Ezekiel 33:11

Authorized King James Version

PDF

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?

Original Language Analysis

אֱמֹ֨ר Say H559
אֱמֹ֨ר Say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 25
to say (used with great latitude)
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם H413
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם
Strong's: H413
Word #: 2 of 25
near, with or among; often in general, to
חַי unto them As I live H2416
חַי unto them As I live
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 3 of 25
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
אָ֣נִי׀ H589
אָ֣נִי׀
Strong's: H589
Word #: 4 of 25
i
נְאֻ֣ם׀ saith H5002
נְאֻ֣ם׀ saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 5 of 25
an oracle
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord H136
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord
Strong's: H136
Word #: 6 of 25
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
יְהוִ֗ה GOD H3069
יְהוִ֗ה GOD
Strong's: H3069
Word #: 7 of 25
god
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 8 of 25
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֶחְפֹּץ֙ I have no pleasure H2654
אֶחְפֹּץ֙ I have no pleasure
Strong's: H2654
Word #: 9 of 25
properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire
בְּמ֣וֹת in the death H4194
בְּמ֣וֹת in the death
Strong's: H4194
Word #: 10 of 25
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
רָשָׁ֛ע but that the wicked H7563
רָשָׁ֛ע but that the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 11 of 25
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 12 of 25
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 13 of 25
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn H7725
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 14 of 25
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
רָשָׁ֛ע but that the wicked H7563
רָשָׁ֛ע but that the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 15 of 25
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם from his way H1870
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם from his way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 16 of 25
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וְחָיָ֑ה and live H2421
וְחָיָ֑ה and live
Strong's: H2421
Word #: 17 of 25
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn H7725
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 18 of 25
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn H7725
שׁ֜וּבוּ turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 19 of 25
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם from his way H1870
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם from his way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 20 of 25
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הָרָעִ֛ים ye from your evil H7451
הָרָעִ֛ים ye from your evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 21 of 25
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וְלָ֥מָּה H4100
וְלָ֥מָּה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 22 of 25
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תָמ֖וּתוּ for why will ye die H4191
תָמ֖וּתוּ for why will ye die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 23 of 25
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
בֵּ֥ית O house H1004
בֵּ֥ית O house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 24 of 25
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 25 of 25
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Analysis & 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.

Historical 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.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

People