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Ezekiel 33:4

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Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 4

The prophet has now come off his circuit, which he went as judge, in God's name, to try and pass sentence upon the neighbouring nations, and, having finished with them, and read them all their doom, in the eight chapters foregoing, he now returns to the children of his people, and receives further instructions what to say to them. I. He must let them know what office he was in among them as a prophet, that he was a watchman, and had received a charge concerning them, for which he was accountable (Eze 33:1-9). The substance of this we had before, Eze 3:17, etc. II. He must let them know upon what terms they stand with God, that they are upon their trial, upon their good behaviour, that if a wicked man repent he shall not perish, but that if a righteous man apostatize he shall perish (Eze 33:10-20). III. Here is a particular message sent to those who yet remained in the land of Israel, and (which is very strange) grew secure there, and confident that they should take root there again, to tell them that their hopes would fail them because they persisted in their sins (Eze 33:21-29). IV. Here is a rebuke to those who personally attended Ezekiel's ministry, but were not sincere in their professions of devotion (Eze 33:30-33).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 4

שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound שׁוֹפָר (shôwphâr, H7782) — a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn זָהַר (zâhar, H2094) — to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution) חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Ezekiel 18:13rank 8

He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

Acts 18:6rank 6

But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Ezekiel 33:9rank 5

But 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.

Jeremiah 6:17rank 5

I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

II Chronicles 25:16rank 4

While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Ezekiel 33:5rank 3

Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.

Acts 20:26rank 2

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

I Kings 2:37rank 2

On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

II Samuel 1:16rank 2

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

James 1:22rank 2

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

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