Ezekiel 33 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Ezekiel 33 meaning explained in AI Summary

Chapter 33 of Ezekiel focuses on the prophet's role as a watchman and the responsibility of the people to listen to his warnings. It can be divided into three main sections:

1. The Watchman's Responsibility (Verses 1-9):

God reiterates Ezekiel's role as a watchman for Israel.
He is appointed to warn the wicked of their ways and encourage them to turn from evil.
If Ezekiel fails to warn the wicked, their blood will be on his hands.
However, if he warns them and they don't listen, they are responsible for their own sin and punishment.

2. God's Justice and Mercy (Verses 10-20):

God emphasizes that he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires their repentance.
He assures the Israelites that he judges everyone fairly, both the righteous and the wicked, based on their actions.
God promises to forgive and restore those who turn from their wicked ways.

3. The Fall of Jerusalem and its Aftermath (Verses 21-33):

A fugitive arrives from Jerusalem, confirming the city's destruction.
The people, who had previously ignored Ezekiel's warnings, are now devastated.
Despite their grief, God reveals that they still haven't truly repented.
They are more concerned with their possessions and the land than with seeking God.
God promises to judge them for their hypocrisy and idolatry.

Overall Message:

Chapter 33 emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the consequences of ignoring God's warnings. It highlights God's desire for repentance and his willingness to forgive those who turn to him. However, it also warns that God will judge those who refuse to acknowledge their sin and continue in their wicked ways.

Ezekiel 33 bible study ai commentary

Ezekiel 33 serves as the pivotal chapter of the book, transitioning from prophecies of judgment against Judah to the promise of future restoration. It re-commissions Ezekiel as a "watchman," shifting the focus from corporate, inescapable doom to the urgent call for individual responsibility and genuine repentance. God is not unjust; He judges based on a person's present state, offering life to anyone who turns from wickedness, regardless of their past. The chapter validates Ezekiel's prophetic ministry through the confirmation of Jerusalem's fall and warns against a superficial reception of God's word.

Ezekiel 33 Context

The chapter is set among the Jewish exiles in Babylon around 586/585 B.C. The first part (vv. 1-20) occurs just before news arrives, while the second part (v. 21 onwards) is precisely dated to the day a fugitive from the fallen city of Jerusalem confirms its destruction. This news shatters any lingering false hope among the exiles that Jerusalem would be spared. Ezekiel, who had been restricted in his speech (Ezek 3:26-27; 24:27), is now unmuted. His ministry pivots from foretelling judgment to explaining its theological basis and proclaiming a future for a repentant remnant. The message directly confronts the exiles' despair ("we are wasting away") and the false theology of those left in the land of Judah.

Ezekiel 33:1-6

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, this one is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.”

In-depth-analysis

The Watchman (tsopheh): This is a familiar civic and military role. A watchman was stationed on a city wall or high tower to scan the horizon for approaching danger. This secular analogy makes the spiritual principle immediately understandable.
The Trumpet (shophar): A ram's horn used to sound an alarm, gather troops, or announce significant events. The sound was an unambiguous signal demanding a response.
Twofold Responsibility: The analogy establishes a clear chain of accountability.
1. Watchman's Duty: To see the danger and faithfully warn the people. Failure makes him culpable.
2. People's Duty: To hear the warning and take action. Failure to do so makes them responsible for their own fate.
"Blood on his own head": A common biblical idiom for personal guilt and accountability for one's own demise (Lev 20:9; Josh 2:19). If warned, the person is responsible; if unwarned, the watchman is.

Bible references

Ezekiel 3:17-19: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman... So when I say to the wicked... you shall warn him... if you do not... he shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand." (The original watchman commission, now being re-stated and re-applied).
Acts 20:26-27: "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." (Paul applies the watchman principle to his own apostolic ministry).
Hebrews 13:17: "...for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account." (Applies the principle to leaders in the church).

Cross references

2 Sam 18:24-27 (the role of a watchman); Jer 6:17 (Judah ignored God's watchmen); Hos 8:1 (blow the trumpet); Isa 56:10 (critique of failed watchmen).

Ezekiel 33:7-9

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”

In-depth-analysis

Direct Application: God moves from a general parable (vv. 1-6) to a direct, personal commission for Ezekiel. This reiteration from Ezekiel 3 confirms that his role has not ended with the fall of Jerusalem; it has entered a new phase.
Divine Source: The warning is not Ezekiel's own opinion. It is "a word from my mouth." The prophet is purely a messenger. His authority comes from God alone.
Deliver Your Soul: This emphasizes the prophet's personal stake in the ministry. Faithfulness in proclaiming the message absolves him of guilt, regardless of how the message is received. His own salvation is tied to his obedience.

Bible references

1 Corinthians 9:16: "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (Paul's sense of divine compulsion).
Jeremiah 1:17-19: "But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you... They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you... to deliver you." (The standard commission of a prophet, involving warning and divine protection).

Cross references

Ezek 3:17-21 (direct parallel); Acts 18:6 (Paul shaking out his garments); Isa 62:6 (watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem); 1 Tim 4:16 (persisting in doctrine saves self and hearers).

Ezekiel 33:10-11

“And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we waste away in them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

In-depth-analysis

The People's Despair: The exiles finally acknowledge their guilt, but it has led to fatalism, not repentance. They see judgment as an inescapable, slow-decaying death sentence ("we waste away in them").
God's Oath: God responds with his most solemn formula, "As I live..." to counter their despair. This is not just a statement but a sworn testimony to His own character.
The Divine Heart: The core of God's character is revealed. He does not delight (chaphets) in judgment. His true desire is for repentance (shuv - "turn") and life. This is a direct refutation of any idea that God is a vindictive deity who enjoys punishment.
Urgent Double Plea: "Turn back, turn back" (shuvu shuvu) is an emphatic, desperate call. The repetition conveys intense urgency and compassion. The question "why will you die?" places the responsibility for their fate squarely on their own choices.

Bible references

2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise... but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (The NT parallel of God's desire for all to be saved).
Ezekiel 18:23, 32: "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked... and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?... For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone... so turn, and live." (An earlier statement of this same principle).
Luke 15:7: "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Jesus revealing heaven's delight in repentance).

Cross references

Lam 3:33 (God does not afflict from his heart); Hos 11:8 (God's compassion); 1 Tim 2:4 (God desires all to be saved); Jon 4:2 (Jonah angry at God's mercy).

Polemics

This passage is a polemic against ancient Near Eastern deities who were often depicted as capricious, easily angered, and demanding appeasement. Yahweh here reveals Himself as fundamentally oriented toward life and restoration, whose justice is designed to lead to repentance, not just destruction. It also combats the fatalistic despair growing within the exilic community itself.

Ezekiel 33:12-16

"...the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it in the day that he turns from his wickedness... Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered... again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right... he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him."

In-depth-analysis

No Spiritual Bank Account: This section dismantles the idea of salvation by past merits. A person cannot "store up" enough good deeds to cover a later turn to wickedness. Righteousness is a present, ongoing state.
"Trusts in his righteousness": This is the key failure of the "righteous" man. He becomes self-reliant, his past piety a source of pride that allows him to commit present injustice. This is spiritual complacency.
True Repentance: The wicked man's turn is not merely emotional. It involves action: "does what is just and right," "restores a pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery." Repentance has tangible, ethical fruit.
Divine Amnesia: For the truly repentant, God promises that past sins "shall not be remembered." This isn't forgetfulness, but a legal declaration that the sins will no longer be held against the person. The slate is wiped clean.

Bible references

Galatians 5:4: "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." (Warns against trusting in works or a former state).
Luke 15:20-24: "...the father saw him and had compassion...‘for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’" (The Parable of the Prodigal Son perfectly illustrates the principle of being welcomed back after repentance, with the past forgiven).
James 2:10: "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." (Refutes the idea of a spiritual balance sheet).

Cross references

Ezek 18:21-28 (the earlier, detailed version of this argument); Heb 6:4-6 (warning of falling away); Heb 10:26 (warning about sinning willfully after receiving knowledge); 2 Chron 7:14 (if my people turn...).

Ezekiel 33:17-20

“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live for it. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

In-depth-analysis

The Charge of Injustice: The people accuse God of being unfair (yittaken - 'weighed out' or 'equitable'). They are likely applying a rigid, mechanistic view of justice: once wicked always wicked, once righteous always righteous.
God's Rebuttal: God turns the accusation back on them. Their way is "not just" because they want to bind God to past actions. God’s way is truly just because it judges a person based on their current spiritual and ethical state.
Individual Judgment: The section concludes with the core principle repeated: "I will judge each of you according to his ways." This is the foundation of the new reality for the exiles. Group identity no longer provides cover; individual accountability is paramount.

Bible references

Romans 2:6: "He will render to each one according to his works." (Paul affirming the principle of individual judgment).
Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” (Christ's final judgment is individual).
Genesis 18:25: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" (Abraham's foundational question affirming God's justice, which Ezekiel's people are now questioning).

Cross references

Deut 32:4 (God is just); Psa 98:9 (He will judge the world with righteousness); Jer 31:29-30 (no more 'sour grapes' proverb); Gal 6:7-8 (you reap what you sow).

Ezekiel 33:21-22

In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came, and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.

In-depth-analysis

Precise Dating: The exact date (roughly January 585 B.C.) grounds the prophecy in history. This is the moment of vindication for Ezekiel's entire ministry of doom. What he foretold has now happened.
The Fugitive: A single refugee embodies the entire catastrophe. His simple message, "The city has been struck down," is devastatingly final.
"Hand of the LORD": This phrase signifies an overwhelming divine experience, preparing Ezekiel for this turning point.
Mouth Opened: God fulfills his promise from Ezek 24:26-27. Ezekiel’s muteness, a sign of the impending and unspeakable judgment, is now lifted. He is free to speak a new word of comfort, explanation, and future hope to a people whose false hopes are now gone.

Bible references

Ezekiel 24:26-27: "...on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news... your mouth will be opened... you shall speak and be no longer mute." (The direct fulfillment of a prior prophecy).
2 Kings 25:8-10: "the captain of the guard... burned the house of the LORD... and the wall around Jerusalem was broken down." (The historical account of the event).
Daniel 5:5: "Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall..." (Another instance of the "hand of the LORD" signifying a dramatic divine intervention and message).

Cross references

Jer 39:1-10 (account of the fall); Lam 1:1-3 (poetic lament over the fall); Lk 1:20, 64 (Zechariah's muteness and subsequent opening of his mouth).

Ezekiel 33:23-29

...“Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land. But we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ ... you eat meat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood; shall you then possess the land?... Therefore say to them... the land shall become a desolation... and they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation because of all their abominations that they have committed.”

In-depth-analysis

False Heirs' Theology: The remnant left in Judah develops a twisted theology of entitlement. They argue: If God gave the land to one man (Abraham), surely He will give it to us, his descendants, who are many. They see themselves as the rightful heirs.
Covenant Misunderstanding (Polemics): This is a direct polemic against a misinterpretation of the Abrahamic Covenant. They remembered the promise of land but forgot the ethical and spiritual obligations of the Mosaic Covenant which governed life in the land. Their argument ignores their own deep sinfulness.
The Indictment: God, through Ezekiel, lists their covenant violations: eating blood (Lev 17:10), idolatry, and violence ("shed blood"). These actions disqualify them from any claim to the land. The land itself is polluted by their abominations.
Prophecy of Utter Desolation: God declares that their hope is false. Far from possessing the land, they will be utterly destroyed and the land will become a complete waste, a testimony to their sin. This counters any idea that a viable Jewish state remains in Judah.

Bible references

Genesis 12:7: "To your offspring I will give this land." (The promise to Abraham that the remnant was misusing).
Leviticus 26:31-33: "And I will make your cities a waste... And I will scatter you among the nations... and your land shall be a desolation." (The curses of the covenant, which are now being fully realized).
Jeremiah 40-44: This section of Jeremiah describes the tragic history of the remnant left under Gedaliah, their rebellion, and flight to Egypt, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy that they would not successfully re-possess the land.

Cross references

Deut 12:16, 23 (do not eat blood); Mic 3:10-12 (Zion built with blood... will be plowed as a field); Isa 1:15 (hands full of blood).

Ezekiel 33:30-33

“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another... ‘Come, and let us hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it... your voice to them is like a lovely song of one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

In-depth-analysis

Spiritual Entertainment: Ezekiel has become a celebrity. The exiles are fascinated by him. They talk about him, gather to hear him, and admire his "performance." His words are like a "lovely song" (shir agavim) - aesthetically pleasing, emotionally stirring, but ultimately treated as art, not as a divine command.
Hearing vs. Doing: This is a classic biblical theme. The people go through the outward motions ("sit before you as my people") but lack any intention of obedience. There is a deep disconnect between their intellectual/emotional engagement and their volitional will. Their hearts are set on "unjust gain."
The Final Vindication: The ultimate proof of Ezekiel's legitimacy will not be his eloquence, but the fulfillment of his prophecies ("When this comes—and come it will!"). History will be the final verdict. When the predicted events occur, they will be forced to recognize that a true prophet, not just an entertainer, was in their midst.

Bible references

James 1:22-24: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves... like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror... and at once forgets what he was like." (The quintessential NT statement on hearing vs. doing).
Matthew 7:24-27: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock... and everyone who hears... and does not do them will be like a foolish man..." (Jesus' parable of the builders).
Mark 4:16-17: "...the ones sown on rocky ground...immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away." (Parable of the Sower, describing superficial reception of the Word).

Cross references

Isa 29:13 (people draw near with their mouths, but hearts are far); Mt 13:19-22 (Parable of the Sower); Acts 17:21 (Athenians wanting to hear something new).

Ezekiel chapter 33 analysis

Theological Pivot of the Book: This chapter is the hinge on which the entire book of Ezekiel swings. Chapters 1-32 focus on the inevitability of judgment. With the news of Jerusalem’s fall, the context shifts. Chapters 33-48 will now focus on the principles of restoration and the vision for a new future.
Individual vs. Corporate: While the exile was a corporate judgment on the nation of Israel for generations of sin, this chapter relentlessly emphasizes that salvation within that judgment is individual. One's personal decision to "turn" is what matters to God, dissolving any sense of group guilt being an inescapable personal destiny.
True vs. False Theology: The chapter actively combats two forms of false theology:
1. Fatalism (the exiles): The belief that sin is so overwhelming that there is no hope ("how then can we live?"). God refutes this with His oath and call to repent.
2. Presumption (the remnant in Judah): The belief that covenant history guarantees their inheritance of the land, regardless of their behavior. God refutes this by pointing to their gross violations of covenant law.
Vindication of the Prophetic Word: The chapter validates Ezekiel in two ways. First, historically: the fugitive's arrival proves his prophecies of doom were true. Second, prospectively: God asserts that the fulfillment of his future words will prove to the superficial listeners that "a prophet has been among them."

Ezekiel 33 summary

Chapter 33 is the turning point in Ezekiel, re-commissioning him as a watchman for a new era after Jerusalem’s fall. It demolishes the idea of corporate fate by stressing radical individual responsibility. God passionately calls for personal repentance, promising life to anyone who turns from sin, refuting charges of divine injustice. The chapter confirms Ezekiel's past prophecies with news of Jerusalem's destruction and warns the exiles against treating God's word as mere entertainment rather than a command to be obeyed.

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Ezekiel chapter 33 kjv

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 of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
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.
⁶ But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
⁷ So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
⁸ When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
⁹ Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
¹⁰ Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
¹¹ Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
¹² Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
¹³ When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
¹⁴ Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
¹⁵ If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
¹⁶ None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
¹⁷ Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
¹⁸ When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
¹⁹ But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
²⁰ Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
²¹ And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
²² Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
²³ Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
²⁴ Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
²⁵ Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
²⁶ Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
²⁷ Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
²⁸ For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
²⁹ Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
³⁰ Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
³¹ And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
³² And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
³³ And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.

Ezekiel chapter 33 nkjv

¹ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
² "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,
³ when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,
⁴ then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.
⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.
⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.'
⁷ "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.
⁸ When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
⁹ Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
¹⁰ "Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'Thus you say, "If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?" '
¹¹ Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'
¹² "Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: 'The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.'
¹³ When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.
¹⁴ Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right,
¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
¹⁶ None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
¹⁷ "Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' But it is their way which is not fair!
¹⁸ When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.
¹⁹ But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it.
²⁰ Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways."
²¹ And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has been captured!"
²² Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the man came who had escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so when he came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
²³ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
²⁴ "Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.'
²⁵ "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
²⁶ You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another's wives. Should you then possess the land?" '
²⁷ "Say thus to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and caves shall die of the pestilence.
²⁸ For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through.
²⁹ Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed." '
³⁰ "As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'
³¹ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
³² Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.
³³ And when this comes to pass?surely it will come?then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Ezekiel chapter 33 niv

¹ The word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,
³ and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people,
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 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 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?'
¹² "Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.'
¹³ If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.
¹⁴ And if I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right?
¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil?that person will surely live; they will not die.
¹⁶ None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
¹⁷ "Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just.
¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it.
¹⁹ And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.
²⁰ Yet you Israelites say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways."
²¹ In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has fallen!"
²² Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.
²³ Then the word of the LORD came to me:
²⁴ "Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as our possession.'
²⁵ Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you eat meat with the blood still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?
²⁶ You rely on your sword, you do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess the land?'
²⁷ "Say this to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.
²⁸ I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.
²⁹ Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable things they have done.'
³⁰ "As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.'
³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
³² Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
³³ "When all this comes true?and it surely will?then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Ezekiel chapter 33 esv

¹ The word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman,
³ and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people,
⁴ then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.
⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
⁷ "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
⁸ If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
⁹ But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
¹⁰ "And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: 'Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?'
¹¹ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
¹² "And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.
¹³ Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.
¹⁴ Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right,
¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
¹⁷ "Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just,' when it is their own way that is not just.
¹⁸ When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it.
¹⁹ And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
²⁰ Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways."
²¹ In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has been struck down."
²² Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
²³ The word of the LORD came to me:
²⁴ "Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.'
²⁵ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land?
²⁶ You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land?
²⁷ Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence.
²⁸ And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through.
²⁹ Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.
³⁰ "As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'
³¹ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
³² And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.
³³ When this comes ? and come it will! ? then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Ezekiel chapter 33 nlt

¹ Once again a message came to me from the LORD:
² "Son of man, give your people this message: 'When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman.
³ When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people.
⁴ Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.
⁵ They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.
⁶ But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.'
⁷ "Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.
⁸ If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
⁹ But if you warn them to repent and they don't repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.
¹⁰ "Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, 'Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?'
¹¹ As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
¹² "Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.
¹³ When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins.
¹⁴ And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right.
¹⁵ For instance, they might give back a debtor's security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.
¹⁶ None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
¹⁷ "Your people are saying, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right,' but it is they who are not doing what's right.
¹⁸ For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.
¹⁹ But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live.
²⁰ O people of Israel, you are saying, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right.' But I judge each of you according to your deeds."
²¹ On January 8, during the twelfth year of our captivity, a survivor from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has fallen!"
²² The previous evening the LORD had taken hold of me and given me back my voice. So I was able to speak when this man arrived the next morning.
²³ Then this message came to me from the LORD:
²⁴ "Son of man, the scattered remnants of Israel living among the ruined cities keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.'
²⁵ So tell these people, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols, and you murder the innocent. Do you really think the land should be yours?
²⁶ Murderers! Idolaters! Adulterers! Should the land belong to you?'
²⁷ "Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword. And I will send wild animals to eat those living in the open fields. Those hiding in the forts and caves will die of disease.
²⁸ I will completely destroy the land and demolish her pride. Her arrogant power will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate that no one will even travel through them.
²⁹ When I have completely destroyed the land because of their detestable sins, then they will know that I am the LORD.'
³⁰ "Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, 'Come on, let's go hear the prophet tell us what the LORD is saying!'
³¹ So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
³² You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don't act on it!
³³ But when all these terrible things happen to them ? as they certainly will ? then they will know a prophet has been among them."