Ezekiel 18:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God commands Israel to cast off sin and obtain a new heart to avoid death.
The Context of Ezekiel 18:31
God calls for complete internal and external transformation.
What Does Ezekiel 18:31 Mean?
Cast away signals active, deliberate rejection of transgressions. Making a new heart and new spirit is the internal transformation that accompanies outward repentance. This is not a small change but a fundamental renewal—new desires, new capacities, new orientation toward God.
The rhetorical question is poignant: why would you choose death when life is offered? The invitation is clear and the choice is theirs.
Ezekiel 18:31 in the Original Language
heart (לֵב, lev) and spirit (רוּחַ, ruach) — the center of desire and will (heart), and the animating force of life and purpose (spirit); together they denote the whole person renewed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 18:31
What does Ezekiel 18:31 mean?
God commands Israel to cast off sin and obtain a new heart to avoid death.
What is the context of Ezekiel 18:31?
God calls for complete internal and external transformation.