Keraia
Ezekiel 3

Ezekiel 3:20

A Watchman for Israel · Ezekiel 3:16–27
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Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And in the turning away of a righteous one from his righteousness so that he does iniquity, and I set a stumbling block before him, he will die because you did not give him warning—in his sin he will die—and his righteousness that he did will not be remembered, and his blood I will require from your hand.
Latin
Sed et si conversus justus a justitia sua fuerit, et fecerit iniquitatem, ponam offendiculum coram eo: ipse morietur quia non annuntiasti ei. In peccato suo morietur, et non erunt in memoria justitiæ ejus quas fecit: sanguinem vero ejus de manu tua requiram.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Ezekiel 3:20–21

The prophet spoke to two groups of people: the righteous and the wicked. Ezekiel had to deliver his message to both groups. He did not choose who would hear it.

Both the righteous and the wicked would be judged by how they responded to his word (see Matthew 13:3–9, 18–23). Those who listened and obeyed would receive life. Those who rejected his message would receive death, even if they had once been righteous.

Faith in the Lord’s word, spoken through his prophet, was the only standard that separated those who would live from those who would die.

Ezekiel 1:1–3:27

Old Testament prophetic books often begin with a “call narrative.” A call narrative describes how God chose and sent a prophet to serve in this role (for example, Jeremiah 1:4–19).

This account showed that the prophet’s message was legitimate. It made clear that the prophet spoke as the Lord’s ambassador (a representative sent with authority). The call narrative also introduced important themes that the book would explain more fully later.

In Ezekiel, the call narrative focuses on the Lord’s coming judgment on his people.

Events

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of Kebar Prophet, Prophetess Spirit of God

Topics

Apostasy: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Christian Minister: Duties of Christian Minister: Responsibility of Prophets were Required: To be Vigilant and Faithful Stumbling: R. V. Warning before Destruction Winning Souls for Christ