Ezekiel 14:20

Easy-to-Read Version

If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives because they are good men. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters!" This is what the Lord God said.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not rescue their son or daughter. They would rescue only themselves by their righteousness.

Hebrew Names Version
though Noach, Daniyel, and Iyov, were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

King James Version
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God , they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

English Standard Version
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God , they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

New American Standard Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness."

New Century Version
As surely as I live, says the Lord God , even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could not save their son or daughter. They could save only themselves because they did what was right.

Amplified Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they could not save either their son or their daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness [that is, their right-standing with God—their moral and spiritual integrity]."

World English Bible
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, says the Lord Yahweh, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And though Noah, Daniel and Iob were in the middes of it, As I liue, sayth the Lorde God, they shal deliuer neither sonne nor daughter: they shall but deliuer their owne soules by their righteousnes.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness."

Legacy Standard Bible
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live," declares Lord Yahweh, "they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness."

Berean Standard Bible
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could deliver neither son nor daughter. Their righteousness could save only themselves.

Contemporary English Version
Again, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were living there, I, the Lord , promise that the children of these faithful men would also die. Only the three of them would be spared.

Complete Jewish Bible
even if Noach, Dani'el and Iyov were in it, as I live," says Adonai Elohim , "they would save neither a son nor a daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness."

Darby Translation
and Noah, Daniel, and Job should be in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither son nor daughter: they should [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

George Lamsa Translation
Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, says the LORD God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; but they would only deliver themselves by their righteousness.

Good News Translation
even if Noah, Danel, and Job lived there—as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord , am the living God—they would not be able to save even their own children. Their goodness would save only their own lives."

Lexham English Bible
and if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the midst of her, as surely as I live," declares the Lord Yahweh, "surely not a son, surely not a daughter will they save by their righteousness; they would save themselves."

Literal Translation
though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they by their righteousness would deliver only their souls.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and yf Noe, Daniel and Iob were therin: As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE God) they shal delyuer nether sonnes ner doughters, but saue their owne soules in their rightuousnesse.

American Standard Version
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Bible in Basic English
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, by my life, says the Lord, they would not keep son or daughter safe; only themselves would they keep safe through their righteousness.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

King James Version (1611)
Though Noah, Daniel and Iob were in it, as I liue, saith the Lord God, they shal deliuer neither son nor daughter: they shall but deliuer their owne soules by their righteousnes.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And if Noe, Daniel, and Iob were therein, as truely as I liue saith the Lorde God, they shall deliuer neither sonne nor daughter, but saue their owne soules in their righteousnesse.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and should Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, there shall be left them neither sons nor daughters; only they by their righteousness shall deliver their souls.

English Revised Version
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Noe, and Danyel, and Joob, ben in the myddis therof, Y lyue, seith the Lord God, for thei schulen not delyuere a sone and a douyter, but thei bi her riytfulnesse schulen delyuere her soulis.

Update Bible Version
though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, says the Lord Yahweh, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall deliver their own souls only by their righteousness.

New English Translation
Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord , they could not save their own son or daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.

New King James Version
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness."

New Living Translation
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord , even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn't be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their righteousness.

New Life Bible
even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in the land, as I live," says the Lord God, "they could not save their son or daughter. They would save only themselves by being right and good.

New Revised Standard
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord God , they would save neither son nor daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Were Noah, Daniel and Job n the midst thereof, As I live, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, Surely neither son nor daughter, should they deliver, They, by their righteousness should deliver only their own lives.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Noe, and Daniel, and Job be in the midst thereof: as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter: but they shall only deliver their own souls by their justice.

Revised Standard Version
even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

Young's Literal Translation
and Noah, Daniel, and Job, in its midst: I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah -- neither son nor daughter do they deliver; they, by their righteousness, deliver their own soul.

Contextual Overview

¹² Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, ¹³ "Son of man, I will punish any nation that leaves me and sins against me. I will stop their food supply. I might cause a famine and remove the people and animals from that country. ¹⁴ I would punish that country even if Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there. They could save their own lives by their goodness, but they could not save the whole country ." This is what the Lord God said. ¹⁵ "Or I might send wild animals through that country to kill all the people. Then no one would travel through that country because of the wild animals. ¹⁶ If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed." This is what the Lord God said. ¹⁷ "Or I might send an enemy army to fight against that country. The soldiers would destroy that country—I would remove all the people and animals from that country. ¹⁸ If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed." This is what the Lord God said. ¹⁹ "Or I might send a disease against that country. I will pour my anger down on the people. I will remove all the people and animals from that country. ²⁰ If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives because they are good men. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters!" This is what the Lord God said. ²¹ Then the Lord God said, "So think how bad it will be for Jerusalem. I will send all four of those punishments against that city! I will send enemy soldiers, hunger, disease, and wild animals against that city. I will remove all the people and animals from that country.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Noah: Ezekiel 14:14, Ezekiel 14:16

Daniel: Daniel, says Abp. Newcombe, was "taken captive in the third year of Jehoiakim - Daniel 1:1. After this, Jehoiakam reigned eight years - 2 Kings 23:36. And this prophecy, as appears from Ezekiel 8:1, was uttered in the sixth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, who succeeded Jehoiakim, and reigned only three months - 2 Kings 24:6, 2 Kings 24:8. Therefore, at this time, Daniel had been fourteen years in captivity;" and was, as is generally supposed, about thirty years of age.

by: Ezekiel 18:20, Ezekiel 18:22, Job 5:19-24, Psalms 33:18, Psalms 33:19, Isaiah 3:10, Hosea 10:12, Zephaniah 2:3, Acts 10:35, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:29 - he called Genesis 6:9 - just Job 1:1 - Job Ezekiel 3:19 - but thou Ezekiel 20:4 - judge them Daniel 1:6 - Daniel Matthew 25:9 - lest Hebrews 11:7 - prepared

Cross-References

Genesis 9:26
Noah also said, "May the Lord , the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave.

Genesis 14:3
All these kings joined their armies in the Valley of Siddim. (The Valley of Siddim is now the Salt Sea.)

Genesis 14:4
These kings had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the 13th year, they all rebelled against him.

Genesis 14:5
So in the 14th year, King Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came to fight against them. Kedorlaomer and the kings with him defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also defeated the Zuzites in Ham. They defeated the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.

Genesis 14:6
And they defeated the Horites who lived in the area from the hill country of Seir to El Paran. (El Paran is near the desert.)

Genesis 14:9
They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. So there were four kings fighting against five.

Genesis 14:17
Then Abram went home after he defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. On his way home, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. (This is now called King's Valley.)

Genesis 14:19
He blessed Abram and said, "Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.

Genesis 24:27
He said, "Praise be to the Lord , the God of my master Abraham. The Lord has been kind and loyal to him by leading me to his own people."

Genesis 28:22
I am setting this stone up as a memorial stone. It will show that this is a holy place for God, and I will give God one-tenth of all he gives me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it,.... Who are again mentioned by name, as in Ezekiel 14:14; and are the three men referred to in Ezekiel 14:16;

[as] I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; not so much as an only son, or an only daughter, no, not even a single child: the plural number is used before, as in Ezekiel 14:16; here the singular, to show how resolutely determined the Lord was upon the destruction of the land; that even the prayers of the best of men among them should not prevail with him to save a single person, no, not a single infant: they

shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness;

Ezekiel 14:16- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jeremiah 14:0; Jeremiah 15:0 is a remarkable parallel to this prophecy. Here, as elsewhere, Ezekiel is commissioned to deliver to the exiles the same message which Jeremiah conveys to the inhabitants of Judaea. The answer discovers the nature of the questions which had been expressed or implied.

(1) Can God cast out a people who are holy unto Himself?

(2) Is it just to punish them with utter desolation?

The prophet answers:

(1) That when a people is so corrupt as to call down national judgment, individual piety shall save none but the individuals themselves.

(2) The corrupt condition of the people shall be made so manifest, that none will question the justice of God in dealing thus severely with them.

Ezekiel 14:12

Or, “When a land” - the case is first put in a general form, and then ism brought with increased force home to Jerusalem - “sinneth against me by trespassing grievously,” and I stretch out “mine hand upon it,” and break the staff of bread “thereof,” and send famine “upon it and” cut off “man and beast: though these three men” etc.

Ezekiel 14:14

Noah, Daniel, and Job - Three striking instances of men who, for their integrity, were delivered from the ruin which fell upon others. Some have thought it strange that Daniel, a contemporary, and still young, should have been classed with the two ancient worthies. But the account of him Daniel 2:0 shows, that by this time Daniel was a very remarkable man (compare Ezekiel 28:3), and the introduction of the name of a contemporary gives force and life to the illustration. There is in the order in which the names occur a kind of climax. Noah did not rescue the guilty world, but did carry forth with him his wife, sons, and sons’ wives. Daniel raised only a few, but he did raise three of his countrymen with him to honor. To Job was spared neither son nor daughter.

Ezekiel 14:22, Ezekiel 14:23

Ye shall be comforted ... - By a truer estimate of the dispensations of the Almighty. This visitation will be recognized as inevitable and just.