Ezekiel 18:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD, and not that he should return from his ways and live?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הֶחָפֹ֤ץ אֶחְפֹּץ֙ מ֣וֹת רָשָׁ֔ע נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הֲל֛וֹא בְּשׁוּב֥וֹ מִדְּרָכָ֖יו וְחָיָֽה׃

Transliteration

he- ḥāpōṣ ʾeḥpōṣ môt rāšāʿ nəʾum ʾădōnāy YHWH hă- lôʾ bə- šûbô mi- dərākāyw wə- ḥāyāh

Grammar Details

• *he-*: interrogative particle - whether
• *ḥāpōṣ*: Qal infinitive absolute - desire
• *ʾeḥpōṣ*: Qal imperfect 1st person singular - I will desire
• *môt*: masculine singular construct - death of
• *rāšāʿ*: adjective masculine singular - wicked
• *nəʾum*: construct state, masculine singular - declaration of
• *ʾădōnāy*: divine title - Lord
• *YHWH*: divine name
• *hă-*: interrogative particle - whether
• *lôʾ*: negative particle - not
• *bə-*: preposition - in
• *šûbô*: Qal infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his turning back
• *mi-*: preposition - from
• *dərākāyw*: feminine plural noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his ways
• *wə-*: conjunction - and
• *ḥāyāh*: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he lived

Word Meanings

• *ḥāpōṣ* *ʾeḥpōṣ*: greatly desire/surely want (emphatic construction)
• *nəʾum*: declaration/oracle/utterance
• *šûbô*: his turning back/his repentance/his returning
• *dərākāyw*: his ways/his paths/his actions

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For haue I eny pleasure in the death of a synner, saieth the LORDE God? but rather that he conuerte, and lyue?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Haue I any desire that the wicked should die, sayth the Lord God? or shall he not liue, if he returne from his wayes?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For haue I any pleasure in the death of a sinner saith the Lorde God? shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Do I at all desire the death of the wicked? An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Is it not in his turning back from his way -- And he hath lived?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the evil-doer? says the Lord: am I not pleased if he is turned from his way so that he may have life?

• World English Bible (2000)

  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the Sovereign LORD? Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?

Referenced Verses

• Ezek 18:32 : 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
• 1 Tim 2:4 : 4 Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• 2 Pet 3:9 : 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• Ps 147:11 : 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
• Mic 7:18 : 18 Who is a God like you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy.
• Luke 15:4-7 : 4 What man among you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say to you, that likewise there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Luke 15:22-24 : 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it; and let us eat and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
• Luke 15:32 : 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead and is alive again; and was lost and is found.
• Jer 31:20 : 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, says the LORD.
• Lam 3:33 : 33 For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.
• Exod 34:6-7 : 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth," 7 "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
• Job 33:27-28 : 27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
• Jas 2:13 : 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
• Hos 11:8 : 8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I deliver you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is kindled together.