Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

EZEKIEL 33:10KJV
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Ezekiel 33:10 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 33:10 mean?

Ezekiel 33:10 describes God telling Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel, who are expressing despair over their sins and wondering how they can possibly survive when they feel overwhelmed and worn down by their wrongdoing. The verse captures the people’s sense of hopelessness, as they see their sins as a heavy burden that leaves them feeling as if life is slipping away.

In this verse, God addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" and instructs him to relay a message to the "house of Israel." The people are speaking honestly about their guilt, recognizing that their "transgressions" and "sins" are weighing on them so much that they feel as if they are wasting away. Their question, "how should we then live?" shows their fear that forgiveness or restoration might be impossible. This sets the stage for God’s response in the following verses, where He explains His desire for repentance and life rather than death.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 33:10

  • "Transgressions" (פֶּשַׁע, peshaʿ): This word means deliberate rebellion or breaking away from what is right, not just accidental wrongdoing. The people are admitting to serious, willful disobedience.
  • "Sins" (חַטָּאָה, chattaʾah): This is a broader term for moral failure or missing the mark. By pairing it with "transgressions," the verse covers both intentional and unintentional wrongdoing.
  • "Pine away" (מָקַק, maqaq): This word means to waste away or decay. It paints a vivid picture of the people feeling like their lives are fading because of the weight of their guilt.
  • "Live" (חָיָה, chayah): This word means to be alive or to have life. The people’s question, "how should we then live?" is not just about physical survival but about whether there is any hope or future for them.

Why Ezekiel 33:10 matters

  • Ezekiel 33:10 shows that the people of Israel are deeply aware of their guilt and are not making excuses, but instead are overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness.
  • The verse highlights the emotional and spiritual toll of sin, using strong language to show how guilt can make people feel as if they are wasting away inside.
  • This verse prepares the reader for the message of hope and repentance that follows, making it clear that God’s response is not to leave people in despair but to offer a way back to life.

Where else these words appear

“away” Hebrew H4743 · used in 7 verses

  • Leviticus 26:39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
  • Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
  • Ezekiel 24:23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

“transgressions” Hebrew H6588 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
  • Psalms 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
  • Lamentations 1:5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.