Ezekiel 33:1-8

1 et factum est verbum Domini ad me dicens

2 fili hominis loquere ad filios populi tui et dices ad eos terra cum induxero super eam gladium et tulerit populus terrae virum unum de novissimis suis et constituerit eum super se speculatorem

3 et ille viderit gladium venientem super terram et cecinerit bucina et adnuntiaverit populo

4 audiens autem quisquis ille est sonum bucinae non se observaverit veneritque gladius et tulerit eum sanguis ipsius super caput eius erit

5 sonum bucinae audivit et non se observavit sanguis eius in ipso erit si autem custodierit animam suam salvavit

6 quod si speculator viderit gladium venientem et non insonuerit bucina et populus non se custodierit veneritque gladius et tulerit de eis animam ille quidem in iniquitate sua captus est sanguinem autem eius de manu speculatoris requiram

7 et tu fili hominis speculatorem dedi te domui Israhel audiens ergo ex ore meo sermonem adnuntiabis eis ex me

8 si me dicente ad impium impie morte morieris non fueris locutus ut se custodiat impius a via sua ipse impius in iniquitate sua morietur sanguinem autem eius de manu tua requiram

Ezekiel 33:1-8 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.