Bible Strands
Ezekiel 18:5
Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel addresses the exiled Israelite community in Babylon, responding to their fatalistic complaint by establishing that moral accountability rests on the individual rather than ancestral lineage.
The words — The Hebrew term צַדִּיק (tza.Dik) translates literally as "righteous," paired with מִשְׁפָּט (mish.Pat, "justice") and צְדָקָה (tze.da.Kah, "righteousness") to define the required conduct.
The thread — This standard of conduct appears in Ezekiel 33:14 as the condition for a wicked man's survival, echoes Proverbs 21:3's priority of justice over ritual sacrifice, and informs 1 John 3:7's definition of righteous practice.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to evaluate personal actions against the standard of justice and righteousness rather than relying on inherited status or external observance.
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
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 33:14 But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—
- Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Psalms 15:2 He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,
- Psalms 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
- Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
- James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?