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Ezekiel 18:23

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 18:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Ezekiel 18:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
← Ezekiel 18:22Ezekiel 18:24 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God, &c.] Perish by sword, famine, or pestilence, or go into captivity; this, though the Lord’s will and work, yet is his strange work; mercy is his delight. This is to be understood not absolutely; for the Lord does take pleasure in these things, as they fulfil his word, secure the honour of his truth and holiness, and glorify his justice, and especially when they are the means of reclaiming men from the evil of their ways; but comparatively, as follows: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live? that is, it is more pleasing to God that a man should repent of his sins, and forsake his vicious course of life,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Ti1 2:4; Pe2 3:9). If men perish, it is because they will not come to the Lord for salvation; not that the Lord is not willing to save them (Joh 5:40). They trample on not merely justice, but mercy; what farther hope can there be for them, when even mercy is against them? (Heb 10:26-29).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“18:23-24 God does not like to see wicked people die, so he appointed Ezekiel as a watchman, whose role was to turn the wicked toward godly life while warning the righteous against falling away (3:16-19; 33:1-9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I any: Eze 18:32, Eze 33:11; Lam 3:33; Hos 11:8; Ti1 2:4; Pe2 3:9 not that: Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Job 33:27, Job 33:28; Psa 147:11; Jer 31:20; Mic 7:18; Luk 15:4-7, Luk 15:10, Luk 15:22-24, Luk 15:32; Jam 2:13 Ezekiel 18:24”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification