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Ezekiel 3:21

in Ezekiel 3

But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul.

KJV

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

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This verse in Ezekiel 3

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
If, therefore, the preacher freed his soul because he warned the just man not to sin, when the just man has fallen into sin while the preacher remained silent, the preacher is held guilty because he was silent. But who among us, I ask, is sufficient for these things, not only to zealously rebuke sinners, but also to watch over the just lest they fall?

This site's exposition

he will die in his iniquity

on Ezekiel 3:19-21

If Ezekiel warns a wicked man who does not turn, “he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.” The same rule holds for “a righteous man” who “turns from his righteousness”: unwarned, he dies. Chapter 18 takes up the righteous man who turns away.

This site's exposition

he heeded your warning

The last case is the good one. The watchman warns the righteous man, he keeps from sin, and he lives, and the watchman saves himself as well. Matthew Henry puts it simply: when ministers warn and people take the warning, it is well for both.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ezekiel · Written before 420.

proposed

(Verse 20, 21.) But even if a righteous person turns away from their righteousness and commits iniquity, I will set a stumbling block before them. They shall die because you did not warn them; in their sin they shall die, and their righteous deeds shall not be remembered; but I will require their blood from your hand. However, if you warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they shall surely live because you warned them, and you have saved your own soul.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Not but that there are those who are warned against it, and yet turn from their righteousness; but that case is not put here, as was concerning the wicked man, but, on the contrary, that a righteous man, being warned, takes the warning and does not sin (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

We must not only not flatter the wicked, but not flatter even the righteous as if they were perfectly safe any where on this side heaven. [7.] If ministers give warning, and people take it, it is well for both. Nothing is more beautiful than a wise reprover upon an obedient ear; the one shall live because he is warned and the other has delivered his soul.

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְאַתָּ֞הand you

    veatahH859 →1094 times

  • כִּ֧יif

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • הִזְהַרְתּ֣וֹyou have warned him

    hizhartoH2094 →22 times

  • צַדִּ֗יקa righteous [person]

    tzadikH6662 →206 times

  • לְבִלְתִּ֥יto not

    leviltiH1115 →112 times

  • חֲטֹ֛אto sin

    chato'H2398 →238 times

  • צַדִּ֖יקa righteous [person]

    tzadikH6662 →206 times

  • וְה֣וּאand he

    vehu'H1931 →1879 times

  • לֹא־not

    lo'-H3808 →5168 times

  • חָטָ֑אhe has sinned

    chata'H2398 →238 times

  • חָי֤וֹcertainly <live>

    chayoH2421 →282 times

  • יִֽחְיֶה֙he will live

    yichyehH2421 →282 times

  • כִּ֣יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • נִזְהָ֔רhe has been warned

    nizharH2094 →22 times

  • וְאַתָּ֖הand you

    veatahH859 →1094 times

  • אֶֽת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • נַפְשְׁךָ֥life your

    nafshekhaH5315 →754 times

  • הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ סyou have delivered

    hitzaltaH5337 →212 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 John 2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.7 works1 Timothy 4:16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.5 worksTitus 2:15Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.4 worksProverbs 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.4 worksJames 5:20consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.4 works1 Corinthians 4:14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Galatians 1:6–10I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—3 worksActs 20:31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.3 worksEzekiel 3:19–20But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.3 works1 John 3:6–9No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.3 worksPsalms 19:11By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.3 worksEzekiel 33:9But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.3 worksRevelation 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.2 worksGalatians 5:2–7Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.2 works1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.2 works1 Thessalonians 4:6–8and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.2 worksColossians 3:5–8Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.2 worksProverbs 17:10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 4:16

    Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

    it leads to

    • Titus 1:9

      He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

    • Titus 2:7

      In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,

    • 2 John 1:8–9

      Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.

    • 1 Corinthians 3:10–11

      By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

    • Ezekiel 33:7–9

      As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.

  • Through

    James 5:20

    consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 4:8

      Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

    • Proverbs 10:12

      Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

    • 1 Timothy 4:16

      Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Where this verse is studied

About Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel: the study guide →Read Ezekiel 3 →

This page draws on Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel; Gregory the Dialogist, Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 11; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Ezekiel 3 →