King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 33:11 Mean?

Ezekiel 33:11 in the King James Version says “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn fr... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:11 · KJV


Context

9

Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

10

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

11

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

12

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

13

When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
One of Scripture's most important declarations of God's heart: 'Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?' The oath formula 'As I live' (chai-ani, חַי־אָנִי) invokes God's own eternal existence as guarantee of truth. The emphatic 'I have no pleasure' (im-echpotz, אִם־אֶחְפֹּץ—literally 'if I delight,' used rhetorically to mean 'I do not delight') reveals God's heart. He desires repentance and life, not judgment and death. The repeated imperative 'turn ye, turn ye' (shuvu shuvu, שׁוּבוּ שׁוּבוּ) expresses urgent pleading—God intensely desires human repentance. The rhetorical question 'why will ye die?' shows the tragedy is self-inflicted—death results from refusing offered life.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This oracle came after Jerusalem's fall (586 BC) when exiles faced despair. Many concluded their situation was hopeless—if God had judged Jerusalem so severely, what hope remained? This word reassures that even post-judgment, repentance opens the door to life. God's character doesn't change—He still calls for turning and offers life. The watchman commission renewed in chapter 33 (parallel to chapter 3) shows Ezekiel's ministry shifts from warning of judgment to offering hope of restoration. Historical prophets consistently presented both judgment and hope, never judgment alone. God's oath by His own life (since nothing greater exists to swear by, Hebrews 6:13) guarantees this truth: He desires repentance and life.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's repeated, urgent call to 'turn, turn' reveal His passionate desire for your repentance and life?
  2. What does this passage teach about whose fault it is when people experience spiritual death?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
אֱמֹ֨ר1 of 25

Say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם2 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

חַי3 of 25

unto them As I live

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

אָ֣נִי׀4 of 25
H589

i

נְאֻ֣ם׀5 of 25

saith

H5002

an oracle

אֲדֹנָ֣י6 of 25

the Lord

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֗ה7 of 25

GOD

H3069

god

אִם8 of 25
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֶחְפֹּץ֙9 of 25

I have no pleasure

H2654

properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire

בְּמ֣וֹת10 of 25

in the death

H4194

death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

רָשָׁ֛ע11 of 25

but that the wicked

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

כִּ֣י12 of 25
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אִם13 of 25
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

שׁ֜וּבוּ14 of 25

turn

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

רָשָׁ֛ע15 of 25

but that the wicked

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם16 of 25

from his way

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

וְחָיָ֑ה17 of 25

and live

H2421

to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

שׁ֜וּבוּ18 of 25

turn

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

שׁ֜וּבוּ19 of 25

turn

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם20 of 25

from his way

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

הָרָעִ֛ים21 of 25

ye from your evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וְלָ֥מָּה22 of 25
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

תָמ֖וּתוּ23 of 25

for why will ye die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

בֵּ֥ית24 of 25

O house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃25 of 25

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 33:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 33:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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