Ezekiel 33:15

Authorized King James Version

If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
חֲבֹ֨ל
the pledge
a pawn (as security for debt)
#2
יָשִׁ֤יב
restore
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#3
רָשָׁע֙
If the wicked
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
#4
גְּזֵלָ֣ה
that he had robbed
to rob
#5
יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם
give again
to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate
#6
בְּחֻקּ֤וֹת
in the statutes
a statute
#7
הַֽחַיִּים֙
of life
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
#8
הָלַ֔ךְ
walk
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#9
לְבִלְתִּ֖י
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
#10
עֲשׂ֣וֹת
without committing
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#11
עָ֑וֶל
iniquity
(moral) evil
#12
יִֽחְיֶ֖ה
he shall surely
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
#13
יִֽחְיֶ֖ה
he shall surely
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
#14
לֹ֥א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#15
יָמֽוּת׃
he shall not die
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

Analysis

The covenant theme here intersects with God's relationship with His people from Abraham through the new covenant. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of evolution from creation covenant through Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, to new covenant. The phrase emphasizing life contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's relational commitment from Noah to the new covenant.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of covenant within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes life in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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