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.
Yet if thou warn {H2094} the wicked {H7563}, and he turn {H7725} not from his wickedness {H7562}, nor from his wicked {H7563} way {H1870}, he shall die {H4191} in his iniquity {H5771}; but thou hast delivered {H5337} thy soul {H5315}.
On the other hand, if you warn the wicked person, and he doesn't turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, then he will still die guilty; but you will have saved your own life.
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.
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.
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Ezekiel 33:9
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. -
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. -
Ezekiel 14:20
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness. -
Ezekiel 14:14
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. -
Jeremiah 42:19
The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. -
Jeremiah 42:22
Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go [and] to sojourn. -
Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Ezekiel 3:19 is a pivotal verse within the prophet Ezekiel's divine commission, outlining his solemn duty as a "watchman" and the principles of individual accountability before God. It emphasizes that while the messenger is responsible for delivering the warning, the recipient bears the ultimate responsibility for their response.
Context
This verse comes early in the Book of Ezekiel, following directly from God's appointment of Ezekiel as a prophet to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. God had given him the task of speaking His words, whether the people listened or not. The preceding verses, Ezekiel 3:17-18, establish the concept of the prophet as a watchman, whose responsibility is to warn the wicked of their impending judgment. This particular verse addresses the outcome when the warning is given but disregarded.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "wicked" (רָשָׁע, rasha) denotes a person who is guilty or unrighteous, one who acts contrary to God's law. "Iniquity" (עָוֹן, avon) carries the sense of perversity, guilt, or the punishment due to sin. These terms highlight the grave moral condition and actions of those who are being warned, emphasizing that their demise is a direct consequence of their unrepentant rebellion against God.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 3:19 holds profound relevance for believers today. It calls us to consider our own role as messengers of God's truth. While we may not be prophets in the same sense as Ezekiel, all Christians are called to share the Gospel and warn against sin, pointing people towards repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim God's Word, but we are not responsible for the response of others. If we have shared the truth and warned others, we have delivered our souls, just as Ezekiel delivered his. This principle resonates with the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul declares himself "pure from the blood of all men" after faithfully proclaiming the whole counsel of God.