The Meaning of Ezekiel 33:12 Explained

Ezekiel 33:12

KJV: Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

YLT: And thou, son of man, say unto the sons of thy people: The righteousness of the righteous doth not deliver him in the day of his transgression, And the wickedness of the wicked, He doth not stumble for it in the day of his turning from his wickedness, And the righteous is not able to live in it in the day of his sinning.

Darby: And thou, son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live thereby in the day that he sinneth.

ASV: And thou, son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall he that is righteous be able to live thereby in the day that he sinneth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore, thou son  of man,  say  unto the children  of thy people,  The righteousness  of the righteous  shall not deliver  him in the day  of his transgression:  as for the wickedness  of the wicked,  he shall not fall  thereby in the day  that he turneth  from his wickedness;  neither shall the righteous  be able  to live  for his [righteousness] in the day  that he sinneth. 

What does Ezekiel 33:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 33:1-16 - "why Will Ye Die?"
The prophet depicts the peasantry of a fertile valley as engaged in pastoral pursuits. It is a peaceful, happy scene; but, creeping through the mountain passes, are their deadliest foes. How necessary that there should be a watchman, trumpet in hand, to give notice; and how unspeakable his guilt if he forbear to sound a warning! We are not responsible for those who refuse to take warning from our announcements, faithfully given; but if we perceive a soul in mortal danger and forbear to warn it, we are not only responsible for its ruin, but we bring awful retribution upon ourselves. Well might Richard Baxter lie awake at night beneath his awful sense of responsibility for the souls of men. God desires our salvation. If only the sinner will confess his sins to the faithful and merciful High Priest, and make such restitution as he can, not one of his sins shall be remembered against him. [source]

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 33:12 mean?

and therefore you son of man say to the sons of your people the righteousness of the righteous man not shall deliver him in the day of his transgression and as for the wickedness of the wicked not he shall fall because of it that he turns from his wickedness and the righteous nor shall be able to live because of [his] [righteousness] that he sins
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־ אָדָ֗ם אֱמֹ֤ר אֶל־ בְּנֵֽי־ עַמְּךָ֙ צִדְקַ֣ת הַצַּדִּ֗יק לֹ֤א תַצִּילֶ֙נּוּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם פִּשְׁע֔וֹ וְרִשְׁעַ֤ת הָֽרָשָׁע֙ לֹֽא־ יִכָּ֣שֶׁל בָּ֔הּ שׁוּב֣וֹ מֵֽרִשְׁע֑וֹ וְצַדִּ֗יק לֹ֥א יוּכַ֛ל לִֽחְי֥וֹת בָּ֖הּ חֲטֹאתֽוֹ

וְאַתָּ֣ה  and  therefore  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
בֶן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָ֗ם  of  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
אֱמֹ֤ר  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּנֵֽי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמְּךָ֙  of  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
צִדְקַ֣ת  the  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
הַצַּדִּ֗יק  of  the  righteous  man 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
תַצִּילֶ֙נּוּ֙  shall  deliver  him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
בְּי֣וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
פִּשְׁע֔וֹ  of  his  transgression 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
וְרִשְׁעַ֤ת  and  as  for  the  wickedness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רִשְׁעָה  
Sense: wickedness, guilt.
הָֽרָשָׁע֙  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
יִכָּ֣שֶׁל  he  shall  fall 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
בָּ֔הּ  because  of  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
שׁוּב֣וֹ  that  he  turns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
מֵֽרִשְׁע֑וֹ  from  his  wickedness 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶשַׁע  
Sense: wrong, wickedness, guilt.
וְצַדִּ֗יק  and  the  righteous 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יוּכַ֛ל  shall  be  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לִֽחְי֥וֹת  to  live 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
בָּ֖הּ  because  of  [his]  [righteousness] 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
חֲטֹאתֽוֹ  that  he  sins 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.