Ezekiel 33:7 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 33:7 nkjv
"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.
Ezekiel 33:7 niv
"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.
Ezekiel 33:7 esv
"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.
Ezekiel 33:7 nlt
"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.
Ezekiel 33 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 33:7 | "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel;" | Ezekiel 3:17, 18 |
| Ezekiel 3:18 | "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 in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." | Ezekiel 3:20; 1 Cor 9:16 |
| Isaiah 58:1 | "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins." | Isaiah 58:9; Jer 6:17, 18 |
| Jeremiah 6:17 | "“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’" | Jer 6:19; Ezek 33:31 |
| Acts 20:26 | "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you," | Acts 20:27; Heb 13:17 |
| Romans 11:26 | "and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “TheDeliverer will come from Zion, he will banish godlessness from Jacob”" | Isa 59:20; Rom 15:25-27 |
| John 15:13 | "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." | John 10:11; Phil 2:5-8 |
| Revelation 18:4 | "Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.”" | Rev 18:5; 2 Cor 6:17, 18 |
| Ezekiel 18:23 | "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, do I not prefer that they turn from their ways and live?" | Ezek 18:25-32; 2 Pet 3:9 |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | "“Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to your ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity shall not be your ruin." | Ezek 18:27, 31; Acts 3:19, 20 |
| Hebrews 13:7 | "Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." | Heb 13:17, 24; 1 Thess 5:12, 13 |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" | 1 Pet 4:18; Luke 12:47, 48 |
| Proverbs 10:11 | "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." | Prov 10:18; Prov 13:14 |
| Matthew 18:15 | "“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." | Matt 18:16, 17; Gal 6:1 |
| Acts 18:6 | "But when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”" | Acts 13:46, 51; Neh 5:13 |
| Ezekiel 3:21 | "But if you warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you shall have delivered your soul." | Ezek 3:19; Acts 20:24 |
| Ezekiel 3:18 | "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 in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." | Ezek 3:20; 1 Cor 9:16 |
| Zechariah 1:4 | "“Be not like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried aloud, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD." | Zech 1:2-6; Jer 25:3-7 |
| Joel 2:28, 29 | "“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." | Acts 2:17, 18; Heb 1:1, 2 |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 7 Meaning
This verse establishes the prophet Ezekiel's divinely appointed role as a watchman for the house of Israel. His duty is to communicate God's warnings directly and without alteration to the people. When a watchman warns the people and they disregard the warning, their blood is upon their own heads, not the watchman's.
Ezekiel 33 7 Context
Chapter 33 of Ezekiel continues the prophet's commission and emphasizes his role as a watchman for Israel, specifically during a time when Jerusalem has fallen, and the people are in exile. The previous chapter depicted the land as desolate, but now God speaks of restoring it. This particular verse functions as the immediate preamble to God's explanation of the prophet's responsibility. The people have disregarded the pronouncements of God's former prophets, leading to their destruction. Ezekiel is now appointed to prevent further spiritual catastrophe by clearly communicating God's word and judgment. His role is not to compel obedience but to deliver the warning faithfully. The broader context includes the themes of divine justice, personal responsibility, repentance, and the unfaithfulness of God's people.
Ezekiel 33 7 Word Analysis
- So (וְגַם - və-gam): This conjunction introduces a new, significant point or an amplification of a previous one. It connects the previous discourse to the prophet's new, elevated role.
- you (אַתָּה - ʾattâ): Refers directly to Ezekiel, emphasizing his personal appointment.
- son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם - ben-ʾāḏām): A recurring appellation for Ezekiel, signifying his humanity and his role as a representative of mankind, through whom God's message is conveyed. It reminds him and the audience of his subordinate position to God.
- I have made (נָתַתִּי - nāṯaṯtî): A past tense verb (perfect) from nāṯan, meaning "to give," "to put," or "to appoint." This indicates God's active commissioning and equipping of Ezekiel for his task.
- a watchman (צֹפֶה - tsōpeh): From the root tsāphâ, meaning "to look out," "to watch," or "to observe." A watchman's duty was to keep a vigilant lookout, often from a tower, to detect danger and warn the people. This term implies responsibility and alertness.
- for (לְ - lə): Preposition indicating the recipient or the sphere of the appointment.
- the house of Israel (בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל - bêṯ-yiśrāʾēl): The covenant people of God, both the northern and southern kingdoms. This specifies the audience for whom Ezekiel is a watchman.
Words Group Analysis:
- "I have made a watchman for the house of Israel": This phrase signifies a formal appointment by God Himself. It's not a self-appointed role but a divine commission. The use of "watchman" highlights the life-or-death stakes of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry. He is responsible for sounding the alarm against impending spiritual and physical danger.
Ezekiel 33 7 Bonus Section
The concept of the watchman in Ezekiel is deeply rooted in Old Testament precedent. Similar imagery is found in Isaiah, who was called to "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet" (Isa 58:1). The unfaithfulness of Israel’s leaders and prophets in past generations is contrasted with Ezekiel’s mandated fidelity. This verse also foreshadows the New Testament concept of spiritual leadership responsibility, as articulated by Paul in Acts 20:26-27, where he declares his innocence of the blood of those he ministered to because he did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God. The imagery of the watchman is central to the ministry of proclamation, emphasizing its grave responsibility and the stark accountability it entails before God.
Ezekiel 33 7 Commentary
Ezekiel is divinely commissioned as a sentinel for God's people, the house of Israel. His sacred task is to transmit God's unvarnished word, especially warnings, to the nation. The critical implication is that if he faithfully delivers these divine alarms and the people ignore them, they alone bear the ultimate responsibility for their impending doom. Their spiritual blood is not on Ezekiel's hands if he fulfills his mandate. This concept underscores individual accountability for rejecting God's truth, even when clearly communicated through a prophet.
- Practical application: This verse serves as a timeless reminder for all who bear responsibility for communicating God's truth to others—ministers, teachers, parents, and believers. The focus must be on faithfulness in delivering the message, not on the people's reaction. If the message is clear and the warning is given, the watchman is clear.