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Ezekiel 33:13

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When I shall say to the righteous, [that] he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

When I shall say {H559} to the righteous {H6662}, that he shall surely {H2421} live {H2421}; if he trust {H982} to his own righteousness {H6666}, and commit {H6213} iniquity {H5766}, all his righteousnesses {H6666} shall not be remembered {H2142}; but for his iniquity {H5766} that he hath committed {H6213}, he shall die {H4191} for it.

So if, after I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, he begins trusting in his own [former] righteousness and starts committing crimes; then none of his [former] righteous actions will be remembered; on the contrary, he will die for the evil deeds he has committed.

If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

When I say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his righteousness, and commit iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in his iniquity that he hath committed, therein shall he die.

Commentary

Ezekiel 33:13 delivers a profound warning from God concerning the conditional nature of righteousness and the ongoing requirement for faithfulness. This verse emphasizes God's unwavering justice, highlighting that past good deeds do not excuse present sin.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse in Ezekiel chapter 33, where the prophet Ezekiel is appointed as a watchman for the house of Israel. His divine commission is to warn the people of impending judgment if they persist in their sins, and simultaneously to assure them of God's readiness to forgive if they genuinely repent. The passage directly preceding this verse (Ezekiel 33:10-12) deals with the converse situation: the wicked person who turns from their sin will live. Thus, verse 13 completes a balanced theological statement, underscoring individual responsibility and the principle that one's ultimate destiny is determined by their current spiritual state, not merely past accomplishments or declarations of faith.

Key Themes

  • Individual Accountability: The verse places strong emphasis on personal choice and its consequences. Each person is held responsible for their own actions before God, regardless of their past standing. This aligns with themes seen elsewhere in Ezekiel, particularly Ezekiel 18:20, which states the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.
  • The Danger of Presumption: The "righteous" person who trusts in their own past righteousness is depicted as having a false sense of security. This warns against spiritual complacency and the belief that a past act of faith or declaration of righteousness can immunize one from the consequences of current, deliberate sin.
  • God's Impartial Justice: God's judgment is not arbitrary; it is based on current conduct. He does not "remember" (meaning, acknowledge or credit) past righteousness when present iniquity is committed, demonstrating that His standards are consistent and applicable to all, regardless of their prior spiritual status.
  • The Call to Perseverance: Implicit in this warning is the critical need for continuous faithfulness. True righteousness is not a static state but an ongoing walk with God, requiring vigilance and sustained obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsedakah) denotes moral and ethical uprightness, conforming to divine standards. The phrase "trust to his own righteousness" suggests a reliance on self-merit rather than a humble dependence on God's grace and ongoing guidance. The word for "iniquity" (עָוֹן, avon) carries the sense of twistedness, perversity, or guilt, indicating a deliberate deviation from God's path. The strong declaration "shall not be remembered" (לֹא יִזָּכְרוּ, lo yizzakheru) is not about God literally forgetting, but about Him no longer recognizing or crediting those past good deeds as a basis for life when present sin is embraced and persisted in.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 33:13 serves as a sobering reminder for believers across all generations. It challenges any notion of a "once saved, always saved" doctrine without the accompanying commitment to ongoing obedience and a life of repentance. It calls us to:

  • Maintain Humility: Never presume upon God's grace or rely on past spiritual achievements. Our standing before God is continually assessed by our present walk and heart condition.
  • Live Consistently: True faith is demonstrated by a life of ongoing obedience to God's commands. As James 2:26 states, faith without works is dead.
  • Guard Against Backsliding: Be vigilant against the temptation to return to old patterns of sin. The consequences are severe, regardless of one's past spiritual journey or accomplishments.
  • Embrace Repentance: If one has fallen into sin, the path back to God's favor is through genuine repentance and turning away from iniquity, as emphasized in the verses surrounding this passage.

Reflection

This verse underscores the profound truth that God's justice is perfect and His standards are unchanging. It is a powerful call to personal integrity and continuous faithfulness, urging us not to take our spiritual standing for granted. Our ultimate hope lies not in our own fleeting righteousness, but in the enduring righteousness of God, accessed through continuous faith and obedience to His will.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Ezekiel 18:24 (7 votes)

    But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

  • Hebrews 10:38 (6 votes)

    Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

  • Ezekiel 18:4 (4 votes)

    Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

  • Ezekiel 3:20 (3 votes)

    Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

  • Romans 10:3 (2 votes)

    For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • 2 Peter 2:20 (2 votes)

    For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

  • 2 Peter 2:22 (2 votes)

    But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.