Ezekiel 3:20

Authorized King James Version

PDF

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.

Original Language Analysis

וּבְשׁ֨וּב Again H7725
וּבְשׁ֨וּב Again
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 1 of 23
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
צַדִּ֤יק When a righteous H6662
צַדִּ֤יק When a righteous
Strong's: H6662
Word #: 2 of 23
just
מִצִּדְקוֹ֙ from his righteousness H6664
מִצִּדְקוֹ֙ from his righteousness
Strong's: H6664
Word #: 3 of 23
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
עָשָׂ֔ה and commit H6213
עָשָׂ֔ה and commit
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 4 of 23
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
עָ֔וֶל iniquity H5766
עָ֔וֶל iniquity
Strong's: H5766
Word #: 5 of 23
(moral) evil
וְנָתַתִּ֥י and I lay H5414
וְנָתַתִּ֥י and I lay
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 6 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מִכְשׁ֛וֹל a stumblingblock H4383
מִכְשׁ֛וֹל a stumblingblock
Strong's: H4383
Word #: 7 of 23
a stumbling-block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol), scruple)
לְפָנָ֖יו before H6440
לְפָנָ֖יו before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 8 of 23
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
ה֣וּא H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 9 of 23
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
יָמ֔וּת he shall die H4191
יָמ֔וּת he shall die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 10 of 23
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 11 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֤א H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 12 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִזְהַרְתּוֹ֙ because thou hast not given him warning H2094
הִזְהַרְתּוֹ֙ because thou hast not given him warning
Strong's: H2094
Word #: 13 of 23
figuratively, to enlighten (by caution)
בְּחַטָּאת֣וֹ in his sin H2403
בְּחַטָּאת֣וֹ in his sin
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 14 of 23
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
יָמ֔וּת he shall die H4191
יָמ֔וּת he shall die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 15 of 23
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וְלֹ֣א H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 16 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִזָּכַ֗רְןָ shall not be remembered H2142
תִזָּכַ֗רְןָ shall not be remembered
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 17 of 23
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
צִדְקֹתָו֙ and his righteousness H6666
צִדְקֹתָו֙ and his righteousness
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 18 of 23
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 19 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשָׂ֔ה and commit H6213
עָשָׂ֔ה and commit
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 20 of 23
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְדָמ֖וֹ but his blood H1818
וְדָמ֖וֹ but his blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 21 of 23
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
מִיָּדְךָ֥ at thine hand H3027
מִיָּדְךָ֥ at thine hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 22 of 23
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ will I require H1245
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ will I require
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 23 of 23
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

Cross References

Ezekiel 18:24But 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 3:18When 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.Hebrews 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.Psalms 125:5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.Ezekiel 18:26When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.Jeremiah 6:21Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.Ezekiel 33:18When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.1 Peter 2:8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.Isaiah 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Analysis & Commentary

God warns that even a righteous man can fall: "when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity...he shall die in his sin." This sobering warning addresses the danger of apostasy. The Hebrew shub (שׁוּב, "turn") indicates deliberate departure, not momentary lapse. The phrase "his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered" doesn't negate past grace but emphasizes that final apostasy proves saving faith was absent. The Reformed doctrine of perseverance of the saints maintains that true believers ultimately persevere, while those who utterly apostatize demonstrate they never possessed genuine faith (1 John 2:19).

Historical Context

This warning addressed exiles in Babylon (593 BC) who might have appeared righteous but lacked genuine heart transformation. Israel's history included many who began well but finished poorly—Saul, Solomon, and numerous kings who "did right...but the high places were not removed." The external righteousness of covenant membership didn't guarantee internal regeneration. Ezekiel's message anticipated Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises to write His law on hearts and give a new spirit. The warning guards against presumption while emphasizing that genuine conversion produces persevering faith.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

People