Ezekiel 33:3

3 if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blow the shofar, and warn the people;

Ezekiel 33:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 33:3

If what he seeth the sword come upon the land
Or those that kill with the sword, as the Targum; as soon as he observes a body of armed men, more or less, marching towards the borders of the land with a manifest intention to enter and invade it: he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
warn the people by blowing the trumpet, the signal agreed on; by which they would understand that an enemy was at hand, or danger near; or warn them by word of mouth, as well as by the trumpet, where he could do it, and when it was necessary.

Ezekiel 33:3 In-Context

1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and tell them, When I bring the sword on a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman;

3 if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blow the shofar, and warn the people;

4 then whoever hears the sound of the shofar, and doesn't take warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the shofar, and didn't take warning; his blood shall be on him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.