Bible Strands
Ezekiel 33:5
Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel addresses the exiled house of Israel as a divinely appointed watchman tasked with sounding a horn to warn of approaching judgment. The prophet explains the mechanics of personal responsibility during the Babylonian exile.
The words — קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר (kol hash-shofar) literally means “the sound of the trumpet,” denoting the moment of divine warning. נִזְהָר (nizhar) translates to “he took warning,” indicating an active, attentive response rather than passive hearing.
The thread — The watchman metaphor and blood-responsibility structure run through Ezekiel 33:4 and Ezekiel 33:6. The pattern of responding to unseen divine warnings aligns with Exodus 9:19 and Hebrews 11:7.
Why it lands — The text states that hearing the warning without acting places the consequence on the hearer, while heeding it preserves life. It requires the reader to treat prophetic warning as a command for immediate action.
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
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 9:19 So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die when the hail comes down upon them.’”
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- John 8:39 “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
- 2 Kings 6:10 So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
- Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
- Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Hebrews 2:1 We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
- Psalms 95:7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,