Ezekiel 24:14

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.

I the LORD {H3068} have spoken {H1696} it: it shall come to pass {H935}, and I will do {H6213} it; I will not go back {H6544}, neither will I spare {H2347}, neither will I repent {H5162}; according to thy ways {H1870}, and according to thy doings {H5949}, shall they judge {H8199} thee, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}.

"'I, ADONAI, have spoken it, and it will happen. I will do it, I will not turn back, I will not refrain or spare or relent. They will judge you as your ways and deeds deserve,' says Adonai ELOHIM."

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.”

I, Jehovah, 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 Jehovah.

Commentary

Ezekiel 24:14 concludes a powerful prophetic declaration, often referred to as the "Parable of the Boiling Pot" (Ezekiel 24:1-14), which vividly portrays God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem. This verse serves as a stark and unyielding confirmation of the divine decree.

Context

Chapter 24 of Ezekiel opens with a specific date, the very day the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar began (around January 15, 588 BC). The "boiling pot" parable symbolizes Jerusalem as a pot filled with choice meat (its inhabitants) being consumed by fire (the Babylonian siege and destruction). The rust in the pot (verse 6) represents the city's deep-seated wickedness and defilement. Verse 14 is the LORD's decisive pronouncement that the judgment, long warned about, is now irrevocably set in motion. It follows the removal of the best pieces (the exiles taken earlier) and the burning of the remaining, corrupt pieces within the city.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Unwavering Resolve: The repeated "I the LORD have spoken [it]: it shall come to pass, and I will do [it]" emphasizes God's absolute control and the certainty of His word. There is no appeal or escape from this judgment.
  • Irreversible Judgment: Phrases like "I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent" highlight the finality of God's decision regarding Jerusalem's fate. While God often shows mercy and "repents" (changes His course) when people truly repent (as seen with Nineveh in Jonah 3:10), here, His patience has run out due to persistent rebellion and idolatry. This "repent" does not imply a change in His character, but a change in His judicial action due to the unchangeable nature of human sin.
  • Just Retribution: "according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee" underscores the principle of divine justice. The judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of Jerusalem's actions and moral corruption. This reflects the universal biblical principle that a person reaps what they sow.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "repent" used here (nacham) means to be sorry, to comfort oneself, or to relent. In this context, it signifies God's absolute refusal to change His mind or relent from the decreed judgment, indicating that the time for mercy for Jerusalem's corporate sin had passed. This is not a human-like emotional repentance, but a firm declaration of His unchanging purpose in judgment, especially given the severity of their transgressions.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 24:14 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: God takes sin, especially persistent rebellion and idolatry, with utmost seriousness. There are inevitable consequences for actions.
  • God's Justice is True: While God is abundant in mercy and grace, He is also perfectly just. His justice ensures that all actions, good or bad, will ultimately be accounted for (Romans 2:6).
  • Call to Repentance: The finality of this judgment for ancient Jerusalem should impress upon us the urgency of responding to God's calls for repentance today, while there is still time for mercy and reconciliation. God's character remains consistent: He is just and holy, and His word will always come to pass.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 16:27

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

  • Ezekiel 18:30

    ¶ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

  • Isaiah 3:11

    Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Jeremiah 13:14

    And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

  • Numbers 23:19

    God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

  • Psalms 33:9

    For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.

  • Jeremiah 23:20

    The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.