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14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel,[a] and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “Suppose I were to send wild animals through the land and kill its children, leaving it desolate, without travelers due to the wild animals. 16 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, they could not save their own sons or daughters; they would save only their own lives, and the land would become desolate.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:14 sn Traditionally this has been understood as a reference to the biblical Daniel, though he was still quite young when Ezekiel prophesied. One wonders if he had developed a reputation as an intercessor by this point. For this reason some prefer to see a reference to a ruler named Danel, known in Canaanite legend for his justice and wisdom. In this case all three of the individuals named would be non-Israelites, however the Ugaritic Danel is not known to have qualities of faith in the Lord that would place him in the company of the other men. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:447-50.

14 even if these three men—Noah,(A) Daniel[a](B) and Job(C)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,(D) declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “Or if I send wild beasts(E) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,(F) 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:14 Or Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature; also in verse 20