Eze 3:17-19 | NETfull | STEP | “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must give them a warning from me.

Ezekiel 3:17-19

17 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman ^{▼▼ The literal role of a watchman is described in 2 Sam 18:24; 2 Kgs 9:17.} for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must give them a warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked, “You will certainly die,” ^{▼▼ Even though the infinitive absolute is used to emphasize the warning, the warning is still implicitly conditional, as the following context makes clear.} and you do not warn him – you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked deed and wicked lifestyle so that he may live – that wicked person will die for his iniquity, ^{▼▼ Or “in his punishment.” The phrase “in/for [a person’s] iniquity” occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel: here and v. 19; 4:17; 7:13, 16; 18: 17, 18, 19, 20; 24:23; 33:6, 8, 9; 39:23. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” may also mean the “punishment for iniquity.”} but I will hold you accountable for his death. ^{▼▼ Heb “his blood I will seek from your hand.” The expression “seek blood from the hand” is equivalent to requiring the death penalty (2 Sam 4:11–12).} 19 But as for you, if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wicked deed and from his wicked lifestyle, he will die for his iniquity but you will have saved your own life. ^{▼▼ Verses 17–19 are repeated in Ezek 33:7–9.}