Ezekiel 33:8 kjv
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel 33:8 nkjv
When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Ezekiel 33:8 niv
When I say to the wicked, 'You wicked person, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
Ezekiel 33:8 esv
If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
Ezekiel 33:8 nlt
If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
Ezekiel 33 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 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." | Sets the foundation for the watchman's role. |
| Ezek 3:18 | "When 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 man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." | Parallel concept of responsibility for the wicked. |
| Ezek 18:10-13 | Describes righteous and unrighteous actions and their consequences, reinforcing the principle of individual responsibility and God's justice. | Illustrates the consequences of actions. |
| Matt 18:6 | "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." | Jesus speaks about causing others to sin, echoing a similar severity of responsibility for harm. |
| Acts 20:26-27 | "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." | Paul emphasizes his own faithfulness in proclaiming God's word, highlighting the watchman's duty. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for a necessity is laid upon me. Yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" | Paul expresses the burden and necessity of his calling, akin to the watchman's duty. |
| Heb 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." | Church leaders are watchmen responsible for souls and will give an account. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock." | Encourages leaders to faithfully tend to their flock. |
| Isa 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." | Similar exhortation to prophetic and clear denunciation of sin. |
| Jer 6:17 | "Also I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’" | Jeremiah contrasts his own message with the people's refusal to heed. |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." | Timothy is urged to diligently preach and teach God's word. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." | Contrasts the good shepherd with a hireling who abandoms the sheep. |
| Eze 3:20 | "Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness," | Highlights the potential positive outcome of the warning. |
| Rom 11:14 | "if I can in some way make them jealous for good works." | Paul’s desire for Gentile believers to provoke Jewish believers to love and good works. |
| Matt 13:33 | "Another parable He spoke to them: 'The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.'" | Leaven can represent the spread of the Gospel, but also false teaching. |
| 1 Thess 5:6 | "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us be watchful and sober." | An exhortation for believers to be vigilant. |
| Heb 12:15 | "looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;" | Emphasizes diligence in spiritual life and avoiding defilement. |
| 1 Sam 12:23 | "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way." | Samuel assures Israel of his continued intercessory prayer and guidance. |
| 1 John 5:16 | "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he shall ask, and He will for him give life to those who commit sin not unto death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that." | Discusses the nature of sin and prayer for others. |
| 1 Thess 2:8 | "As a father and encourages, charges, and implores each of you as a father would his own children," | A fatherly approach to ministry, caring for the flock. |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 8 Meaning
This verse establishes a solemn responsibility and consequence for the watchman who fails to sound the alarm. If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword takes any life, that life is taken because of the neglect of duty, and the watchman will be held accountable.
Ezekiel 33 8 Context
Ezekiel 33 is set during the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem has fallen, and the exiles are experiencing profound despair and a sense of abandonment. In this chapter, God reiterates Ezekiel's role as a watchman to the house of Israel, particularly those living in exile. The emphasis is on restoring the people's hope by clarifying God's justice and their personal responsibility. God emphasizes that a prophet or watchman is not responsible for the people's ultimate choice to repent or not, but they are directly responsible for delivering the message clearly. This particular verse follows the illustration of the watchman’s duty (Ezekiel 33:1-6) and precedes a passage where Ezekiel confronts the shepherds of Israel for their neglect (Ezekiel 34). The historical context highlights the critical need for clear spiritual leadership and communication of God’s warnings and promises during a time of national calamity and dispersed people.
Ezekiel 33 8 Word Analysis
- "And if the watchman":
wa'a"(וְאִם - wə’im): "And if." A conjunction introducing a conditional clause.
- "sees the sword":
rō'eh(רֹאֶה - rō’eh): "seeing." The participle emphasizes an ongoing action of perception.hə-ẖəreḇ(הַחֶרֶב - haḥereḇ): "the sword." A potent symbol of war, judgment, and impending destruction, directly referencing the coming Babylonian conquest.
- "coming,":
bā'āh(בָּאָה - bā’āh): "coming." Feminine participle, agreeing with "sword" (ḥereḇ), which is feminine. Indicates inevitable arrival.
- "and blows not the trumpet,":
wə-lə-hōpe k(וּלְלֹא שׁוֹפָר - ūləlō’ shōfār): "and not the trumpet." Negates the action of blowing. The "trumpet" (shōfar) was a critical signal in ancient Israel for warning, gathering, or announcing.
- "and the people is not warned;":
wə-hā-‘ām(וְהָעָם - wəhā‘ām): "and the people." Refers to the community of Israel.lō’ nîwərô ’ (לֹא נִתְרָ’ - lō’ nî’rô‘): "is not warned." Passive construction indicating a lack of warning being received.
- "and the sword comes":
wə-bā’āh haḥereḇ(וּבָאָה הַחֶרֶב - ūḇā’āh haḥereḇ): "and the sword comes." Repeats the certainty of the sword’s arrival.
- "and takes any life,":
wə-lə- q āḥ at -n e p e š m i- d d m m(וְנָשְׁתָה נֶפֶשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ - wənāshāh nefesh mimménnu): "and a life is taken from him." The taking of a life (nefesh) signifies death. The "from him" refers to from among the people.
- "his blood shall be upon the watchman.":
d m m- o ō’ ’l ā ō v ō(דָּמָם עַל-הַוֹפֶה - dāmām ‘al-hōpê): "his blood on the watchman." Direct transference of culpability for the death. The blood represents guilt and responsibility for life.
Words Group Analysis:
- "sees the sword coming": The immediate and clear perception of danger by the watchman. This highlights the necessity of not only seeing but understanding the threat.
- "blows not the trumpet": The failure to execute the specific action required (sounding the alarm). The trumpet itself symbolizes the vocal and public declaration of God’s message of warning.
- "people is not warned": The consequence of inaction – the community remains vulnerable and ignorant of the impending peril.
- "sword comes and takes any life": The irreversible outcome when the warning is absent. The sword represents God's judgment carried out through human instruments.
- "his blood shall be upon the watchman": The direct assignment of accountability. This phrase emphasizes the gravity of failing to fulfill a God-given responsibility, especially concerning the spiritual or physical safety of others.
Ezekiel 33 8 Bonus Section
The imagery of the watchman and the trumpet is a powerful metaphor used throughout scripture. The "sword" (ḥereḇ) represents divine judgment, often executed through human armies. The failure of the watchman to blow the trumpet signifies spiritual negligence and a lack of courageous proclamation of God’s truth, especially when that truth involves judgment for sin. The blood being "upon the watchman" is a stark image of imputed guilt; the watchman becomes complicit in the death by failing to avert it through faithful warning. This responsibility extends not only to prophets but to all believers who are called to be salt and light in the world, warning others of the consequences of sin and pointing them to salvation in Christ. The chapter as a whole reassures the repentant while clearly outlining the dire consequences for both the wicked who persist in sin and the watchman who fails in his duty.
Ezekiel 33 8 Commentary
The watchman’s role in Ezekiel 33 is to faithfully communicate God’s message, particularly warnings of judgment. Verse 8 describes the severe consequence of neglecting this duty. If the watchman fails to see or, more critically, fails to act upon seeing the impending danger (the sword representing God's judgment), and thus no warning is given, the lives lost because of this omission are charged to the watchman. This underscores a fundamental principle of accountability in spiritual leadership and even in prophetic utterance. It’s not just about possessing knowledge or perceiving danger, but about the faithful transmission of God’s word to those who need it most. The effectiveness of the warning is the people’s choice, but the delivery of the warning is the watchman’s solemn duty, for which he is held responsible by God. This concept mirrors the New Testament's emphasis on the responsibility of those entrusted with spiritual oversight to proclaim the truth, lest souls be lost due to their silence or neglect.