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Ezekiel 33:17

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 33:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
Ezekiel 33:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 33

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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;
15if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had taken by robbery, walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16None of his sins that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die therein.
19And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
20Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
← Ezekiel 33:16Ezekiel 33:18 →
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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
“Yet the children of thy people say, &c.] “Not my people”; for surely the children of God could never say what follows; and one would think that even no man could say it, after so much had been said by the Lord concerning the righteous and the wicked, and his dealings with them, which must appear to be just and right, good and gracious; and yet such were the atheism, the perverseness and peevishness of these people, they went on to say as they had done before: the way of the Lord is not equal: is not according to the rules of justice and equity. The Targum is, “the ways of the goodness of the Lord are not made plain (or exposed) unto us.” The answer to which is, but, as for them, their way is…”
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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
“The way of the Lord--The Lord's way of dealing in His moral government.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“33:17-20 The Lord isn’t doing what’s right: The perception was that God’s bringing Babylon to destroy Jerusalem was inappropriate. The Lord immediately refuted this argument (33:18). • they . . . are not doing what’s right: The people’s fault was in refusing to repent and in accusing God of injustice. • I judge each of you according to your deeds: The Lord’s judgment upon his people is never arbitrary but is a fitting response to their sins. If they repent, trust the Lord for salvation, and do what is just and right, they have hope for the future (cp. Eph 2:8-10).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Eze 33:20, Eze 18:25, Eze 18:29; Job 35:2, Job 40:8; Mat 25:24-26; Luk 19:21, Luk 19:22 Ezekiel 33:18”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 33 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification