Ezekiel 3:19

But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God instructs Ezekiel regarding his prophetic duty to warn the wicked. The prophet is addressing a scenario where his warning is delivered but rejected by the recipient.

The words — The Hebrew term הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ (hiz.Har.ta) means "you have warned," establishing the prophet's active responsibility to deliver the message. The verb שָׁב֙ (shav) translates to "he has turned away," marking the required response from the wicked man.

The thread — This warning structure repeats in Ezekiel 33:9, where the prophet's duty to warn the wicked is reiterated. It aligns with the principle in Ezekiel 14:20 that righteousness cannot shield others from judgment, and echoes the New Testament charge in 1 Timothy 4:16 to preserve one's own life through faithful teaching.

Why it lands — The text states that the prophet bears no guilt for the wicked man's death if the warning was delivered, but he secures his own standing by fulfilling his duty. It asks the reader to recognize that faithful proclamation transfers responsibility for rejection to the recipient.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ you כִּֽי־ki-if הִזְהַ֣רְתָּhiz.Har.tayou have warned רָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'a wicked [person]וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not שָׁב֙shavhe has turned away מֵֽרִשְׁע֔וֹme./rish.'/Ofrom/ wickedness/ his וּמִדַּרְכּ֖וֹu./mi./dar.K/oand/ from/ way/ his הָרְשָׁעָ֑הha./re.sha.'Ah<the>/ wicked ה֚וּאhu'he בַּעֲוֹנ֣וֹba./'a.vo.N/ofor/ iniquity/ his יָמ֔וּתya.Muthe will die וְאַתָּ֖הve./'a.Tahand/ you אֶֽת־'et-<obj.>נַפְשְׁךָ֥naf.she./Khalife/ your הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ סhi.Tzal.tayou have delivered

King James Version

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 33:9 But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Ezekiel 14:20 then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.
1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Ezekiel 14:14 then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
Jeremiah 42:19 The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today!
Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,