What Does Ezekiel 33:14 Mean in the King James?
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;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
“Turn” is the Hebrew word of return: even under a death sentence, the path back remains open.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks into the place where death feels settled: return remains possible now. The turning takes visible shape in conduct aligned with what is just and right.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a sentence of death means there is no path back.
THE ROOT
שׁוּב
shuv
GROWS FROM
שוב
shuv
Turn, return, come back.
The verb translated “turn” carries the sense of return, making this a movement back from a destructive direction. The verse joins that return to changed conduct, so the change takes shape in what the person does.
ALSO GROWS
teshuvah: Return, turning.
תְּשׁוּבָה
This branch names the turn as a return, echoing the change of direction described here.
heshiv: Bring back, restore.
הֵשִׁיב
The causative form extends return into restoration, illuminating how a changed direction can reach beyond intention.
חַטָּאתוֹ
chatta'to
GROWS FROM
חטא
Miss, fail, go wrong.
“sin” in this verse is chatta'to. The root adds the image of a miss: the wrongdoing is something the person can turn away from, rather than only a fixed identity. Paired with the verse’s verb for return, it traces movement away from the miss and toward a changed way.
ALSO GROWS
chata: Miss, fail, do wrong.
חָטָא
This verb names the act that the person turns from.
chote: One who misses or does wrong; a sinner.
חוֹטֵא
This form shows how the root can describe a person through the wrong, while the verse still presents that person as able to turn.
צְדָקָה
tsedaqah
GROWS FROM
צדק
Alignment; what is straight and just.
“right” in this verse is tsedaqah. The root connects rightness with alignment: conduct is brought into line with what is just. The return in this verse takes visible form in that alignment.
ALSO GROWS
tsedeq: Justice, rightness.
צֶדֶק
This branch names the quality of the conduct the verse describes.
tsaddiq: A just or aligned person.
צַדִּיק
This branch applies the same root to a person whose way is aligned with what is just.
THE PATTERN
A turn becomes visible when changed direction takes shape in just action.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.THE THREAD
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Ezekiel’s “turn” and Isaiah’s “return” grow from שׁוּב (shuv, turn or return), so the same root runs through both verses. Isaiah extends that return toward the LORD and mercy, while Ezekiel shows it taking shape in just conduct.
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