Ezekiel 33:10

¶ Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins [be] upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

Therefore, O thou son {H1121} of man {H120}, speak {H559} unto the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}; Thus ye speak {H559}, saying {H559}, If our transgressions {H6588} and our sins {H2403} be upon us, and we pine away {H4743} in them, how should we then live {H2421}?

"Therefore, you, human being, say to the house of Isra'el: 'You say, "Our crimes and sins are weighing us down, we're pining away because of them, how can we even stay alive?"'

Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’

And thou, son of man, say unto the house of Israel: Thus ye speak, saying, Our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them; how then can we live?

Context

Ezekiel 33:10 captures a moment of deep despair among the exiled house of Israel in Babylon. This verse immediately follows God's detailed commission to the prophet Ezekiel as a watchman, responsible for warning his people about the consequences of their sin and the path to repentance. The people, having experienced the devastating judgment of exile and the destruction of Jerusalem, are depicted here acknowledging the weight of their transgressions. They recognize that their sins are "upon" them, leading to a profound sense of hopelessness and a desperate question about their very survival and future.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Guilt and Despair: The phrase "If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them," vividly expresses the crushing burden of guilt and the resultant spiritual and physical decay. The people feel trapped by their past actions, seeing no way out of their dire circumstances.
  • Consequences of Sin: The "pining away" signifies the destructive effects of sin, not just on an individual level but on the entire nation. It implies a slow, agonizing deterioration, reflecting the loss of their land, temple, and national identity due to disobedience.
  • Question of Survival and Hope: The desperate cry, "how should we then live?", reveals a complete lack of foresight or hope. It's a rhetorical question born of deep anguish, suggesting they believe their situation is irredeemable and that life is impossible under the weight of their accumulated sin. This lament sets the stage for God's merciful response, which immediately follows in the next verse, offering a path to life through repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "pine away" is a powerful translation of the Hebrew verb maq (מָק), which literally means 'to rot,' 'to decay,' or 'to waste away.' It emphasizes a gradual, debilitating process of deterioration, both physically and spiritually. This word choice underscores the severe and pervasive impact of their transgressions, suggesting a profound internal and external decay that left them feeling without vitality or future. The terms "transgressions" (pesha) and "sins" (chatta'ah) represent different aspects of moral failure: pesha often implies rebellion or breaking a covenant, while chatta'ah signifies missing the mark or falling short of God's standard.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 33:10 speaks to the universal human experience of feeling overwhelmed by past mistakes and the consequences of sin. Many individuals today can relate to the despair of feeling that their actions have led to an insurmountable burden, questioning if there's any hope for a better future or a path to true living. This verse, however, is not the end of the story. It serves as a vital setup for God's immediate and compassionate response in Ezekiel 33:11, where He declares His desire for the wicked to turn from their way and live. It reminds us that even when we feel utterly consumed by our failures, God's mercy offers a way out through repentance, providing hope and a renewed opportunity for life.

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 49:14

    But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

  • Ezekiel 37:11

    Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

  • Ezekiel 24:23

    And your tires [shall be] upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

  • Leviticus 26:39

    And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

  • Ezekiel 4:17

    That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.

  • Psalms 130:7

    Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption.

  • Jeremiah 2:25

    Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

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