Judgment on Nations and the Limits of Intercession
Ezekiel 14:12-23
Eze.14.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Jeremiah 1:4 (verbal): Uses the identical prophetic formula 'The word of the LORD came to me,' marking the direct receipt of a divine message to the prophet.
- Jonah 1:1 (verbal): Begins with the same formula 'Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah,' a common prophetic introduction signaling divine commissioning.
- Hosea 1:1 (structural): Opens with 'The word of the LORD that came to Hosea,' a parallel structural device introducing a prophetic oracle attributed to a received word from YHWH.
- 1 Kings 17:2 (verbal): 'And the word of the LORD came unto Elijah'—another example of the standard biblical phrasing that frames prophetic address and revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
- And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Eze.14.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- תחטא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- למעל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- ונטיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- ושברתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והשלחתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- רעב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והכרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,ms,sg
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובהמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Leviticus 26:20, 26:16-18 (thematic): Leviticus frames covenant curses in terms of drought, broken bread and desolation when the land sins against God—same covenantal idea of divine hand bringing famine and devastation on people and beasts.
- Deuteronomy 28:20-22, 28:38-42 (thematic): The Deuteronomic curse passage lists wasting, fever, famine and loss of livestock as consequences of covenant unfaithfulness—parallels Ezekiel’s threat to stretch out his hand and smite the land with hunger and remove human and animal life.
- Amos 4:6-11 (thematic): Amos describes God sending successive calamities (famine, drought, pestilence, destruction) on Israel in response to sin; like Ezekiel 14:13 it emphasizes punitive deprivation inflicted on both people and land.
- Ezekiel 14:21 (verbal): In the same chapter God sums up four punishments—sword, famine, wild beasts and pestilence—echoing the means of judgment announced in verse 13 and reinforcing the same catalogue of divine judgments.
- Ezekiel 5:12 (verbal): Earlier Ezekiel proclaims that punishment will consume a portion of the people 'by pestilence and by famine' and that inhabitants and animals will be cut off—language and consequences closely mirror 14:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- Son of man, if the land sins against me by transgressing greatly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast,
- Son of man, if the land sins against me by transgression—committing great treachery—and I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine into it, and cut off from it man and beast,
Eze.14.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שלשת: NUM,m,pl,abs
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- נח: PN,m,sg
- דניאל: PN,m,sg
- ואיוב: CONJ+PN,m,sg
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- בצדקתם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- ינצלו: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,pl
- נפשם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 6:9 (thematic): Noah is described as righteous and blameless in his generation—background for Ezekiel’s appeal to Noah’s righteousness as exemplary (Ezek. 14:14).
- Job 1:1 (thematic): Job is introduced as blameless and upright, echoing Ezekiel’s naming of Job as one of the righteous whose integrity is well‑known (Ezek. 14:14).
- Daniel 6:4 (thematic): Daniel is noted for his integrity and faithfulness; Ezekiel’s inclusion of Daniel reflects the tradition of Daniel’s righteousness even under threat. (See also Dan. 6:22 for divine deliverance of Daniel.)
- Ezekiel 14:20 (structural): Parallel verse within the same chapter that repeats and reinforces the point that even three righteous men would only save themselves—close verbal and argumentative parallel to v.14.)
- Genesis 18:24–33 (thematic): Abraham’s negotiation for Sodom raises the question whether a number of righteous persons could avert judgment for a city—a related theme to Ezekiel’s claim that a few righteous cannot avert judgment for the nation.
Alternative generated candidates
- if these three men are in it—Noah, Daniel, and Job—by their righteousness they shall deliver their own lives, declares the Lord GOD.
- even if these three men were in it—Noah, Daniel, and Job—by their righteousness they would save only their own lives, declares the Lord GOD.
Eze.14.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- חיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אעביר: VERB,hiph,impf,1,?,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ושכלתה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- והיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שממה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבלי: PREP
- עובר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפני: PREP
- החיה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:13-16 (structural): Immediate context describing the same hypothetical: if a wild beast passes through and makes the land a desolation; part of the same argumentative unit and nearly parallel wording.
- Ezekiel 14:21 (thematic): Speaks of God sending 'sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence' to make land desolate—same motif of wild beasts as punitive agents producing desolation.
- Leviticus 26:22 (verbal): God threatens to 'send wild beasts' among the people as punishment—uses wild animals as a judicial means, echoing Ezekiel's image.
- Deuteronomy 28:26 (verbal): Part of covenant curses: corpses become food for birds and beasts and 'there shall be none to frighten them away,' resonating with the idea of land made desolate and uninhabited because of beasts.
Alternative generated candidates
- If I send a destructive beast into the land and it devastates it so that it becomes desolate and without people because of the beast,
- Or if I send a wild beast into the land and it ravages it so that it becomes a desolation and no one can pass because of the beasts,
Eze.14.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שלשת: NUM,m,pl,abs
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואם: CONJ
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יצילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- לבדם: ADV+PRON,3,m,pl
- ינצלו: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,pl
- והארץ: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- שממה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:14 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same chapter listing Noah, Daniel, and Job as righteous exemplars; the language about these three men and their inability to deliver the land is repeated/expanded here.
- Ezekiel 14:20 (structural): Closely related verse that reiterates the point that even these three would only save themselves; reinforces the same judicial theme and verbal formula.
- Genesis 6:8 (thematic): Noah is singled out in Ezekiel 14 as a righteous figure whose righteousness preserves only his household; Genesis 6:8 describes Noah finding favor/righteousness before God and being saved from the flood, a background for Ezekiel’s example.
- Daniel 6:22 (thematic): Daniel is another exemplar in Ezekiel’s triad; Daniel 6:22 records God’s deliverance of Daniel in the lions’ den, illustrating Daniel’s personal preservation that Ezekiel says would extend only to himself.
- Job 1:8 (verbal): God’s declaration of Job as blameless and upright (Job 1:8) undergirds Ezekiel’s use of Job as a righteous figure who, like Noah and Daniel, would be able to save only his own life by his righteousness.
Alternative generated candidates
- even if these three men were in it—though I live, declares the Lord GOD—if they had sons or daughters, they would not be able to save them; they would save themselves alone, and the land would be desolate.
- yet, if these three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord GOD—even if they had sons or daughters, by their righteousness they would deliver themselves alone; the land would be desolate.
Eze.14.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- או: CONJ
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אביא: VERB,hiphil,impf,1,_,sg
- על: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ההיא: DEM,f,sg
- ואמרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תעבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- והכרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,ms,sg
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובהמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:19-20 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same chapter: repeats the formula of God bringing the sword (and other calamities) on a land and cutting off man and beast, discussing the effect even if a remnant of righteous were present.
- Ezekiel 5:17 (verbal): Earlier Ezekiel passage using the same judgment motif—God brings the sword upon the land and cuts off people and animals as punishment for sin.
- Leviticus 26:25 (verbal): Part of the covenant curses: God warns, “I will bring the sword upon you,” linking divine retribution by the sword with national punishment and devastation of people and livestock.
- Jeremiah 25:8-11 (thematic): Jeremiah announces that God will summon the peoples of the north to bring sword, famine and captivity upon the land—using foreign armies as instruments of divine judgment similar to Ezekiel’s portrayal.
Alternative generated candidates
- Or if I bring the sword upon that land and say, 'Sword, pass through the land,' and cut off from it man and beast;
- Or if I bring the sword upon that land and say, ‘Sword, pass through the land,’ and I cut off from it man and beast,
Eze.14.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושלשת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יצילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובנות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- כי: CONJ
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- לבדם: ADV+PRON,3,m,pl
- ינצלו: VERB,niphal,impf,3,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:14 (verbal): Same context naming Noah, Daniel, and Job and using the language that if they were present they would only save their own lives by their righteousness.
- Ezekiel 14:20 (verbal): Reiterates the claim that even these three would not deliver others but only themselves—closely parallel wording and idea within the chapter.
- Jeremiah 15:1 (thematic): God declares that even if great intercessors (Moses and Samuel) stood before Him, He would not repent—thematically parallels the inability of righteous individuals to avert national judgment.
- Genesis 6:9 (verbal): Describes Noah as righteous/blameless—background to one of the three exemplary figures Ezekiel invokes.
- Job 1:1 (thematic): Portrays Job as blameless and upright, paralleling Ezekiel's use of Job as an example of a righteous person who nonetheless cannot save others from divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- yet though these three men were in it—though I live, declares the Lord GOD—they would not deliver their sons or daughters; they would deliver only themselves.
- yet, if these three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord GOD—sons and daughters would not be delivered; they would be delivered only themselves.
Eze.14.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- או: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשלח: VERB,qal,imperf,1,_,sg
- אל: NEG
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ההיא: DEM,f,sg
- ושפכתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- חמתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1s
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- בדם: PREP
- להכרית: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובהמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:17-18 (structural): Immediate context — the chapter lists alternative forms of divine judgment (sword, famine, pestilence, plague) and uses the same framework of sending calamity to cut off man and beast.
- Ezekiel 5:17 (verbal): Similar prophetic threat within Ezekiel — God threatens sword, famine and pestilence and the cutting off of inhabitants, echoing the wording and judicial formula of 14:19.
- Genesis 7:21-23 (thematic): Flood narrative where God destroys 'all flesh'—men and beasts alike—parallels the theme of divine extermination of human and animal life.
- Psalm 79:6-7 (verbal): Uses the language of pouring out divine wrath on nations ('pour out thy wrath'), paralleling the verb 'pour out (my) wrath' found in Ezek. 14:19.
- Deuteronomy 32:24 (thematic): The Song of Moses lists judgments (hunger, pestilence, beasts, biting insects) sent by God — a similar catalogue of calamities used to punish and cut off people and animals.
Alternative generated candidates
- Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it in blood to cut off from it man and beast;
- Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast,
Eze.14.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונח: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דניאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואיוב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתוכה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,fs
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- יצילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- בצדקתם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- יצילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- נפשם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:14 (verbal): Nearly identical wording earlier in the chapter: even if Noah, Daniel and Job were present they would only deliver themselves by their righteousness, not others—an internal parallel and restatement of the same theme.
- Jeremiah 15:1 (thematic): God declares that even if intercessors like Moses and Samuel stood before him, he would not be favorable to the people—similar theme that great righteousness or intercession cannot avert divine judgment for the nation.
- Genesis 6:9 (allusion): Describes Noah as 'righteous' and 'blameless,' which is the background for Ezekiel’s invocation of Noah as an exemplar of righteousness mentioned in 14:20.
- Job 1:1 (allusion): Identifies Job as 'blameless and upright,' supplying the background for Ezekiel’s reference to Job as one whose righteousness could only save himself, not others.
- Psalm 49:7–8 (thematic): Asserts that no one can ransom another person or give a ransom to God for them—echoing Ezekiel’s point that even the righteous cannot deliver others from judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- behold—Noah, Daniel, and Job in it—by their righteousness they would deliver only their own lives; whether son or daughter, they would save themselves by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD.
- Noah, Daniel, and Job—if they were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD—if there were a son or a daughter, by their righteousness they would deliver their life.
Eze.14.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אף: ADV
- כי: CONJ
- ארבעת: NUM,card,pl,cstr
- שפטי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הרעים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ורעב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחיה: VERB,qal,juss,2,m,sg
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ודבר: VERB,qal,fut,3,m,sg
- שלחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,?,sg
- אל: NEG
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- להכרית: PREP+VERB,hiph,inf
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובהמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 5:17 (verbal): Same prophet and very similar catalogue of four judgments (sword, famine, wild animals, and pestilence); a near-verbatim formulation of the calamities sent on Jerusalem.
- Deuteronomy 32:24–25 (thematic): Moses’ song lists related divine punishments—sword, famine/hunger, and pestilence—portraying national devastation by multiple scourges like Ezekiel’s quartet.
- 1 Kings 8:35–37 (thematic): Solomon’s temple-prayer enumerates calamities that may fall on the land (famine, plague, pestilence, enemies with the sword), echoing the same range of divine judgments.
- Deuteronomy 28:20–22, 58–59 (thematic): The covenant curses include military defeat (sword), famine, and various pestilences and plagues as consequences of disobedience—paralleling Ezekiel’s fourfold disciplinary measures.
Alternative generated candidates
- For thus says the Lord GOD: Even if I send upon Jerusalem the four judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence—to cut off from it man and beast,
- For thus says the Lord GOD: Even though I send the four severe judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—upon Jerusalem, to cut off man and beast from it,
Eze.14.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והנה: ADV
- נותרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- פלטה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המוצאים: VERB,ptc,qal,m,pl,def
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובנות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- הנם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יוצאים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- וראיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- דרכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- עלילותם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- ונחמתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- על: PREP
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הבאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הבאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 14:21 (structural): Immediate context: the prior verse lists the fourfold judgments (sword, famine, wild beasts, pestilence) and explicitly states that 'a remnant shall be saved,' providing the direct framework for v.22's remark about survivors and their witness.
- Isaiah 1:9 (thematic): Speaks of the Lord preserving 'a very small remnant' so that the nation is not wholly consumed—echoes Ezekiel's motif that some will escape the judgment and thereby vindicate/illustrate the reason for punishment.
- Isaiah 10:20–22 (thematic): Foretells that a remnant of Israel will return and persist despite devastating judgment; parallels the idea of survivors whose continued existence testifies to both judgment and hope.
- Isaiah 37:31–32 (verbal): Predicts that 'a remnant of the house of Judah' will take root and survive—verbal/thematic parallel to Ezekiel's depiction of sons and daughters who escape and whose ways are observed.
- Zechariah 13:8–9 (allusion): Describes two-thirds being struck down while a refined one-third remains—a related remnant motif emphasizing survival and purification after catastrophe, comparable to Ezekiel's surviving witnesses after Jerusalem's calamity.
Alternative generated candidates
- yet there shall be a remnant left in it, those who are brought out, sons and daughters; they shall go out to you, and you shall see their ways and their deeds and be comforted for the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem—for all that I have brought upon it.
- behold, a remnant shall be left in it; the survivors—sons and daughters—shall go out to you. You will see their ways and their deeds, and you will be comforted for the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.
Eze.14.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונחמו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- תראו: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- דרכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- עלילותם: NOUN,f,pl,suff,3,m,pl
- וידעתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- חנם: ADV
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 36:33-36 (verbal): Speaks of God restoring the land so that the nations will see and know that the LORD has not done all he did for nothing—language and intent closely parallel the claim in Ezekiel 14:23 that people will perceive the reasons for God’s actions and know they were not in vain.
- Ezekiel 39:27-29 (thematic): After judgment and restoration Israel and the nations recognize the LORD’s power and presence; like Ezek.14:23 it emphasizes that God’s deeds lead to acknowledgement of his justice and purpose.
- Jeremiah 16:21 (verbal): God declares he will make the nations know his hand and might so they will know that his name is the LORD—parallels the idea that observable acts of God lead to recognition of his intentions and vindication of his actions.
- Isaiah 52:10 (thematic): Proclaims that the LORD has revealed his power and that all the ends of the earth see his salvation; thematically similar in that visible divine acts cause surrounding peoples to perceive and acknowledge God’s purposes.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you will be comforted when you see their ways and their deeds, and you will know that I did not do all that I did to it in vain, declares the Lord GOD.
- And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their deeds, and you will know that I have not done all that I have done there without cause, declares the Lord GOD.
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Son of man, when a land sins against me by transgression and treachery, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast,
even if these three men were in it—Noah, Daniel, and Job—by their righteousness they would deliver only their own lives, declares the Lord GOD.
Or if I bring a wild beast upon the land and it devours so that the land becomes desolate and none pass through because of the beasts,
even if these three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord GOD—if there were sons or daughters, they would be delivered; they alone would escape, and the land would be desolate.
Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, ‘Sword, pass through the land,’ and I cut off from it man and beast,
even if these three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord GOD—sons and daughters would not be delivered; they alone would escape.
Or if I send a plague upon that land and pour out my wrath in blood to cut off from it man and beast,
yet Noah, Daniel, and Job shall be in it—as I live, declares the Lord GOD—if there be a son or a daughter, by their righteousness they shall save their own life.
For thus says the Lord GOD: Even if I send upon Jerusalem the four calamities—sword, famine, wild beast, and plague—to cut off man and beast from her,
behold, there shall be left in her a remnant, those who escape—sons and daughters—they will come out to you, and you will see their way and their deeds and be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem for all that I have brought upon her. And you will be comforted when you see their way and their deeds, and you will know that I did not deal with Jerusalem in vain in all that I have done to her, declares the Lord GOD.