43 Or “permitted.” The content of the verse is shocking: that God would “give” bad decrees. This probably does not refer to the Mosaic law but to the practices of the Canaanites who were left in the land in order to test Israel. See Judg 2:20–23, the note on “decrees” in v. , and the note on “pass through the fire” in v. .
44 The Hebrew term חֻקּוֹת (khuqot; translated “statutes” elsewhere in this chapter) is normally feminine. Here Ezekiel changes the form to masculine: חֻקִּים (khuqim). Further, they are not called “my decrees” as vv. 11 and 13 refer to “my statutes.” The change is a signal that Ezekiel is not talking about the same statutes in vv. 11 and 13, which lead to life.

In other versions

Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life,

So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;

I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by.

I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life.

And in turn I gave to them rules that were not good and regulations by which they will not live.

Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

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