King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But if you warn the righteous person that a righteous person should not sin, and he doesn't sin; then he will certainly live, because he took the warning; and you too will have saved your life."
Berean Standard Bible:
But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
American Standard Version:
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Nevertheless if thou warn{H2094} the righteous{H6662} man, that the righteous{H6662} sin{H2398} not, and he doth not sin{H2398}, he shall surely{H2421} live{H2421}, because he is warned{H2094}; also thou hast delivered{H5337} thy soul{H5315}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Timothy 4:16
- Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Titus 2:15
- ¶ These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
James 5:20
- Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Proverbs 9:9
- Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
1 Corinthians 4:14
- ¶ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].
Ezekiel 3:19
- 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.
Ezekiel 3:20
- Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
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Commentary for Ezekiel 3:21
Ezekiel 3:21 is a part of the larger narrative of Ezekiel, a prophet who lived during the Babylonian exile of the Jews in the 6th century BCE. This verse is situated within a passage where God commissions Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel. The historical context is one of moral and spiritual crisis, as the people of Judah have been uprooted from their homeland and taken into captivity due to their disobedience to God's laws.
The themes of this verse include responsibility, accountability, and the potential for repentance and life. Ezekiel is instructed that if he warns a righteous person not to sin, and that person listens and refrains from sinning, then the righteous individual will live. This emphasizes the importance of prophetic duty and the impact of heeding divine warnings. The verse also suggests a principle of individual responsibility, where personal actions determine one's fate.
The phrase "he shall surely live" underscores the positive outcome of righteous living and the power of warning and guidance in preventing spiritual downfall. Moreover, the clause "also thou hast delivered thy soul" indicates that by faithfully executing his role as a watchman and delivering God's message, Ezekiel ensures his own spiritual well-being and fulfillment of his divine calling.
In summary, Ezekiel 3:21 highlights the role of the prophet as a moral guardian who has the power to influence the fate of others through the delivery of God's warnings. It conveys a message of hope that righteous behavior, influenced by prophetic admonition, can lead to life and spiritual preservation, both for the individual and the prophet himself. This verse reflects the broader themes of the book of Ezekiel, which include the necessity of repentance, the justice of God, and the possibility of restoration for those who turn back to Him.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2094
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָהַר
Transliteration: zâhar
Pronunciation: zaw-har'
Description: a primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution); admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing). - Strong's Number: H6662
There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צַדִּיק
Transliteration: tsaddîyq
Pronunciation: tsad-deek'
Description: from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man). - Strong's Number: H2398
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָטָא
Transliteration: châṭâʼ
Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass. - Strong's Number: H2421
There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָיָה
Transliteration: châyâh
Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. - Strong's Number: H5337
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַל
Transliteration: nâtsal
Pronunciation: naw-tsal'
Description: a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out). - Strong's Number: H5315
There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
Transliteration: nephesh
Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.