Bible Strands

Ezekiel 18:31

Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD addresses the house of Israel, immediately after declaring he will judge each person according to his own ways (v. 30) and immediately before stating he takes no pleasure in anyone's death (v. 32). The moment is the gap between judgment and mercy, where repentance is the only exit.

The words — הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ (hash.Li.khu, "throw away") is a violent, physical verb — hurling something off the body. It pairs with עֲשׂ֥וּ ('a.Su, "make"), which commands the listener to fashion a new heart and spirit, an act that elsewhere in Ezekiel is God's own work (36:26; 11:19).

The thread — Ezekiel 36:26 and 11:19 promise God will remove the heart of stone and give a new heart and spirit; Psalm 51:10 prays for God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit. In 18:31 the same transformation is issued as a command to the people.

Why it lands — The verse demands two things at once: a decisive rejection of every transgression and a total reorientation of the inner self. The closing question, "Why should you die?" removes any ambiguity about the cost of refusal.

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

הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּhash.Li.khuthrow awayמֵעֲלֵיכֶ֗םme./'a.lei./Khemfrom/ with <the>/ youאֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-allפִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙pish.'ei./Khemtransgressions/ yourאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhichפְּשַׁעְתֶּ֣םpe.sha'.Temyou have transgressedבָּ֔םBa/mby/ themוַעֲשׂ֥וּva./'a.Suand/ makeלָכֶ֛םla./Khemfor/ yourselvesלֵ֥בleva heartחָדָ֖שׁcha.Dashnewוְר֣וּחַve./Ru.achand/ a spiritחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.Shahnewוְלָ֥מָּהve./La./mahand/ <to>/ why?תָמֻ֖תוּta.Mu.tuwill you dieבֵּ֥יתbeitO house ofיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Cross-references