But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
- BSB But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this.
- NKJV But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it.
- NASB But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.
- NLT But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live.
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
When a wicked man turns from evil to do right, he will live by that. God's mercy is as fair as His justice.
Overview
The matching half of God's answer affirms that the repentant wicked 'shall live thereby.' Far from being unjust, God's readiness to grant life to the penitent reveals His mercy. Together with verse 18, this shows God's ways to be both perfectly just and graciously open to all who turn to Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Ezek 18:27–28Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
- 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;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 33:19 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.