Ezekiel 24:14

I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks through Ezekiel to the house of Israel immediately after declaring their refusal of purification and the necessity of His wrath subsiding. The declaration marks the transition from prophetic warning to imminent divine execution of judgment.

The words — The Hebrew אֶפְרַע ('ef.Ra) translates literally to "I will refrain" or "I will pay back," while דִּבַּ֙רְתִּי (di.Bar.ti) means "I have spoken." These terms anchor the verse in God's authoritative declaration and unyielding resolve.

The thread — The theme of divine judgment corresponding to human actions appears in Ezekiel 18:30, where God promises to judge Israel according to their ways. This motif extends to the New Testament in Matthew 16:27, which describes the Son of Man repaying each person according to their deeds, and Isaiah 3:11, which warns that disaster will be repaid according to what the wicked have done.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God’s spoken word guarantees action and that mercy will not override justice for unrepentant rebellion. It requires the reader to accept that divine judgment operates on the principle of measured retribution rather than arbitrary punishment.

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

אֲנִ֨י'a.NiI יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh דִּבַּ֙רְתִּי֙di.Bar.tiI have spoken בָּאָ֣הba.'Ah[it is] coming וְעָשִׂ֔יתִיve./'a.Si.tiand/ I will act לֹֽא־lo'-not אֶפְרַ֥ע'ef.Ra'I will refrain וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not אָח֖וּס'a.ChusI will have compassion וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not אֶנָּחֵ֑ם'e.na.ChemI will have pity כִּדְרָכַ֤יִךְki/d.ra.Kha.yi/khaccording to/ ways/ your וְכַעֲלִילוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ve./kha./'a.li.lo.Ta.yi/khand/ according to/ practices/ your שְׁפָט֔וּךְshe.fa.Tu/khthey have judged/ you נְאֻ֖םne.'Um[the] utterance of אֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהֹוִֽה׃ פYah.wehYahweh

King James Version

I the Lord have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God.

Cross-references

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
1 Samuel 15:29 Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
Psalms 33:9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
Isaiah 55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
Jeremiah 13:14 I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
Jeremiah 23:20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.
Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you.