Ezekiel 18:27

Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Again, when the wicked {H7563} man turneth away {H7725} from his wickedness {H7564} that he hath committed {H6213}, and doeth {H6213} that which is lawful {H4941} and right {H6666}, he shall save {H2421} his soul {H5315} alive {H2421}.

And when the wicked person turns away from all the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he will save his life.

But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Ezekiel 18:27 (KJV) delivers a powerful message of hope and individual accountability, asserting that a wicked person who genuinely repents and turns to righteousness will find life.

Context of Ezekiel 18:27

This verse is part of a profound chapter where the prophet Ezekiel addresses a common proverb among the exiled Israelites: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." (Ezekiel 18:2). This proverb implied that the current generation was suffering for the sins of their ancestors. Ezekiel vehemently refutes this notion, emphasizing God's direct and individual judgment. The chapter outlines various scenarios: a righteous man, a wicked man, and a righteous man who turns wicked, and, as seen in this verse, a wicked man who turns righteous. The overarching theme is that God judges each person based on their own actions and choices, not on the sins or righteousness of others. This message was crucial for a people facing the realities of the Babylonian exile, encouraging them to take personal responsibility for their spiritual state.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Individual Responsibility: The verse powerfully underscores that each person is accountable for their own moral choices. It's not about inherited guilt or automatic condemnation; it's about personal turning.
  • The Power of Repentance: God provides a path for even the most wicked to change their course. The emphasis is on a genuine "turning away" from sin and active engagement in "that which is lawful and right." This transformation is not merely intellectual but involves a change of heart and behavior.
  • Divine Justice and Mercy: While God is just in judging wickedness, He is also merciful and willing to grant life to those who repent. This contradicts the idea that one's past sins are an insurmountable barrier to God's favor.
  • Preservation of Life: The phrase "he shall save his soul alive" signifies not only the preservation of physical life in the present but also spiritual vitality and the promise of a future with God. It speaks to a restored relationship and escape from the consequences of sin.

Linguistic Insights

The key phrase "turneth away" comes from the Hebrew verb shuv (שׁוּב), which is foundational to the concept of biblical repentance. It means to turn, return, or turn back. It implies a change of direction, a spiritual U-turn from a path of wickedness to a path of righteousness. It's not just regret, but a decisive action to abandon sin and actively pursue God's standards ("doeth that which is lawful and right"). This active obedience demonstrates the sincerity of the turning.

Related Scriptures

  • This principle is reiterated in Ezekiel 33:11, where God declares, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live."
  • The emphasis on individual accountability is clearly stated in Ezekiel 18:20: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."
  • The New Testament echoes this call to repentance, emphasizing its necessity for forgiveness and spiritual renewal (Acts 3:19).

Practical Application

Ezekiel 18:27 offers profound hope and a clear call to action for anyone, regardless of their past. It reminds us that:

  • God's Mercy is Available: No one is beyond the reach of God's grace and mercy, provided there is genuine repentance. Your past does not define your future with God if you choose to turn.
  • Repentance Requires Action: True repentance involves not just feeling sorry for sins but actively turning away from them and committing to live according to God's righteous standards. It's a change in both mindset and behavior.
  • Life is the Outcome: The promise is clear: turning from wickedness leads to life—a renewed relationship with God, peace, and ultimate salvation. This is a powerful encouragement to pursue a righteous path today.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 1:18

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

  • Ezekiel 18:21

    ¶ But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

  • Isaiah 55:7

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

  • Acts 3:19

    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

  • 1 Timothy 4:16

    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

  • Acts 26:20

    But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

  • Acts 20:21

    Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

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