“As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel.
Parallel translations
- KJV As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
- BSB As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
- NKJV “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
- NASB As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.
- NLT As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel.
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
God swears the people will no longer use this fatalistic proverb. He rejects the denial of personal accountability.
Overview
With a solemn oath, the LORD abolishes the excuse-making proverb in Israel. While Scripture acknowledges that sin has generational effects, it never excuses personal sin. God insists that each person stands responsible before Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ezek 18:19–20“Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.
- Ezek 18:30“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
- Ezek 33:11–20Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?
- Ezek 36:31–32Then you shall remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
- Rom 3:19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 18:3 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.