King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
[Though] these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
Complete Jewish Bible:
even if these three men were in it, as I live," says Adonai ELOHIM, "they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved, and the land would remain barren.
Berean Standard Bible:
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
American Standard Version:
though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only should be delivered, but the land should be desolate.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Though these three{H7969} men{H582} were in it{H8432}, as I live{H2416}, saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, they shall deliver{H5337} neither sons{H1121} nor daughters{H1323}; they only shall be delivered{H5337}, but the land{H776} shall be desolate{H8077}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 19:29
- And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
James 5:16
- Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Ezekiel 33:11
- Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Job 22:20
- Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
Ezekiel 14:18
- Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
Genesis 18:23
- ¶ And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Genesis 18:33
- And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Ezekiel 14:16
Ezekiel 14:16 is a verse set within the broader context of the prophetic book of Ezekiel, which is attributed to the prophet Ezekiel who lived during the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. The book is known for its vivid imagery and complex visions, as well as its messages of judgment and restoration.
In this particular verse, the Lord GOD is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing the severity of the impending judgment on the land of Israel. The "three men" mentioned are often interpreted as Noah, Daniel, and Job, figures known for their righteousness. Despite their presence or intercession, the verse declares that the calamity will be so extensive that these righteous individuals would only be able to save themselves, not their offspring. The land itself is destined to be laid waste.
The historical context of this prophecy is crucial to understanding its weight. The people of Judah had been exiled to Babylon following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Ezekiel, among the exiles, was tasked with delivering messages of both divine judgment and future hope. This verse reflects the gravity of Judah's sin and the necessity of God's judgment to purge the land. It also underscores the theme of individual responsibility and righteousness, as even the most righteous individuals cannot avert the consequences of the collective sins of the people.
In summary, Ezekiel 14:16 is a stark declaration of divine judgment. It uses the hypothetical intercession of paragons of righteousness to highlight the extent of the coming destruction, which is so severe that not even these figures could protect their families. The verse serves to convey the seriousness of Judah's apostasy and the inescapability of God's justice, while also maintaining the thread of hope for personal salvation amidst collective judgment.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H2416
There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַי
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah'-ee
Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H136
There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord. - Strong's Number: H3069
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוִה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvih
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vee'
Description: a variation of יְהֹוָה (used after אֲדֹנָי, and pronounced by Jews as אֱלֹהִים, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce יְהֹוָה as אֲדֹנָי); {YHWH}; God. - Strong's Number: H5337
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַל
Transliteration: nâtsal
Pronunciation: naw-tsal'
Description: a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H8077
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁמָמָה
Transliteration: shᵉmâmâh
Pronunciation: shem-aw-maw'
Description: or שִׁמָמָה; feminine of שָׁמֵם; devastation; figuratively, astonishment; (laid, [idiom] most) desolate(-ion), waste.