But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
Parallel translations
- WEB “But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,
- BSB Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
- NKJV But if a man is just And does what is lawful and right;
- NASB “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness,
- NLT “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.
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 begins describing a righteous man who does what is lawful and right. True righteousness is shown in just living.
Overview
The first test case is a man who is 'just' and practices what is right before God. Ezekiel will spell out concrete marks of such righteousness. This sets the standard against which the following generations are measured.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ezek 33:14Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
- 1 Jn 3:7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
- Prov 21:3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- Gen 18:19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
- Rom 2:7–10To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- 1 Jn 5:2–5By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
- Ps 24:4–6He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
- 1 Jn 2:3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- Jas 2:14–26What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
- 1 Jn 2:29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- Jas 1:22–25But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
- Matt 7:21–27Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Ps 15:2–5He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
- Rev 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Jer 22:15Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 18:5 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.