Ezekiel 3:21

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 3:21 articulates a crucial extension of Ezekiel's divine commission as a watchman, emphasizing his responsibility not only to the wicked but also to those already walking in righteousness. This verse establishes that if the prophet faithfully warns a righteous individual who is in danger of sinning, and that person heeds the warning and refrains from transgression, they will assuredly preserve their spiritual and covenantal life. Furthermore, by diligently delivering this warning, the prophet fulfills his sacred duty, thereby absolving himself of any culpability and securing his own soul from divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 3:21 is the culminating verse in a pivotal section (Ezekiel 3:16-21) that formally commissions Ezekiel as God's "watchman" (`/ezekiel/3-17 "Ezekiel 3:17 - The Watchman's Commission"`). The preceding verses meticulously outline the watchman's grave responsibilities. Verses 18-19 focus on the wicked: if the watchman fails to warn the wicked, and they die in their sin, their "blood" is on the watchman's hands; but if warned and they repent, both are saved. Verse 20 then presents a sobering scenario for the righteous: if a righteous person turns to sin and is not warned, leading to their demise, the watchman is held accountable. Ezekiel 3:21 provides the essential counterpoint and completion to this comprehensive mandate, detailing the positive outcome when the righteous *are* warned and remain faithful, thus ensuring their continued life and the prophet's deliverance. This structure systematically covers all permutations of the watchman's duty and its consequences.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel ministered during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile (c. 597-571 BC), a time of profound national and spiritual upheaval for the Israelites. The concept of a "watchman" (`/2_samuel/18-24 "2 Samuel 18:24 - The Watchman on the Gate"`) was deeply ingrained in ancient Near Eastern society, referring to a guard posted on city walls or towers to detect approaching armies or dangers and sound an alarm. God powerfully appropriates this familiar military and civic image to convey the urgency and life-or-death stakes of Ezekiel's spiritual message. In the exilic context, the people faced constant temptations toward idolatry, despair, and spiritual complacency. The prophet's role was not merely to predict future events but to actively confront sin and sustain righteousness within a community struggling to maintain its identity and faith amidst foreign domination. The warnings were thus not abstract theological pronouncements but vital, practical admonitions directly relevant to the moral and spiritual challenges of daily life in exile.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. It underscores the **comprehensive nature of prophetic responsibility**, demonstrating that God's divine concern extends beyond merely calling the unrighteous to repentance; it equally encompasses the preservation and perseverance of those already walking in covenant faithfulness. It highlights the biblical principle of **contingency in divine blessing and judgment** (`/jeremiah/18-7-10 "Jeremiah 18:7-10 - The Potter and the Clay"`), illustrating that spiritual life is contingent upon ongoing obedience and vigilance, even for the righteous, who are not immune to falling. Furthermore, it powerfully articulates the theme of **divine accountability for God's messengers**, emphasizing that the prophet's faithfulness in delivering the divine word ensures his own exoneration, regardless of the recipient's ultimate response. This theme is revisited with renewed emphasis in Ezekiel 33. Finally, the verse speaks to the enduring **value of continuous spiritual instruction and admonition**, even for mature believers, as an indispensable means of sustained spiritual vitality and flourishing.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **warn (Hebrew, _zâhar'_):** This primitive root means "to gleam," but figuratively it signifies "to enlighten by caution." It implies more than a casual notification; it is an act of serious admonition, instruction, or illumination, often carrying a sense of urgency and consequence. The prophet's role is to bring divine light to a situation, making the potential danger or sin clear to the righteous individual, thereby guiding them away from harm.
* **righteous (Hebrew, _tsaddîyq'_):** Derived from a root meaning "just," this term describes someone who is in a right relationship with God, adhering to His laws and covenant. It refers to a person who is upright, just, and lawful in God's eyes. The verse's profound implication is that even such individuals, though currently in a state of righteousness, are not beyond the possibility of spiritual complacency or moral lapse and therefore still require divine warning and guidance to persevere.
* **sin (Hebrew, _châṭâʼ'_):** A primitive root meaning "to miss" or "to miss the mark." Figuratively, it denotes falling short of God's perfect standard, transgressing His law, or acting contrary to His revealed will. In this context, it highlights the ever-present danger for the righteous to deviate from their path of obedience, underscoring the crucial need for preventative warning and constant vigilance against spiritual declension.
* **live (Hebrew, _châyâh'_):** This primitive root means "to live," encompassing physical existence, spiritual vitality, flourishing, and the preservation of one's covenantal relationship with God. Here, it refers to the spiritual and covenantal life that the righteous person maintains and continues to enjoy by heeding the warning and avoiding sin, signifying ongoing divine favor, blessing, and flourishing in their walk with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man]":** This opening clause establishes the conditional premise and highlights the prophet's proactive and inclusive responsibility. It shifts the focus from the wicked (addressed in previous verses) to those already in a right standing with God, underscoring that even the righteous require divine communication, guidance, and protective admonition.
* **"that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin":** This specifies the precise purpose and the desired, successful outcome of the warning. The warning is preventative, designed to keep the righteous individual from stumbling or falling into transgression. The subsequent affirmation, "and he doth not sin," confirms that the divine warning was effectively delivered and, crucially, heeded by the recipient.
* **"he shall surely live, because he is warned":** This declares the certain and positive consequence for the warned righteous individual. Their continued spiritual and covenantal "life" (encompassing flourishing, divine favor, and preservation in their walk with God) is directly and explicitly attributed to their responsiveness to the divine warning, emphasizing the vital link between obedience and sustained spiritual vitality.
* **"also thou hast delivered thy soul":** This final, pivotal clause outlines the consequence for the prophet himself. By faithfully delivering the warning, regardless of the recipient's response (though here the response is positive), the prophet fulfills his solemn divine obligation. His own "soul" (his life, his person, his integrity, and his standing before God) is thereby rescued from the burden of unfaithfulness and culpability.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 3:21 masterfully employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. A **Conditional Clause** ("if thou warn... he shall surely live") structures the divine principle, illustrating a direct cause-and-effect relationship based on the prophet's faithfulness and the recipient's response. The **Repetition** of "righteous" and "sin" throughout the verse serves to underscore the specific focus on the vulnerability of the righteous and the persistent danger of transgression, even for those in covenant. The phrase "surely live" utilizes a powerful **Hebraic Idiom**, specifically an infinitive absolute construction (`châyâh yichyeh`), which intensifies the verb, emphasizing the certainty and absolute nature of the life preserved. Furthermore, the entire passage operates within the overarching **Metaphor** of the "watchman," where Ezekiel's spiritual and prophetic role is vividly likened to a physical guard on a city wall, making the abstract concept of spiritual vigilance tangible, urgent, and fraught with life-or-death implications.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 3:21 profoundly illustrates God's comprehensive and meticulous care for His people, demonstrating that His desire for their holiness extends far beyond initial conversion to encompass ongoing sanctification and perseverance. It underscores the biblical truth that even those in covenant relationship are not beyond the need for vigilance, instruction, and occasional admonition to remain steadfast in righteousness. This verse highlights the dynamic and active nature of faith, where spiritual life is not a static possession but is maintained through continuous responsiveness to God's word, whether it comes as a call to repentance or a preventative warning to avoid stumbling. It reinforces the critical and weighty role of God's messengers in this process, emphasizing that their faithfulness in delivering the divine message is paramount, securing their own integrity and deliverance, irrespective of the recipient's ultimate response. This principle foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on perseverance and the role of spiritual leaders in equipping the saints.

* [Proverbs 9:9](/proverbs/9-9 "Proverbs 9:9 - Give Instruction to a Wise Man")
* [1 Corinthians 10:12](/1_corinthians/10-12 "1 Corinthians 10:12 - Warning Against Overconfidence")
* [Hebrews 3:12-13](/hebrews/3-12-13 "Hebrews 3:12-13 - Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 3:21 serves as a profound and multifaceted reminder for every believer, and particularly for those entrusted with spiritual leadership. For leaders, it underscores the weighty and often challenging responsibility to not only proclaim the Gospel to the lost but also to diligently shepherd, teach, and, when necessary, lovingly admonish those already within the fold. Discipleship is an ongoing, lifelong process, and even the "righteous" can be susceptible to sin, spiritual complacency, or subtle drifts from God's path. This verse calls for a proactive, vigilant, and comprehensive approach to spiritual care. For individual believers, this passage cultivates a posture of humility and receptiveness to godly counsel. It challenges any notion that once saved, one is beyond the need for spiritual vigilance, the wisdom of others, or even direct correction. Instead, it calls for a continuous posture of learning, self-examination, and openness to divine and human admonition, recognizing that our spiritual "life" and flourishing are preserved when we humbly heed divine warnings and strive daily to walk in obedience. Implicitly, this passage encourages the cultivation of vibrant Christian communities where believers lovingly watch over one another, offering timely encouragement and truth to help each other persevere in faith and avoid stumbling.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life might you, as a "righteous" person, still need a "warning" or gentle admonition to prevent sin or spiritual drift?**
* **How receptive are you to godly counsel or correction, especially when it challenges your comfort zone, personal convictions, or perceived righteousness?**
* **If you are in a position of spiritual influence or leadership, how faithfully and comprehensively are you warning, teaching, and nurturing those under your care, beyond just initial evangelism?**
* **What does "delivered thy soul" mean for your personal sense of responsibility and courage in sharing difficult truths, knowing that your faithfulness is what truly matters?**

### FAQ

**Why do the righteous need to be warned? Aren't they already in a good standing with God?**

Answer: The term "righteous" (`/ezekiel/3-21 "Ezekiel 3:21 - Warning the Righteous"`) in this context refers to those who are currently walking in obedience and covenant with God. However, the Bible consistently teaches that even the righteous are susceptible to temptation, spiritual complacency, or falling into sin (`/proverbs/24-16 "Proverbs 24:16 - The Righteous Fall Seven Times"`). Ezekiel 3:21 highlights God's comprehensive and preventative care, demonstrating that His desire is not just for initial salvation but for sustained holiness and perseverance. The warning serves as a divine safeguard, a preventative measure to help believers avoid stumbling and to continue in their "life" of fellowship and obedience with God. It underscores the ongoing need for vigilance, spiritual nourishment, and accountability for all believers, regardless of their current standing.

**What does it mean for the prophet to have "delivered thy soul"?**

Answer: To "deliver thy soul" (`/ezekiel/3-19 "Ezekiel 3:19 - Watchman's Accountability"`) means that the prophet has fully discharged his divine commission and is therefore absolved of any responsibility, guilt, or culpability for the outcome. If Ezekiel faithfully delivers God's warning to the righteous, and that person heeds it, both the warned individual and the prophet are preserved. Even in scenarios where the warned person *does not* heed the warning (a principle established in the broader watchman passage, though not the direct focus of this verse for the righteous), the prophet's own "soul" (his life, his person, his integrity before God) is delivered because he has discharged his duty. It emphasizes that God holds His messengers accountable for their faithfulness in delivering the message, not for the listener's response. The prophet's obedience secures his own spiritual well-being.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 3:21 directly addresses the Old Covenant prophet's role, its principles find profound and ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the quintessential and perfect Watchman, who not only warned the unrighteous to repent and believe the Gospel (`/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel"`) but also continually warned, taught, and discipled His righteous followers to persevere in faith and avoid sin. His parables, such as the parable of the sower (`/matthew/13-1-23 "Matthew 13:1-23 - Parable of the Sower"`) and the warning against the dangers of apostasy, illustrate the ever-present possibility of falling away even for those who initially receive the Word. The numerous warnings given by Christ and His apostles to believers throughout the Gospels and Epistles, such as those found in [Hebrews 12:1-4](/hebrews/12-1-4 "Hebrews 12:1-4 - Perseverance in the Race of Faith") or [1 John 2:28](/1_john/2-28 "1 John 2:28 - Abiding in Christ"), are not to condemn but to preserve the spiritual "life" of the righteous and ensure their perseverance to the glorious end. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd (`/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd" `), lays down His life not only to rescue the lost but also to protect, guide, and nourish His sheep, ensuring they do not stray and that none are lost (`/john/10-27-28 "John 10:27-28 - My Sheep Hear My Voice"`). Furthermore, the ultimate "delivery of the soul" is found in Christ's atoning work, where He delivered His own soul unto death (`/isaiah/53-10 "Isaiah 53:10 - The Suffering Servant"`), not to escape culpability, but to bear the culpability of humanity, thereby delivering the souls of all who believe from the penalty and power of sin (`/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love"`). Thus, the divine warning and the preservation of life in Ezekiel 3:21 powerfully foreshadow the comprehensive redemptive and sanctifying work of Christ, who perfectly fulfills the watchman's role and secures eternal life for His people through His perfect obedience and sacrifice.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.