Ezekiel 33:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the shofar, so that the people are not warned; and then the sword comes and takes any one of them, that one is indeed taken away in his guilt, but I will hold the watchman responsible for his death.'

Berean Standard Bible:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

American Standard Version:

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, and the sword come, and take any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But if the watchman^{H6822} see^{H7200} the sword^{H2719} come^{H935}, and blow^{H8628} not the trumpet^{H7782}, and the people^{H5971} be not warned^{H2094}; if the sword^{H2719} come^{H935}, and take^{H3947} any person^{H5315} from among them, he is taken away^{H3947} in his iniquity^{H5771}; but his blood^{H1818} will I require^{H1875} at the watchman's^{H6822} hand^{H3027}.

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Commentary for Ezekiel 33:6

Ezekiel 33:6 is part of the Old Testament and specifically comes from the book of Ezekiel, which is a prophetic book. Ezekiel, a priest and a prophet, was among the Jews taken into exile in Babylon around 597 BCE. The verse is set within a broader context where God appoints Ezekiel as a "watchman" for the house of Israel. The watchman's role was to be vigilant and to warn the people of impending danger, much like a sentry on the city walls.

In this verse, God articulates the grave responsibility of the watchman. If the watchman (Ezekiel) sees danger approaching—symbolized by "the sword"—and fails to sound the alarm by "blowing the trumpet," he is held accountable for the lives lost. The "sword" is a metaphor for divine judgment or any calamity that might befall the people. The verse emphasizes that each individual is responsible for their own "iniquity," or sin, but the watchman is culpable if he neglects his duty to warn them. The phrase "his blood will I require at the watchman's hand" indicates that God will hold the watchman accountable for the deaths that could have been prevented had he fulfilled his duty to warn the people.

This verse reflects the themes of individual responsibility, divine justice, and the role of prophets as God's messengers to humanity. It underscores the importance of heeding God's warnings and the consequences of failing to act when called upon to do so. Historically, this passage would have resonated with the exiled Israelites as a call to spiritual vigilance and repentance, and it continues to serve as a moral lesson on the importance of taking personal and communal responsibility seriously.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6822
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָפָה
   Transliteration: tsâphâh
   Pronunciation: tsaw-faw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await; behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).
   
2. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2719
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶב
   Transliteration: chereb
   Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
   Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
   
4. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8628
   There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּקַע
   Transliteration: tâqaʻ
   Pronunciation: taw-kah'
   Description: a primitive root; to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become bondsman by handclasping); blow (a trumpet), cast, clap, fasten, pitch (tent), smite, sound, strike, [idiom] suretiship, thrust.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7782
   There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוֹפָר
   Transliteration: shôwphâr
   Pronunciation: sho-far'
   Description: or שֹׁפָר; from שָׁפַר in the original sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn; cornet, trumpet.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
8. 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).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5771
    There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָוֺן
    Transliteration: ʻâvôn
    Pronunciation: aw-vone'
    Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1818
    There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּם
    Transliteration: dâm
    Pronunciation: dawm
    Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.
    
13. Strong's Number: H1875
    There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּרַשׁ
    Transliteration: dârash
    Pronunciation: daw-rash'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.
    
14. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.