Ezekiel 33:4-11

4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.
5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of[b] them. How then can we live?” ’
11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

Ezekiel 33:4-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33

This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threatening of destruction to those who remained in the land after the taking of the city; and a detection of the hypocrisy of the prophet's hearers. The duty of a watchman in general is declared, Eze 33:1-6, an application of this to the prophet, Eze 33:7: the sum of whose business is to warn the wicked man of his wickedness; and the consequence of doing, or not doing it, is expressed, Eze 33:8,9, an objection of the people, and the prophet's answer to it, Eze 33:10,11, who is bid to acquaint them, that a righteous man trusting to his righteousness, and sinning, should not live; and that a sinner repenting of his sins should not die, Eze 33:12-16, the people's charge of inequality in the ways of God is retorted upon them, and removed from the Lord, and proved against them, Eze 33:17-20, then follows a prophecy, delivered out after the news was brought of the taking of the city, threatening with ruin those that remained in the land, confident of safety, and that for their sins, which are particularly enumerated, Eze 33:21-29, and the chapter is closed with a discovery of the hypocrisy of those that attended the prophet's ministry, Eze 33:30-33.

Cross References 16

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 25:16
  • 2. S Leviticus 20:9; S Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 18:13; Zechariah 1:4; Acts 18:6
  • 3. S Leviticus 20:9
  • 4. S Exodus 9:21
  • 5. Isaiah 56:10-11; S Ezekiel 3:18
  • 6. S Isaiah 52:8
  • 7. Jeremiah 1:17; Jeremiah 26:2; Ezekiel 3:17
  • 8. ver 14
  • 9. S Isaiah 3:11; S Ezekiel 18:4
  • 10. S Psalms 7:12
  • 11. Ezekiel 3:17-19
  • 12. S Leviticus 26:16; Ezekiel 24:23
  • 13. S Leviticus 26:39; S Ezekiel 4:17
  • 14. S Lamentations 3:33; Ezekiel 18:32; 2 Peter 3:9
  • 15. S 2 Chronicles 30:9; S Isaiah 19:22; S Jeremiah 3:12
  • 16. Jeremiah 44:7-8; S Ezekiel 18:23; Hosea 11:8; Joel 2:12; S 1 Timothy 2:4

Footnotes 2

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.