I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances: At Mount Sinai God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws for the people of Israel. The Hebrew words for statutes and ordinances are almost synonymous and may be translated “laws,” “rules,” or “commands” (see the comments on 5.6). The Hebrew verb rendered showed is literally “caused to know,” so it may be translated “taught” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “told … about” (New Century Version).

By whose observance man shall live is literally “which the person will do and he will live by them.” The Hebrew word for man refers to human beings in general, not just males. God has already stated the idea that a person’s life depends on obeying his laws and commandments (see 18.9). Live here refers to the Israelites avoiding punishment and being able to live in the Promised Land. It does not refer to eternal life, as Luke 10.28 does. For this reason Good News Translation‘s model for this clause (“which bring life to anyone who obeys them”) can be a little misleading. A better model is “It is when people keep these rules and commandments that they live.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .