Ezekiel 14 · Verse 14

Ezekiel 14:14

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 14:14, King James Version

Ezekiel 14:14 in other translations

BSBthen even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
WEBthough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD.
ASVthough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah.
YLTand these three men have been in its midst, Noah, Daniel, and Job--they by their righteousness deliver their own soul--an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
DARBYthough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, should be in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah.
BBEEven if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, only themselves would they keep safe by their righteousness, says the Lord.
WebsterThough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver their own souls only by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

What does Ezekiel 14:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. Noah, Daniel ... Job--specified in particular as having been saved from overwhelming calamities for their personal righteousness. Noah had the members of his family alone given to him, amidst the general wreck. Daniel saved from the fury of the king of Babylon the three youths (Da 2:17, 18, 48, 49). Though his prophecies mostly were later than those of Ezekiel, his fame for piety and wisdom was already established, and the events recorded in Da 1:1-2:49 had transpired. The Jews would naturally, in their fallen condition, pride themselves on one who reflected such glory on his nation at the heathen capital, and would build vain hopes (here set aside) on his influence in averting ruin from them. Thus the objection to the authenticity of Daniel from this passage vanishes. "Job" forms the climax (and is therefore put out of chronological order), having not even been left a son or a daughter, and having had himself to pass through an ordeal of suffering before his final deliverance, and therefore forming the most simple instance of the righteousness of God, which would save the righteous themselves alone in the nation, and that after an ordeal of suffering, but not spare even a son or daughter for their sake (Eze 14:16, 18, 20; compare Jr 7:16; 11:14; 14:11). deliver ... souls by ... righteousness--(Pr 11:4); not the righteousness of works, but that of grace, a truth less clearly understood under the law (Ro 4:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Though - Noah, Daniel, and Job - The intercession even of the holiest of men shall not avert my judgments. Noah, though a righteous man, could not by his intercession preserve the old world from being drowned. Job, though a righteous man, could not preserve his children from being killed by the fall of their house. Daniel, though a righteous man, could not prevent the captivity of his country. Daniel must have been contemporary with Ezekiel. He was taken captive in the third year of Jehoiakim, Dan 1:1. After this Jehoiakim reigned eight years, 2Kgs 23:36. And this prophecy, as appears from Eze 8:1, was uttered in the sixth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, who succeeded Jehoiakim, and reigned only three months, 2Kgs 24:6, 2Kgs 24:8. Therefore at this time Daniel had been Fourteen years in captivity. See Newcome. Even at this time he had gained much public celebrity. From this account we may infer that Job was as real a person as Noah or Daniel; and of their identity no man has pretended to doubt. When God, as above, has determined to punish a nation, no intercession shall avail. Personal holiness alone can prevent these evils; but the holiness of any man can only avail for himself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 14:12-23

National sins bring national judgments. Though sinners escape one judgment, another is waiting for them. When God's professing people rebel against him, they may justly expect all his judgments. The faith, obedience, and prayers of Noah prevailed to the saving of his house, but not of the old world. Job's sacrifice and prayer in behalf of his friends were accepted, and Daniel had prevailed for the saving his…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 14:12-23 →

Ezekiel 14:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְ֠הָיוּVe.ha.yuand they will beH1961
שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁתshe.Lo.shet[the] threeH7969
הָאֲנָשִׁ֤יםha.'a.na.Shimthe menH582
הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
בְּתוֹכָ֔הּbe.to.Khahin [the] midst of itH8432
נֹ֖חַNo.achNoahH5146
דָּנִיֵּ֣אלda.ni.'elDanielH1841
וְאִיּ֑וֹבve.'i.Yovand JobH347
הֵ֤מָּהHe.mahtheyH1992
בְצִדְקָתָם֙ve.tzid.ka.Tamby righteousness theirH6666
יְנַצְּל֣וּye.na.tze.Luthey will deliverH5337
נַפְשָׁ֔םnaf.Shamown life theirH5315
נְאֻ֖םne.'Um[the] utterance ofH5002
אֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.Nai[the] LordH136
יְהוִֽה\׃Yah.wehYahwehH3069

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 14:14

  • Ezekiel 14:20

    Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

  • Jeremiah 15:1

    Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

  • Ezekiel 28:3

    Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

  • Genesis 7:1

    And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

  • Job 1:1

    There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

  • Ezekiel 14:18

    Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

  • Hebrews 11:7

    By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

  • Daniel 10:11

    And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

  • Genesis 6:8

    But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

  • Job 1:5

    And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

  • Job 42:8-9

    Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.

  • Ezekiel 14:16

    Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
these.
16,18,20
Noah.
Ge 6:8; 7:1; 8:20,21; Heb 11:7
Daniel.
28:3; Da 9:21; 10:11
Job.
Job 1:5; 42:8,9; Jer 7:16; 11:14; 14:11,12; 15:1
deliver.
20; Pr 11:4; 2Pe 2:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 14:13

    Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

  • Ezekiel 14:14

    Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

  • Ezekiel 14:15

    If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

Read all of Ezekiel 14

Ezekiel 14:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si estuvieren en medio de ella estos tres varones, Noé, Daniel, y Job, ellos por su justicia librarán su vida, dice el Señor Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et que ces trois hommes, Noé, Daniel et Job, soient au milieu de lui, ceux-ci délivreraient leurs âmes par leur justice, dit le Seigneur, l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und diese drei Männer wären in demselben: Noah, Daniel und Hiob-sie würden durch ihre Gerechtigkeit nur ihre eigene Seele erretten, spricht der Herr, Jehova. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si fuerint tres viri isti in medio ejus, Noë, Daniel, et Job, ipsi justitia sua liberabunt animas suas, ait Dominus exercituum.