the people claim God's ways are unjust, then demands they recognize their own ways as the source of the problem. It requires the reader to stop attributing their circumstances to divine unfairness and instead examine their own conduct.

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

וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ve./'a.me.Ruand/ they say בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael לֹ֥אlo'not יִתָּכֵ֖ןyi.ta.Khenit is correct דֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekh[the] way of אֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord הַדְּרָכַ֞יha./de.ra.Kha/i¿/ ways/ my לֹ֤אlo'not יִתָּֽכְנּוּ֙yi.ta.khe.Nuare they correct בֵּ֣יתbeitO house of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael הֲלֹ֥אha./Lo'¿/ not דַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei./Khemways/ your לֹ֥אlo'not יִתָּכֵֽן׃yi.ta.Khenis it correct

King James Version

Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

Cross-references

Proverbs 19:3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
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?
Ezekiel 18:2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?