The Meaning of Ezekiel 33:18 Explained

Ezekiel 33:18

KJV: When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

YLT: In the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, And he hath done perversity -- he dieth for it.

Darby: When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and doeth what is wrong, then he shall die therein.

ASV: When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die therein.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When the righteous  turneth  from his righteousness,  and committeth  iniquity,  he shall even die  thereby. 

What does Ezekiel 33:18 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 33

1  According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people
7  Ezekiel is admonished of his duty
10  God shows the justice of his ways toward the penitent and toward revolters
17  He maintains his justice
21  Upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem
25  he prophecies the desolation of the land
30  God's judgment upon the mockers of the prophets

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 33:18 mean?

When turns the righteous from his righteousness and commits iniquity and he shall die because of it
בְּשׁוּב־ צַדִּ֥יק מִצִּדְקָת֖וֹ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֑וֶל וּמֵ֖ת בָּהֶֽם

בְּשׁוּב־  When  turns 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
צַדִּ֥יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
מִצִּדְקָת֖וֹ  from  his  righteousness 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
וְעָ֣שָׂה  and  commits 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עָ֑וֶל  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָוֶל 
Sense: injustice, unrighteousness, wrong.
וּמֵ֖ת  and  he  shall  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בָּהֶֽם  because  of  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural