Ezekiel 33:5 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 33:5 nkjv
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.
Ezekiel 33:5 niv
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.
Ezekiel 33:5 esv
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.
Ezekiel 33:5 nlt
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.
Ezekiel 33 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 33:6 | "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the sword comes and takes some person from among them..." | Ezekiel 33:6 (Contextual) |
| Ezekiel 3:17 | "Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me." | Ezekiel 3:17 (Commission) |
| Jeremiah 6:17 | "Also, I have appointed watchmen over you, saying, 'Take heed to the sound of the trumpet!'" | Jeremiah 6:17 (Instruction) |
| Hebrews 13:17 | "Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch for your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." | Hebrews 13:17 (New Testament parallel) |
| Romans 10:14 | "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" | Romans 10:14 (Need for warning) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:32 | "Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God," | 1 Corinthians 10:32 (Avoiding causing stumbling) |
| Acts 20:26 | "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you." | Acts 20:26 (Paul's ministry) |
| 2 Corinthians 5:20 | "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." | 2 Corinthians 5:20 (Ambassadorial role) |
| Isaiah 58:1 | "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare My transgressions to Jacob, and his sins to the house of Israel." | Isaiah 58:1 (Call to prophet's voice) |
| Jeremiah 5:21 | "Now hear this, O foolish people, without understanding, Who have eyes but see not, And ears but hear not:" | Jeremiah 5:21 (Spiritual blindness) |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!" | Matthew 23:37 (Jesus' lament over Jerusalem) |
| Ezekiel 3:18 | "If I say to the wicked, ‘You will 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 person shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." | Ezekiel 3:18 (Preceding context) |
| Ezekiel 3:19 | "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul." | Ezekiel 3:19 (Fulfillment of duty) |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." | John 15:16 (Apostolic appointment) |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;" | 1 Peter 5:2 (Pastoral responsibility) |
| Luke 12:48 | "But that servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare, nor do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." | Luke 12:48 (Responsibility based on knowledge) |
| Proverbs 24:12 | "If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not keep the one who keeps your soul? And will He not render to each according to his works?" | Proverbs 24:12 (Accountability for knowledge) |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." | Amos 3:7 (Prophetic revelation) |
| Ezekiel 33:3 | "If when he sees the sword coming upon the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people," | Ezekiel 33:3 (Action of the watchman) |
| Ezekiel 33:4 | "then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning," | Ezekiel 33:4 (The people's response) |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 5 Meaning
Ezekiel 33:5 emphasizes the accountability of the watchman. If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes any person among them, that person is taken because of their iniquity, but their blood is required at the watchman's hand. This verse highlights the severe responsibility placed upon those who are entrusted with a warning.
Ezekiel 33 5 Context
Ezekiel 33 takes place during the Babylonian exile. The prophet Ezekiel has been appointed as a watchman for the house of Israel. He is tasked with warning the people about impending judgment due to their sin and unfaithfulness. This particular verse, Ezekiel 33:5, follows the description of the watchman's duty in the preceding verses, outlining the consequences for neglecting that duty. The chapter is set against a backdrop where Jerusalem has fallen, and the remnant in exile needs to understand divine justice and their own responsibilities.
Ezekiel 33 5 Word Analysis
- And if (וְאִם - və'im): A conjunction signifying a conditional clause, introducing a hypothetical situation.
- he (כִּי - ki): Refers back to the watchman mentioned previously.
- sees (יִרְאֶה - yir'eh): From the root ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "to perceive," or "to understand." It implies not just visual perception but a recognition of the imminent danger.
- the sword (הַחֶרֶב - hacherev): The definite article ha (הַ) denotes "the," specifying a particular sword. In prophetic language, the "sword" often symbolizes divine judgment, war, or destruction.
- coming (בָּאָה - ba'ah): Feminine participle from the root bo' (בּוֹא), meaning "to come" or "to arrive." It signifies movement and proximity.
- upon the land (עַל־הָאָרֶץ - 'al-ha'arets): Indicates the source or target of the impending disaster. "The land" refers to the land of Israel, which is the focus of God's judgment and covenant dealings.
- and (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
- blows not (לֹא־יִתְקַע - lo'-yitqa'): Negation combined with the Piel (causative) imperfect form of tq'` (תָּקַע), meaning "to blow" (a trumpet). The failure to blow the trumpet is a critical omission.
- the trumpet (בַּשּׁוֹפָר - bashophar): Preposition b (בּ) meaning "in" or "with" attached to hashophar (הַשּׁוֹפָר), "the trumpet." The shophar, made from a ram's horn, was used for alarm, calling assemblies, and announcing important events.
- and (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
- the sword (הַחֶרֶב - hacherev): Again, the symbolic sword of judgment.
- comes (תָּבוֹא - tavo'): Feminine imperfect from bo' (בּוֹא), indicating the sword's arrival.
- and (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
- takes (תִּקַּח - tiqqaḥ): Feminine imperfect from laqaḥ (לָקַח), meaning "to take," "to seize," or "to capture."
- some person (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh): Literally "soul" or "life." It signifies an individual life.
- from among them (מִקִּרְבָּם - miqqirbam): From "in their midst," indicating someone within the community.
- he is taken (הִיא - hi'): Feminine pronoun referring to nephesh (soul/person), indicating that the individual life is captured or lost.
- in his iniquity (בַּעֲוֹנוֹ - ba'avono): "In his iniquity" or "because of his iniquity." This clause signifies that the person taken is rightfully subject to judgment due to their own sin.
- and (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
- his blood (דָּמוֹ - damo): "His blood."
- from my hand (מִיָּדִי - miyadi): "From my hand." This phrase implies that the watchman is accountable for this blood, as if he had directly caused the death by his failure.
Group Analysis: The structure "If he sees... and blows not... and the sword comes... and takes... he is taken in his iniquity, and his blood is from my hand" sets up a direct causal link between the watchman's inaction and the ultimate fate of the individual, while still acknowledging the individual's personal responsibility for their iniquity. The severity of the consequences for the watchman is highlighted by God's demand for accountability ("from my hand").
Ezekiel 33 5 Bonus Section
The imagery of the watchman is a powerful metaphor used throughout Scripture. This particular passage emphasizes both the privilege and the immense responsibility entrusted to those God calls to be His voice. The use of the "sword" signifies a divinely ordained judgment, not merely human aggression. The fact that the blood is "required at the watchman's hand" highlights a participatory aspect in the ultimate outcome for the people, derived from a failure in their delegated spiritual authority and communicative duty. It underscores the active, not passive, nature of prophetic and pastoral service. The distinction between the individual dying "in his iniquity" (personal accountability) and the blood being required "from my hand" (watchman's accountability) maintains a balance, affirming both individual responsibility and the shared accountability within a covenant community and its leadership.
Ezekiel 33 5 Commentary
The watchman's role, as defined here and in preceding verses, is crucial for the community's spiritual well-being. The failure to warn is presented as a dereliction of duty with grave consequences, not only for the people but for the watchman himself. God holds those appointed to deliver His message accountable for their faithfulness. While the person taken by the sword is also accountable for their own iniquity, the watchman who failed to sound the alarm shares a form of responsibility for that life being lost, as if their silence contributed to the outcome. This emphasizes the importance of proactive communication of truth and warnings.
- A teacher who avoids correcting students in error, leading to their spiritual downfall, bears some responsibility.
- A spiritual leader who neglects to address dangerous trends within the congregation risks the souls of those they oversee.
- Individuals called to share the Gospel must be diligent, knowing that failure to warn others of their sin can have serious implications.