Ezekiel 3 18

Ezekiel 3:18 kjv

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 3:18 nkjv

When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 3:18 niv

When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

Ezekiel 3:18 esv

If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 3:18 nlt

If I warn the wicked, saying, 'You are under the penalty of death,' but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 18 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:18 describes a solemn responsibility placed upon the prophet Ezekiel by God. It declares that if God warns a wicked person of their impending death due to their sins, and the prophet, as a watchman, fails to deliver that warning, then while the wicked person will indeed die in their iniquity, the prophet will be held directly accountable for their life. This verse establishes the profound moral and spiritual duty of God's messenger to faithfully proclaim divine truth and warning, highlighting the dire consequences of both the sinner's rejection and the watchman's silence.

Ezekiel 3 18 Context

Ezekiel 3:18 is part of the divine commission given to the prophet Ezekiel at the beginning of his ministry. The chapter establishes Ezekiel as God's "watchman" (Ezek 3:17, 33:7) to the exiles in Babylon. He is to deliver God's words to them, whether they listen or not. The immediate verses (3:16-21) explicitly lay out the conditions of his prophetic responsibility and the consequences of either faithfulness or failure. This passage emphasizes individual accountability before God, both for the prophet in delivering the message and for the wicked in responding to it. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel faced spiritual desolation and a need for clear divine direction, as many held onto false hopes or clung to past sins. This verse counters any notion that God's people are exempt from judgment for sin or that the prophet's role is passive.

Ezekiel 3 18 Word analysis

• When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die;

  • "When I say": God's declaration, signifying divine authority and judgment. It is the definitive word from the Creator.
  • "unto the wicked": (Hebrew: rasha', רָשָׁע) Refers to one who is guilty, lawless, unrighteous, estranged from God's ways. It's not a temporary state but a way of life characterized by rebellion or moral corruption.
  • "Thou shalt surely die": (Hebrew: mot tamut, מוֹת תָּמוּת) This is an emphatic Hebrew construction, literally "dying you shall die." It conveys absolute certainty and the inevitable, severe consequence of sustained wickedness, signifying spiritual separation from God and physical destruction. It emphasizes the fatality of sin without repentance.

• and thou givest him not warning,

  • "thou givest him not warning": (Hebrew: wĕlo' hizharta (וְלֹא הִזְהַרְתּוֹ) from zahar, זָהַר) The root zahar means "to warn, admonish, caution." This highlights Ezekiel's omission, his failure to sound the alarm God has placed him to blow. It is not merely a lack of speaking, but a failure to fulfill a divine directive to caution.

• nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life;

  • "nor speakest to warn": Reinforces the specific act of verbal communication of the divine message. It's an active, deliberate warning that is required.
  • "from his wicked way": Emphasizes that the purpose of the warning is to call the individual to turn from their sinful conduct, indicating a path of action that leads to spiritual and potentially physical death. It implies a moral choice.
  • "to save his life": (Hebrew: lĕhaṣṣîl nap̱šô, לְהַצִּיל נַפְשׁוֹ) Nafesh (נֶפֶשׁ) typically refers to the whole person, their very being or soul. The purpose of the warning is not just spiritual but includes preservation of the person from the consequences of sin, ultimately to keep them alive and in communion with God. This points to the merciful intention behind God's warnings.

• the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity;

  • "the same wicked man": Emphasizes individual accountability. His death is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of his own choices.
  • "shall die in his iniquity": (Hebrew: yāmuṯ ba'awŏnô, יָמוּת בַּעֲוֹנוֹ) Avon (עָוֹן) signifies guilt, punishment for sin, or the sin itself. This phrase underscores that his death is just; it is the natural and divine consequence of persisting in his guilt and sin without repentance. His sin is the cause of his demise.

• but his blood will I require at thine hand.

  • "his blood": In ancient thought, blood represented life. Requiring one's blood signifies legal accountability for their death, often implying murder or wrongful death (e.g., Gen 9:5). Here, it means Ezekiel will be held responsible for the lost life.
  • "will I require": Indicates a divine accounting. God, the ultimate Judge, demands restitution for this oversight.
  • "at thine hand": (Hebrew: miyāḏeḵā, מִיָּדֶךָ) Literally "from your hand." This signifies direct personal responsibility. The responsibility is inescapable and directly laid upon Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 3 18 Bonus section

The "watchman" motif in Ezekiel is significant. A watchman's job was not to ensure everyone listened to his warnings, but to sound the warning. His blamelessness depended on his action, not the recipient's reaction. This underscores the prophet's duty being one of faithfulness to the divine commission rather than success in human response. This concept extends into the New Covenant where believers are ambassadors for Christ, tasked with proclaiming repentance and salvation. The call to "save his life" points to the immense value God places on individual lives and the extent to which He uses human messengers to offer pathways to life. It highlights the dual aspect of God's justice and mercy: judgment is inevitable for unrepentant sin, but mercy is extended through the warning, providing a chance for the wicked to "turn."

Ezekiel 3 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:18 distills a foundational principle of prophetic and spiritual stewardship: the obligation to warn. God declares the consequence of wickedness is certain death. This isn't just physical death, but ultimately spiritual separation from God, a theme prominent throughout Scripture. Ezekiel, appointed as a "watchman," carries a grave responsibility. His role is not merely to predict, but to proactively intervene through spoken warning. Failure to deliver God's message, born out of fear, apathy, or neglect, carries a severe penalty for the watchman, even as the wicked remain culpable for their own sin.

The verse clarifies that the wicked person's death is justified; they die in their iniquity—a direct consequence of their unrepentant sin. God is righteous in judgment. However, the prophet's silence means a missed opportunity for the wicked to turn from their "wicked way" and "save his life." Thus, the watchman shares in the blame for that lost opportunity. The requirement of "his blood at thine hand" is a stark biblical metaphor for accountability, implying a legal and moral culpability before God for allowing the individual to perish unwarned.

This passage transcends its original context to establish a timeless principle for all who bear God's message: parents, pastors, teachers, and any believer. We are called to compassionately warn those trapped in sin of its consequences, urging them toward repentance and the life offered in Christ. Failing to share the truth, whether through active evangelism or personal rebuke, constitutes a neglect of divine mandate, incurring spiritual accountability.