Ezekiel 33:3

3 if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet 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 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, speak to the children of thy people and say unto them: `When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man from their borders and set him as their watchman, and

3 if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet and warn the people,

4 then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet and taketh not warning, if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning: his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.