if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people; then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn’t heed the warning, if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn’t take warning. His blood will be on him; whereas if he had heeded the warning, he would have delivered his soul. But if the watchman sees the sword come, and doesn’t blow the trumpet, and the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes, and takes any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
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Ezekiel 33:3-6 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and tell them, ‘When I bring the sword on a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman; if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people; then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn’t heed the warning, if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn’t take warning. His blood will be on him; whereas if he had heeded the warning, he would have delivered his soul. But if the watchman sees the sword come, and doesn’t blow the trumpet, and the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes, and takes any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
Parallel Translations
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if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people;
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn’t heed the warning, if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn’t take warning. His blood will be on him; whereas if he had heeded the warning, he would have delivered his soul.
But if the watchman sees the sword come, and doesn’t blow the trumpet, and the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes, and takes any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
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If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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if, when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the horn, and warn the people;
then whosoever heareth the sound of the horn, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head;
he heard the sound of the horn, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the horn, and the people be not warned, and the sword do 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.
Cross-references (43)
- Ezekiel 18:13 (v4) has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He…
- Ezekiel 3:18-20 (v6) When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die;’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his…
- Hosea 8:1 (v3) “Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against…
- Acts 18:6 (v4) When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now…
- Ezekiel 33:8-9 (vv3, 6) When I tell the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you don’t speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man will die…
Show all 42 cross-references
- Genesis 42:22 (v6) Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and you wouldn’t listen? Therefore also, behold,…
- Exodus 9:19-21 (v5) Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. The hail will come down on…
- 2 Samuel 4:11 (v6) How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood from your…
- Nehemiah 4:20 (v3) Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us.”
- Jeremiah 6:17 (v4) I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’
- Ezekiel 33:9 (v4) Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he doesn’t turn from his way; he will die in his iniquity, but you…
- Hebrews 11:7 (v5) By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which…
- 2 Chronicles 25:16 (v4) As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the…
- Ezekiel 18:20 (v6) The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.…
- John 8:39 (v5) They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
- Genesis 9:5 (v6) I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand…
- 2 Kings 6:10 (v5) The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once or twice.
- Nehemiah 4:18 (v3) Among the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me.
- Isaiah 51:2 (v5) Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, I blessed him, and made him many.
- Isaiah 58:1 (v3) “Cry aloud! Don’t spare! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Ezekiel 33:5 (v4) He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn’t take warning. His blood will be on him; whereas if he had heeded the warning, he would have…
- Joel 2:1 (v3) Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes,…
- Zechariah 1:2-4 (v4) “Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers. Therefore tell them: Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Return to me,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I…
- Acts 2:37-41 (v5) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter…
- Hebrews 2:1-3 (v5) Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through…
- Leviticus 20:9 (v4) “ ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall…
- Leviticus 20:11-27 (v4) “ ‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood…
- 2 Samuel 1:16 (v4) David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’ ”
- 1 Kings 2:37 (v4) For on the day you go out and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head.”
- Psalms 95:7 (v5) for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
- Proverbs 29:1 (v4) He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
- Jeremiah 4:5 (v3) Declare in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, ‘Blow the trumpet in the land!’ Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves! Let’s go into…
- Jeremiah 6:1 (v3) “Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the middle of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa and raise up a signal on Beth…
- Jeremiah 42:20-22 (v4) For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for you sent me to Yahweh your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and…
- Jeremiah 51:27 (v3) “Set up a standard in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her! Call together against her the kingdoms…
- Ezekiel 18:24 (v6) “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked…
- Ezekiel 34:10 (v6) The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against the shepherds. I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the…
- John 8:21-24 (v6) Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.” The…
- Acts 20:26 (v4) Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
- James 1:22 (v4) But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
- Proverbs 14:32 (v6) The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
- Isaiah 56:10-11 (v6) His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.…
42 distinct cross-references across this passage (43 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (12 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v6 Signifying, that the wicked shall not escape punishment though…
Signifying, that the wicked shall not escape punishment though the watchman be negligent: but if the watchman blow the trumpet, and then he will not obey, he shall deserve double punishment.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–6 Eze 33:3 If when he seeth the sword come…
Eze 33:3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Ver. 3. He blow the trumpet.] Hence the ancients {a} infer that a bishop must preach, and that Praelati officium est sollicitudo non celsitudo. He taketh upon him the office of a constant preacher, saith Gregory, that undertaketh to be a minister.
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{a} Clemens, Bernard.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3–6 The sword of the enemy, or any other danger…
The sword of the enemy, or any other danger which he may foresee in any of the causes or forerunners of it.
Come, i.e. coming, approaching to the land.
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Blow the trumpet; sound the alarm: the sound of the trumpet is a warning, yet to this sometimes it is necessary to add a warning by word of month, and tell the people brought together by the trumpet what he seeth.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–6 If what he seeth the sword come upon the…
If what he seeth the sword come upon the land,.... Or those that kill with the sword, as the Targum; as soon as he observes a body of armed men, more or less, marching towards the borders of the land with a manifest intention to enter and invade it:
he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; warn the people by blowing the trumpet, the signal agreed on; by which they would understand that an enemy was at hand, or danger near; or warn them by word of mouth, as well as by the trumpet, where he could do it, and when it was necessary.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v6 Is taken away - Punished by the Lord for…
Is taken away - Punished by the Lord for his sin.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v6 Iniquity, not regarding the admonitions of his pastor; (chap.…
Iniquity, not regarding the admonitions of his pastor; (chap. iii. 18.; Calmet) or rather of conscience, when the guide proves faithless and silent, as in this instance. (Haydock) --- The people were persuaded that none suffered except for some fault, ver. 10.; Jeremias xxxi. 30., Daniel xiii. 52., and Genesis xliv. 16. The author of the Book of Job takes great pains to remove this mistake. God sometimes sends crosses for a trial, (Calmet) and to increase the merit of his servants; though it be very true, (Haydock) "no one is miserable except he deserve it." (St. Augustine)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 6 the sword--invaders. An appropriate illustration at the time of…
the sword--invaders. An appropriate illustration at the time of the invasion of Judea by Nebuchadnezzar.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 6 3. The trumpet was the signal of danger, Hos_8:1;…
3. The trumpet was the signal of danger, Hos_8:1; Amo_3:6; Jer_6:1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v6 Vers. 6-9. But if the watchman: etc. The words…
Vers. 6-9. But if the watchman: etc. The words imply what we might almost call the agony of self-accusation. The prophet asks himself whether he has acted on the warning which was borne in on his mind at the very beginning of his mission. Has he sounded the trumpet? Has he warned the people of the destruction that is coming on them? The outward imagery vanishes in Ver. 7. It is of no Chaldean invader that the prophet had to give personal and direct warning, but of each man"s own special sin which was Bringing ruin on himself and on his country.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v4 Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet.
Eze_33:4-5
Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet.
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The trumpet call
I. The analogy between the watchman on the walls of Zion and the preacher of the Gospel of the grace of God.
1. The qualifications needed in a watchman: vigour, courage, intelligence, loyalty, fidelity.
2. The duties: vigilance, to watch; obedience, to warn.
3. The responsibilities: account of the service must be rendered to those who appointed him; safety of the city depended largely upon the faithful discharge of the watchmans duties.
II. The analogy between the sound of the watchmans trumpet and the message of the Gospel preacher. Here we are reminded of the trumpet call of alarm on the approach of danger in time of peril. The call was to be definite, distinct, emphatic, rousing. Warning every man. The Gospel trumpet is to arrest the attention of men, call them to repent, to surrender, lay down their weapons of rebellion; and then, armed with the whole armour of God, go forth manfully to fight His battles. The Gospel message is a trumpet call to advance, and no surrender; it is never the call to retreat, or the proclaimer of defeat. There must be no uncertain sound, for all truth is dogmatic, and ought to be definitely proclaimed.
III. The analogy between the responsibility of those who heard the watchmans trumpet and those who hear the sound of the Gospel. The watchman on the walls of Zion simply sounded the alarm; it was for the people to believe and obey. So the Gospel hearers of today are responsible for the effects produced upon their hearts and minds by the Gospel message. (Homilist.)
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.
The warning neglected
In all worldly things men are always enough awake to understand their own interests There is scarce a merchant who reads the paper who does not read it some way or other with a view to his own personal concerns. In politics, in everything, in fact, that concerns temporal affairs, personal interest usually leads the van. Men will always be looking out for themselves and personal home interests will generally engross the major part of their thoughts. But in religion it is otherwise. In religion men love far rather to believe abstract doctrines, and to talk of general truths, than the searching inquiries which examine their own personal interest in it.
I. The warning was all that could be desired. When in time of war an army is attacked in the night, and cut off and destroyed whilst asleep, if it were possible for them to be aware of the attack, and if they had used all diligence in placing their sentinels, but nevertheless the foe were so wary as to destroy them, we should weep; we should attach no blame to anyone, but should deeply regret, and should give to that host our fullest pity. But if, on the other hand, they had posted their sentinels, and the sentinels were wide awake, and gave to the sleepy soldiers every warning that could be desired, but nevertheless the army were cut off, although we might from common humanity regret the loss thereof, yet at the same time we should be obliged to say, if they were foolish enough to sleep when the sentinels had warned them; if they folded their arms in presumptuous sloth, after they had had sufficient and timely notice of the progress of their bloodthirsty enemy, then in their dying we cannot pity them: their blood must rest upon their own heads. So it is with you.
1. The warnings of the ministry have been to most of you warnings that have been heard--He heard the sound of the trumpet. In far off lands the trumpet sound of warning is not heard.
2. The trumpet was not only heard, but more than that, its warning was understood. If ye be damned, I am innocent of your damnation; for I have told you plainly, that except ye repent ye must perish, and that except ye put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ there is for you no hope of salvation.
3. Again, this sound was startling. Then, sirs, if ye have heard the cry of fire, if ye are burned in your beds, your charred ashes shall not accuse me.
4. In many of your eases the warning has been very frequent. A hundred times every year you have gone up to the house of God, and far oftener than that, and you have just added a hundred billets to the eternal pile.
5. This warning that you have had so often has come to you in time. You are not warned on a sick bed at the eleventh hour, when there is but a bare possibility of salvation, but you are warned in time, you are warned today, you have been warned for these many years that are now past.
II. Men make excuses why they do not attend to the Gospel warning, but these excuses are all frivolous and wicked.
1. Some say, Well, I did not attend to the warning, because I did not believe there was any necessity for it. There was enough in reason to have taught you that there was an hereafter; the Book of Gods revelation was plain enough to have taught it to you, and if you have rejected Gods Book, and rejected the voice of reason and of conscience, your blood is on your own head.
2. But, cries another, I did not like the trumpet. I did not like the Gospel that was preached. Well, but God made the trumpet, God made the Gospel; and inasmuch as ye did not like what God made, it is an idle excuse. What was that to you what the trumpet was, so long as it warned you?
3. But another says, I did not like the man himself; I did not like the minister; I did not like the man that blew the trumpet; I could hear him preach very well, but I had a personal dislike to him, and so I did not take any notice of what the trumpet said. Verily, God will say to thee at last, Thou fool, what hadst thou to do with that man? to his own master he stands or falls; thy business was with thyself.
4. There are many other people who say, Ah, well, I did none of those things, but I had a notion that the trumpet sound ought to be blown to everybody else, but not to me. Ah! that is a very common notion. All men think all men mortal but themselves, said a good poet; and all men think all men need the Gospel, but not themselves.
5. Well, says another, But I was so busy; I had so much to do that I could not possibly attend to my souls concerns. What will you say of the man who had so much to do that he could not get out of the burning house, but was burnt to ashes.
6. Well, says another, but I thought I had time enough; you do not want me, sir, to be religious in my youth, do you? I am a lad; and may I not have a little frolic, and sow my wild oats as well as anybody else? Well--yes, yes; but at the same time the best place for frolic that I know of is where a Christian lives; the finest happiness in all the world is the happiness of a child of God.
III. Then the last thought is, His blood shall be on his own head. Briefly thus--he shall perish; he shall perish certainly; he shall perish inexcusably.
1. He shall perish. And what does that mean? There is no human mind however capacious, that can ever guess the thought of a soul eternally cast away from God.
2. But again, he that turneth not at the rebuke of the minister shall die, and he shall die certainly. This is not a matter of perhaps or chance.
3. Now, the last thing is, the sinner will perish--he will perish certainly, but last of all, he will perish without excuse,--his blood shall be on his own head. When a man is bankrupt, if he can say, It is not through reckless trading--it has been entirely through the dishonesty of one I trusted that I am what I am; he takes some consolation, and he says, I cannot help it. But oh, if you make bankrupts of your own souls, after you have been warned, then your own eternal bankruptcy shall lie at your own door. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues giving Ezekiel his message to the Israelites.
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his blood is on him
Here "blood" represents a person's death. The phrase "on him" is an idiom that means that person is considered responsible. AT: "it will be his own fault that he dies"
save his own life
"will keep himself from dying"
the sword as it is coming
The word "sword" refers to an enemy army. AT: "the enemy army as it is coming" (See: Metonymy)
with the result that the people are not warned
This can be stated in active form. AT: "and he does not warn the people" (See: Active or Passive)
the sword comes and takes anyone's life
Here "sword" represents an enemy army. AT: "the enemy army comes and kills anyone" (See: Metonymy)
that person dies in his own sin
"that person dies because of his own sin"
I will require his blood from the watchman
Here "blood" represents a person's death. The phrase "I will require his blood from" is an idiom that means to consider someone responsible. AT: "I will consider that person's death to be the fault of the watchman" (See: Metonymy and Idiom)
translationWords
blood
save
sword
sin
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 33:5-9 Ezekiel’s message encouraged the people of Israel even…
33:5-9 Ezekiel’s message encouraged the people of Israel even now to repent so that they might live and not die. The Lord had said that he would bring an army against their country, and this was evidently what was now happening. Ezekiel had been faithful to his calling as a watchman; no one who had heard his prophecy thus far could say that he did not warn the people of the coming judgment. However, the people had not heeded the warning; without a change of heart they would die in their sins.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.