Ezekiel 18 · Verse 5

Ezekiel 18:5

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
Ezekiel 18:5, King James Version

Ezekiel 18:5 in other translations

BSBNow suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
WEB“But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,
ASVBut if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
YLTAnd a man, when he is righteous, And hath done judgment and righteousness,
DARBYAnd if a man be righteous, and do judgment and justice:
BBEBut if a man is upright, living rightly and doing righteousness,
WebsterBut if a man is just, and doeth that which is lawful and right,

What does Ezekiel 18:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. Here begins the illustration of God's impartiality in a series of supposed cases. The first case is given in Eze 18:5-9, the just man. The excellencies are selected in reference to the prevailing sins of the age, from which such a one stood aloof; hence arises the omission of some features of righteousness, which, under different circumstances, would have been desirable to be enumerated. Each age has its own besetting temptations, and the just man will be distinguished by his guarding against the peculiar defilements, inward and outward, of his age. just ... lawful ... right--the duties of the second table of the law, which flow from the fear of God. Piety is the root of all charity; to render to each his own, as well to our neighbor, as to God.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right - If he be just or holy within, and do what is according to law and equity. What is meant by this, is immediately specified.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 18:1-20

God has no respect of persons. (Ezek 18:1-20) The Divine providence is vindicated. (Ezek 18:21-29) A gracious invitation to repentance. (Ezek 18:30-32) Verses 1-20 The soul that sinneth it shall die. As to eternity, every man was, is, and will be dealt with, as his conduct shows him to have been under the old covenant of works, or the new covenant of grace. Whatever outward sufferings come upon men through the sins…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 18:1-20 →

Ezekiel 18:5 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.

וְאִ֖ישׁve.'Ishand anyoneH376
כִּי\־ki-forH3588
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehhe will beH1961
צַדִּ֑יקtza.DikrighteousH6662
וְעָשָׂ֥הve.'a.Sahand he will doH6213
מִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatjusticeH4941
וּצְדָקָֽה\׃u.tze.da.Kahand righteousnessH6666

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

Cross references for Ezekiel 18:5

  • Ezekiel 33:14

    Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

  • Proverbs 21:3

    To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

  • 1 John 3:7

    Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

  • 1 John 5:2-5

    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

  • 1 John 2:29

    If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

  • Matthew 7:21-27

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: …

  • James 2:14-26

    What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. …

  • Psalms 15:2-5

    He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

  • 1 John 2:3

    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

  • James 1:22-25

    But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

  • Psalms 24:4-6

    He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

  • Romans 2:7-10

    To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if.
Ps 15:2-5; 24:4-6; Mt 7:21-27; Ro 2:7-10; Jas 1:22-25; 2:14-26
1Jo 2:3,29; 3:7; 5:2-5; Re 22:14
that, etc. Heb. judgment and justice.
33:14; Ge 18:19; Pr 21:3; Jer 22:15

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

Context

  • Ezekiel 18:4

    Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

  • Ezekiel 18:5

    But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

  • Ezekiel 18:6

    And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

Read all of Ezekiel 18

Ezekiel 18:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el hombre que fuere justo, é hiciere juicio y justicia;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si un homme est juste, et pratique le jugement et la justice;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn jemand gerecht ist und Recht und Gerechtigkeit übt,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vir si fuerit justus, et fecerit judicium et justitiam,