As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more 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 18:19–20Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
- Ezek 18:30Therefore 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.
- Ezek 33:11–20Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
- Ezek 36:31–32Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
- Rom 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before 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.