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.
Original Language Analysis
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
H7563
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
2 of 20
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
H4191
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
3 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
H4191
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
4 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
לְהַזְהִ֥יר
and thou givest him not warning
H2094
לְהַזְהִ֥יר
and thou givest him not warning
Strong's:
H2094
Word #:
6 of 20
figuratively, to enlighten (by caution)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
דִבַּ֛רְתָּ
nor speakest
H1696
דִבַּ֛רְתָּ
nor speakest
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
8 of 20
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
לְהַזְהִ֥יר
and thou givest him not warning
H2094
לְהַזְהִ֥יר
and thou givest him not warning
Strong's:
H2094
Word #:
9 of 20
figuratively, to enlighten (by caution)
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
H7563
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
10 of 20
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ
way
H1870
מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ
way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
11 of 20
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
H7563
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
12 of 20
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
לְחַיֹּת֑וֹ
to save his life
H2421
לְחַיֹּת֑וֹ
to save his life
Strong's:
H2421
Word #:
13 of 20
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
ה֤וּא
H1931
ה֤וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
14 of 20
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
H7563
רָשָׁע֙
from his wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
15 of 20
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
H4191
יָמ֔וּת
Thou shalt surely
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
17 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וְדָמ֖וֹ
but his blood
H1818
וְדָמ֖וֹ
but his blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
18 of 20
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
Cross References
Ezekiel 33:6But 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.Ezekiel 3:20Again, 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.Acts 2:40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.Luke 13:5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.1 Timothy 4:16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.John 8:21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.Ezekiel 18:20The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.Proverbs 14:32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.John 8:24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.Ezekiel 18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Historical Context
The watchman metaphor drew from ancient Near Eastern practice where sentinels guarded city walls, alerting inhabitants to approaching danger. Failure to warn meant culpability for resulting deaths. Ezekiel ministered to exiles (593-571 BC) who faced spiritual death through persistent rebellion. The prophet's solemn responsibility was warning them of coming judgment. This passage shaped Jewish understanding of rabbinic duty and later influenced Christian views of pastoral accountability. The principle appears in Acts 20:26-27 where Paul declares himself "pure from the blood of all men" by faithfully proclaiming God's counsel.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the watchman principle shape your sense of responsibility to warn unbelievers of coming judgment?
- What is the relationship between God's sovereign election and human responsibility to proclaim the gospel?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse establishes prophetic accountability: "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning...his blood will I require at thine hand." The Hebrew phrase "his blood will I require" uses legal language of judicial responsibility. Ezekiel functions as a watchman (3:17) whose duty is warning, not converting. The wicked man's death results from his own sin, but the prophet's silence makes him complicit. This doesn't contradict sovereign election but emphasizes human responsibility in evangelism. The Reformed view of secondary causes appears: God ordains both the end (salvation/judgment) and the means (faithful witness).