Bible Strands
Ezekiel 33:15
if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses a rebellious house of Israel through Ezekiel, outlining the conditional outcome for a condemned wicked man who turns from his sin. The prophet delivers a direct promise that life replaces death when specific acts of restitution and obedience occur.
The words — The text specifies יָשִׁ֤יב (ya.Shiv, "he will return") regarding a pledge (חֲבֹ֨ל, cha.Vol) and יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם (ye.sha.Lem, "he will repay") for robbery (גְּזֵלָ֣ה, ge.ze.Lah). These terms anchor the promise of survival in tangible restitution and walking (הָלַ֔ךְ, ha.Lakh) within the statutes (בְּ/חֻקּ֤וֹת, be./chu.Kot) of life.
The thread — The link between obedience and life appears in Ezekiel 20:11, while the legal requirement for restitution is established in Exodus 22:1. The necessity of concrete repentance is mirrored in Luke 19:8.
Why it lands — The verse requires measurable actions—restoring pledges, repaying stolen goods, and abandoning iniquity—as the explicit evidence of turning from sin. It dictates that survival depends on active compliance with divine statutes rather than internal sentiment alone.
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
If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 20:11 And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
- Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
- Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
- Leviticus 6:2 “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor
- Leviticus 18:5 Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.
- Psalms 119:93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.
- Ezekiel 18:7 He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
- Exodus 22:26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
- Numbers 5:6 “Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty
- Deuteronomy 24:6 Do not take a pair of millstones or even an upper millstone as security for a debt, because that would be taking one’s livelihood as security.