Ezekiel 33:6 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 33:6 nkjv
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.'
Ezekiel 33:6 niv
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.'
Ezekiel 33:6 esv
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.
Ezekiel 33:6 nlt
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.'
Ezekiel 33 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 3:18 | "When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them... | Ezekiel 3:18 |
| Ezekiel 3:20 | "Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn... | Ezekiel 3:20 |
| Ezekiel 18:10 | "If he fathers a righteous son who sees his father's sin... | Ezekiel 18:10 |
| Ezekiel 18:13 | "if he fathers a wicked son who sheds the blood of his brother... | Ezekiel 18:13 |
| Ezekiel 33:4 | "But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and does not blow the trumpet... | Ezekiel 33:4 |
| Ezekiel 33:7 | "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel... | Ezekiel 33:7 |
| Jeremiah 6:17 | "I raised up watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' | Jeremiah 6:17 |
| Jeremiah 51:11 | "Sharpen the arrows, make ready the shields... | Jeremiah 51:11 |
| Isaiah 52:8 | "The voice of your watchmen— they lift up their voice, together they shout... | Isaiah 52:8 |
| Isaiah 58:1 | "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet... | Isaiah 58:1 |
| Amos 5:13 | "Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil... | Amos 5:13 |
| Acts 20:26 | "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all... | Acts 20:26 |
| Romans 11:4 | But what is the response from God to him? "I have left for myself seven... | Romans 11:4 |
| Romans 15:4 | For whatever was written before was written for our instruction... | Romans 15:4 |
| 1 Corinthians 9:16 | For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no reason to boast. For necessity... | 1 Corinthians 9:16 |
| Hebrews 13:17 | Have confidence in your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch... | Hebrews 13:17 |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight... | 1 Peter 5:2 |
| 1 John 5:16 | If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that does not lead to death, he... | 1 John 5:16 |
| Joshua 22:3-4 | "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you... | Joshua 22:3-4 |
| Leviticus 19:17 | "You shall not hate your kinsman in your heart, but you shall reason EARNESTLY | Leviticus 19:17 |
| Psalm 89:28 | I will keep for him my steadfast love forever, and my covenant will stand... | Psalm 89:28 |
| Psalm 141:5 | Let the righteous strike me; it is a kindness; let him rebuke me... | Psalm 141:5 |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 6 Meaning
The verse states that if a watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet or warn the people, and a life is taken because of this silence, the watchman will be held responsible for that death. God's judgment will be upon them for failing in their duty.
Ezekiel 33 6 Context
Ezekiel 33:1-20 is a continuation of God's message to Ezekiel regarding his role as a spiritual watchman for the people of Israel. Following the destruction of Jerusalem, God emphasizes the personal responsibility of every individual and then reiterates Ezekiel's own critical duty to warn the wicked and the righteous. This specific verse is part of a parallel passage that clarifies the accountability of the watchman (Ezekiel) for the spiritual state and fate of the people. The historical context is during the Babylonian exile, a time of great crisis and judgment for Israel, where clear divine warnings and pronouncements were crucial.
Ezekiel 33 6 Word Analysis
- Wə·ʿā·ma·rêm (וְעָמַרְמ): "and he blew" or "and he sounded" (Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular of 'amar', to blow, sound). Implies an action of sounding the trumpet to alert.
- šō·w·p̄ā·rîm (שׁוֹפָרִים): "trumpets" or "rams' horns" (plural of 'shophar'). These were the instruments used for public proclamation, alarms, or festivals.
- wə·lō·ʾ (וְלֹא): "and not". Negates the action that follows.
- hiḵ·ḵî (הִכִּיתִי): "I warned" or "I struck" (Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular of 'nkh', to strike, smite, beat). In this context, it signifies a failure to strike or warn effectively.
- lĕ·ḵāl (לְכָל): "any" or "all". Emphasizes the totality of those who might be endangered.
- ḥā·lā·ḵ (חָלָךְ): "is cut off" or "perishes" (Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular of 'kalah'). Refers to death or destruction, often in a spiritual sense as well as physical.
- ū·bā·ḏā·mî·mîw (וּבְדָמָיו): "and in his blood" or "for his blood" (preposition 'be' + noun 'dam' plural suffix 3rd person masculine singular). Signifies accountability for the blood of the lost soul.
- aḵ·ma·sē·hū (אַחְמָסֵהוּ): "I will hold him guilty" or "I will require it of him" (Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular of 'chms', to be greedy, take by force, exact). God demanding account from the watchman.
Ezekiel 33 6 Bonus Section
The imagery of the watchman and the trumpet is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, establishing a pattern of divine communication and human responsibility. The trumpet was a loud, penetrating sound designed to be heard from a distance, symbolizing an urgent and undeniable call to attention or action. The failure to use it is a dereliction of duty with fatal consequences. The Hebrew term for trumpet, 'shophar', specifically refers to a ram's horn, often used in contexts of warfare and divine signaling. The concept of "blood" here encompasses not just physical death but also the spiritual demise that results from rejecting God's warnings and living in sin. The repetition of this accountability in verses 4 and 6 emphasizes the seriousness with which God views the transmission of His messages.
Ezekiel 33 6 Commentary
This verse underscores the grave responsibility of spiritual leaders and anyone entrusted with divine truth. The failure to sound the warning against sin and its consequences leads to condemnation for the messenger. It highlights that neutrality or silence in the face of evil is not an option but a sin. God imputes the guilt for the lost life onto the unfaithful watchman, emphasizing a direct correlation between the warning given (or not given) and the outcome. This divine requirement speaks to a proactive ministry of evangelism and discipleship, warning the lost and guiding the faithful.