Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. House of Israel, I will judge every one of you after his ways.
- KJV Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
- NKJV Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”
- NASB Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.”
- NLT O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’ But I judge each of you according to your deeds.”
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
Despite God's clear answer, the people repeat that His way is unfair; He declares He will judge each by his own conduct. God's justice is impartial and personal.
Overview
The people persist in their complaint, but God concludes by affirming individual accountability: 'I will judge every one of you after his ways.' This closes the watchman section by stressing personal responsibility before a righteous God. Each stands or falls by his own response, undercutting both fatalism and the blaming of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 16:27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- Ezek 18:25Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
- Ezek 18:29–30Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
- Prov 19:3A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
- Ps 62:12and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
- Ezek 33:17Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.
- Rev 22:12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
- John 5:29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
- 2 Cor 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Rev 20:12–15And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
- Eccl 12:14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
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 33:20 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.