Ezekiel 33:4

4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and ¹does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his ²blood will be on his own head.

Ezekiel 33:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 33:4

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh no
warning
Does not mind the notice given him; is incredulous of the danger he is in, or negligent of providing for his safety; fancies it is an alarm, and nothing else; and imagines there is no real danger, or what is a mere trifle; or, that the enemy is at a great distance, and it is time enough to provide for his defence: if the sword come and take him away;
those that kill with the sword, as the Targum, come suddenly on him, and take away his life, or carry him captive: his blood shall be upon his own head; the guilt of his slaughter, as the Targum; the sin will be his own; it must be brought in wilful murder; no blame can be laid upon any but himself; the watchman will be clear.

Ezekiel 33:4 In-Context

2 "Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,

3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people,

4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

5 'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.

6 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

Cross References

• 1. 2 Chronicles 25:16; Jeremiah 6:17; Zechariah 1:4
• 2. Ezekiel 18:13; Ezekiel 33:5, 9; Acts 18:6