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But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
Ezekiel 18:24 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
  • KJV 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.
  • NKJV “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
  • NASB “But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.
  • NLT However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

If the righteous turns to wickedness, his former righteousness will not be remembered, and he will die. Perseverance in righteousness matters.

Overview

God warns that abandoning righteousness for sin brings death, regardless of past good deeds. This is the sober counterpart to the promise of mercy for the repentant. It calls God's people to continue in faithfulness, not presume on former obedience.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 38

  • Ezek 33:18If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.
  • Prov 21:16The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
  • 2 Jn 1:8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
  • Ezek 33:12–13Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’
  • Gal 3:4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
  • 2 Chr 24:17–22After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.
  • Rev 3:11I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
  • Rev 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  • 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
  • Ezek 18:26If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.
  • Ezek 18:22None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
  • Ezek 3:20–21Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.
  • Matt 7:22–23Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
  • 1 Sam 15:11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
  • Ezek 18:10–13Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things,
  • 2 Pet 2:18–22With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
  • Rom 1:28–31Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
  • Heb 10:38–39But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
  • John 8:24That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
  • Gal 5:7You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?
  • Heb 6:4–6It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
  • Matt 13:20–21The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
  • Zeph 1:6and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”
  • 2 Tim 3:1–5But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
  • 2 Cor 12:20–21For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
  • Mark 13:13You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
  • Heb 10:26–31If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
  • Ps 125:5But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
  • Ps 36:3–4The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.
  • John 6:66–70From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
  • Jude 1:12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.
  • 1 Jn 5:16–18If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.
  • Prov 14:32The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
  • 2 Chr 24:2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
  • John 8:21Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
  • Matt 12:43–45When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
  • Ezek 18:18As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
  • Ezek 20:27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 18:24YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 18:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.