Ezekiel 3 20

Ezekiel 3:20 kjv

Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 3:20 nkjv

"Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 3:20 niv

"Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

Ezekiel 3:20 esv

Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Ezekiel 3:20 nlt

"If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 20 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:20 details a divine instruction to the prophet Ezekiel concerning his role as a watchman. It explains that if a person previously lived righteously but then turned away from that righteousness to commit iniquity, and God consequently places an obstacle before them causing their death, their prior righteous deeds will not count in their favor. Furthermore, if Ezekiel, as the appointed watchman, failed to warn this individual, God holds Ezekiel accountable for their life (their "blood"), even though the person dies due to their own sin. The verse underscores the conditional nature of divine favor based on continued obedience and highlights the grave responsibility of those called to speak God's truth.

Ezekiel 3 20 Context

Ezekiel 3:20 falls within the prophet Ezekiel's divine commission (Eze 3:17-21). Following God's explicit charge to be a "watchman" to the house of Israel (Eze 3:17), this verse serves as a crucial clarification and warning. It follows the scenario of a watchman's responsibility toward a wicked person (Eze 3:18-19) by presenting a more complex case: that of a once-righteous person who deviates. The immediate context establishes the solemn nature of Ezekiel's prophetic office and the severe consequences of failing to deliver God's message accurately and timely.

Historically, this passage speaks to Israelites during their Babylonian exile. Many would have believed their prior covenant standing or past acts of piety guaranteed God's favor. Ezekiel's message challenges this presumption by emphasizing individual moral accountability and the continuous requirement for righteousness, correcting any reliance on past merit to excuse present disobedience. This forms a foundational truth for the subsequent chapters, particularly Ezekiel 18, which further develops the theme of individual responsibility for sin and righteousness, dismantling the corporate guilt concept that had become prevalent.

Ezekiel 3 20 Word analysis

• "Again": Signifies a transition to a second scenario, a contrasting situation to the one described in the preceding verse (Eze 3:19), which dealt with a wicked person turning from sin.
• "when a righteous person" (צַדִּיק - tzaddiq): Hebrew for one who is just, upright, vindicated by God, living in accordance with His law. It refers to a genuine state of obedience and right standing, not just a label.
• "turns away from their righteousness" (מִצִּדְקוֹ - mi'tzidqo): Implies a conscious and intentional departure or deviation from the established path of righteousness. It suggests apostasy or a fundamental reversal of one's moral and spiritual orientation, not a casual slip.
• "and does evil" (וְעָשָׂה עָוֶל - v'asah avon): "Evil" (avon) refers to perversity, iniquity, or moral wrong, often incurring guilt and deserving punishment. "Does" (asah) indicates active, volitional engagement in this wrong.
• "and I put a stumbling block before them" (וְנָתַתִּי מִכְשׁוֹל לְפָנָיו - v'natatti michshol l'fanav):
  • "I put": Highlights divine initiative and agency.
  • "stumbling block" (mikhshol): An impediment or obstacle that causes one to trip, fall, or fail. In this context, it refers to divine judgment, a circumstance, or consequence that exposes their genuine turning away from God, or directly leads to their downfall. It is not God causing them to sin, but rather providing a test or judgment that confirms or accelerates their consequence based on their choice.
• "they will die" (וּמֵת - u'met): Signifies death, which in prophetic texts often refers to spiritual separation from God, potentially leading to physical demise as a divine judgment, or the loss of their life and favor within the covenant community.
• "Since you did not warn them" (לֹא הִזְהַרְתּוֹ - lo hiz'hartow): Points directly to Ezekiel's failure to perform his prophetic duty to deliver God's message. It implies silence when a divine word was necessary.
• "they will die for their sin" (בְּחַטָּאתוֹ יָמוּת - b'chatatoh yamut): "Sin" (chatta't) means to miss the mark, to fall short of God's standard. This phrase unequivocally asserts that the individual's death is primarily and ultimately due to their own unrighteous conduct and sin, underscoring personal responsibility for actions.
• "and the righteous deeds they did will not be remembered" (צִדְקֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לֹא יִזָּכֶרְנָה - tzidkotav asher asah lo yizakernah):
  • "not be remembered": Does not mean God literally forgets, but that these past acts of righteousness are annulled, nullified, or hold no merit and provide no protection or benefit in the face of their subsequent, chosen apostasy and active sin. Righteousness is viewed as a continuous walk, not a static status.
• "I will hold you accountable for their blood" (וְדָמוֹ מִיָּדְךָ אֲבַקֵּשׁ - v'damo miyadeka avaqesh):
  • "blood" (damo): A powerful Hebrew idiom referring to a person's life or the guilt associated with an untimely or unjust death.
  • "I will hold you accountable" / "demand his blood from your hand": A severe declaration of God's expectation and the prophet's culpability for failing to fulfill his entrusted responsibility, leading to the spiritual downfall and death of another.

Words-group Analysis:

• "a righteous person turns away from their righteousness and does evil": This phrase describes a profound spiritual reversal. It's not about an occasional stumble, but a deliberate change of direction, a fundamental apostasy where the individual actively chooses a path of iniquity despite having known and walked in God's ways.
• "I put a stumbling block before them, they will die": This highlights divine judgment. God allows or orchestrates circumstances (the "stumbling block") that expose the true spiritual state of the apostate or are the direct consequence of their deviation. Their death is presented as a sure outcome of God's justice applied to their chosen path.
• "Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin, and the righteous deeds they did will not be remembered. I will hold you accountable for their blood": This passage clarifies the multifaceted responsibility and justice at play. The individual dies for their sin, establishing personal accountability. Their past righteous deeds are not remembered for their present salvation, emphasizing the continuous nature of obedience. Yet, the watchman is still held accountable for their blood, emphasizing the severe consequence of failing in one's divine mandate to warn, even if the primary cause of death is the individual's sin.

Ezekiel 3 20 Bonus section

• This verse emphasizes the conditional nature of righteousness within the Mosaic covenant and prophetic understanding. Righteousness requires ongoing fidelity and a continuous walk with God. It contrasts with theological views that might suggest an irreversible state of salvation regardless of future conduct.
• The principle of the watchman is applicable beyond ancient prophets. It resonates with the responsibility of Christian leaders, pastors, teachers, and even individual believers to share the Gospel, correct error, and exhort fellow believers to live righteously. There is a spiritual "bloodguilt" for those who could have warned but chose silence out of comfort or fear.
• The concept of God "putting a stumbling block" does not mean God entices or causes people to sin. Instead, it speaks to divine sovereignty in judgment. When individuals have willfully turned from righteousness, God may allow or orchestrate circumstances (e.g., trials, consequences) that reveal their true spiritual state, leading them further into the results of their rebellion. These "stumbling blocks" are often an active form of divine judgment that brings their hidden sin into the light, leading to their deserved consequence.
• The profound difference between "a stumbling" (an isolated sin that one repents of) and "turning away from righteousness" (a willful and persistent reorientation of life toward unrighteousness) is crucial for understanding this verse. Ezekiel describes a deep, foundational departure from God.
• This verse also indirectly polemicizes against a deterministic view that a person's spiritual destiny is fixed, irrespective of their ongoing choices. It underlines free will and constant moral agency in maintaining a right standing with God.

Ezekiel 3 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:20 presents a stark truth about God's justice and the profound responsibility of those entrusted with His message. It powerfully conveys that righteousness is not a fixed, static state but a dynamic, continuous walk. A history of faithful living does not secure one's standing if there is a deliberate and fundamental departure into a life of sin. This underscores the need for perseverance in faith and obedience (as echoed in Heb 6 and 10), contradicting any notion that past salvation or good deeds inoculate against the consequences of future rebellion.

For the prophet, and by extension all who share God's word, the warning is severe. The individual is ultimately accountable for their own sin unto death; God's justice ensures that their choice leads to their end. However, the prophet bears a terrifying burden of accountability if he fails to deliver the warning that God intended as an opportunity for repentance. This is not about the prophet causing the person's death, but about him failing to act as God's instrument for preservation, thus becoming complicit in the tragic outcome through inaction. The 'stumbling block' here refers to a divine means of judgment or exposure for those who have chosen apostasy, rather than God tempting them into sin. This verse is a sober reminder for spiritual leaders and indeed, for every believer, of the vital duty to lovingly but firmly call others to faithfulness, knowing that souls are at stake and silence can carry eternal weight.