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.

Again {H7725}, When a righteous {H6662} man doth turn {H7725} from his righteousness {H6664}, and commit {H6213} iniquity {H5766}, and I lay {H5414} a stumblingblock {H4383} before {H6440} him, he shall die {H4191}: because thou hast not given him warning {H2094}, he shall die {H4191} in his sin {H2403}, and his righteousness {H6666} which he hath done {H6213} shall not be remembered {H2142}; but his blood {H1818} will I require {H1245} at thine hand {H3027}.

Similarly, when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, I will place a stumblingblock before him - he will die; because you failed to warn him, he will die in his sin; his righteous acts which he did will not be remembered; and I will hold you responsible for his death.

Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.

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 righteous deeds which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.

Context

Ezekiel 3:20 is part of a crucial passage where God commissions the prophet Ezekiel as a "watchman" to the house of Israel during their Babylonian exile. Having already established the prophet's responsibility concerning the wicked (Ezekiel 3:18-19), this verse extends the warning to include those who were once righteous but turn away. It underscores the profound gravity of Ezekiel's prophetic office and the severe consequences of failing to deliver God's warnings.

Key Themes

  • The Watchman's Solemn Responsibility: This verse powerfully reiterates the duty of God's appointed messengers. Ezekiel is held accountable for the spiritual state of those he is called to warn. If a righteous person falls into sin and Ezekiel fails to warn them, their spiritual death is partly laid at his feet. This highlights the immense weight of the watchman's duty, as further elaborated in Ezekiel 33:6.
  • The Danger of Apostasy and Backsliding: The verse speaks directly to the possibility of a "righteous man" turning from his righteousness. This is a stark warning that even those who have walked with God can fall away into iniquity. Such a turning away leads to spiritual death, emphasizing the need for continual vigilance and perseverance in faith. The Bible frequently warns against the dangers of apostasy.
  • Divine Justice and Impartiality: God's judgment is presented as just and unyielding. When a righteous person turns to sin, their past good deeds "shall not be remembered" in the context of their present unrepentant iniquity. This aligns with God's principle that a person's standing before Him is based on their current faithfulness, not past merits that have been abandoned.
  • God's "Stumblingblock": The phrase "I lay a stumblingblock before him" does not imply God actively causes sin. Instead, it signifies God's divine permission or judicial hardening. It means God allows circumstances or consequences to reveal the true state of a heart that has already chosen to turn away, or it represents a judgment that confirms their chosen path, leading to their deserved consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "stumblingblock" is mikshol (מִכְשׁוֹל), which literally means an obstacle, snare, or cause of ruin. In this context, it often refers to something that causes one to stumble morally or spiritually, or a divinely ordained test or judgment that reveals the heart's true inclination. The phrase "his blood will I require at thine hand" is a powerful idiom signifying that Ezekiel would be held fully accountable for the spiritual demise of the un-warned individual, emphasizing the gravity of his neglect.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 3:20 carries profound implications for both spiritual leaders and individual believers today:

  • For Leaders and Teachers: This verse serves as a sober reminder of the immense responsibility of those who teach or lead in spiritual matters. It underscores the necessity of faithfully proclaiming God's truth, warning against sin, and guiding people towards righteousness. Neglecting this duty can have eternal consequences for those under their care, for which leaders will be held accountable.
  • For All Believers: It highlights the critical truth that salvation is not a one-time event that grants a license to sin. Continual repentance, perseverance in faith, and living righteously are essential. The verse is a strong caution against spiritual complacency and reminds us that a former walk with God does not guarantee future salvation if one turns away from Him. It calls for constant self-examination and faithfulness, recognizing that falling back into sin can lead to a state worse than before.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 18:24

    But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

  • Ezekiel 3:18

    When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

  • Ezekiel 33:12

    Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his [righteousness] in the day that he sinneth.

  • Ezekiel 33:13

    When I shall say to the righteous, [that] he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

  • Hebrews 10:38

    Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

  • 2 Peter 2:22

    But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

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