Ezekiel 3:21 Study Bible: Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul."

◄ Ezekiel 3:21 ►

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."

Study Bible

But if you warn
The Hebrew root for "warn" is "זָהַר" (zahar), which means to enlighten or admonish. This word implies a responsibility to communicate God's truth and guidance. In the context of Ezekiel, it underscores the prophet's duty to be a watchman, a role that involves vigilance and proactive communication. Historically, prophets were seen as God's mouthpieces, tasked with delivering His messages to the people, often as a call to repentance and righteousness.

the righteous man
The term "righteous" in Hebrew is "צַדִּיק" (tzaddik), referring to someone who is just or morally upright. In the biblical context, righteousness is not merely about legalistic adherence to the law but involves a heart aligned with God's will. The righteous man in this verse represents those who strive to live according to God's standards, and the warning serves as a safeguard to maintain their path of integrity.

not to sin
Sin, or "חֵטְא" (chet) in Hebrew, signifies missing the mark or falling short of God's standards. The warning against sin is a call to remain vigilant against moral and spiritual failings. In the broader scriptural narrative, sin is what separates humanity from God, and the call to avoid it is a call to maintain communion with the Divine.

and he does not sin
This phrase highlights the effectiveness of the warning. The righteous man's response to the warning is crucial; it demonstrates the power of prophetic admonition to influence behavior. It also reflects the biblical principle of free will, where individuals are responsible for their choices and actions.

he will surely live
The assurance of life, "חָיָה" (chayah) in Hebrew, is a promise of both physical and spiritual well-being. In the Old Testament, life is often associated with blessings, prosperity, and divine favor. This promise underscores the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where obedience leads to life and blessing.

because he took warning
The phrase emphasizes personal responsibility and the importance of heeding divine instruction. The act of taking warning is an acknowledgment of God's authority and a commitment to align one's life with His will. It reflects the biblical theme of wisdom, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding.

and you will have saved yourself
This part of the verse speaks to the prophet's accountability. The Hebrew root "נָצַל" (natsal) means to deliver or rescue. Ezekiel's faithfulness in delivering God's message ensures his own deliverance from the consequences of failing his prophetic duty. It highlights the interconnectedness of community and individual responsibility in the biblical worldview, where the actions of one can impact the spiritual state of another.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ezekiel
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He is tasked with being a "watchman" for the house of Israel.

2. Righteous Man
Represents those who are living in accordance with God's laws and commands. The verse emphasizes the importance of warning even the righteous to prevent them from falling into sin.

3. God
The ultimate authority who appoints Ezekiel as a watchman and provides the message of warning and salvation.

4. Israelites
The primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who are in exile due to their disobedience to God.

5. Babylonian Exile
The historical context in which Ezekiel is prophesying, a period of punishment and reflection for the Israelites.

Teaching Points

The Role of a Watchman
As Christians, we are called to be watchmen in our communities, warning others of the dangers of sin and guiding them towards righteousness.

Responsibility to Warn
It is our duty to lovingly correct and warn others, especially fellow believers, to help them stay on the path of righteousness.

The Power of Heeding Warnings
Listening to and acting upon godly warnings can lead to life and spiritual growth, both for the one warned and the one giving the warning.

Personal Accountability
Each individual is responsible for their response to warnings. The righteous man who heeds the warning will live, illustrating the importance of personal accountability in our spiritual walk.

Salvation Through Obedience
Obedience to God's warnings is a path to life, underscoring the connection between faith and works in the life of a believer.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Ezekiel's role as a watchman apply to our lives today in terms of warning others about sin?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our warnings to others are given in love and not judgment?

3. How can we cultivate a heart that is receptive to warnings and corrections from others?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to hold ourselves accountable to God's standards of righteousness?

5. How do the themes of warning and obedience in Ezekiel 3:21 connect with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Reinforces the role of Ezekiel as a watchman, emphasizing the responsibility to warn both the wicked and the righteous.

James 5:19-20
Highlights the importance of turning a sinner from the error of their ways, which parallels the responsibility of warning the righteous.

Proverbs 9:8-9
Discusses the wisdom in accepting correction, which aligns with the righteous man heeding the warning.

Sermons

Responsibility	J.D. Davies	Ezekiel 3:15-21
The Prophet a Watchman	W. Jones	Ezekiel 3:16-21

People

Ezekiel

Places

Chebar, Tel-abib

Topics

Certainly, Delivered, Evil, Hast, However, Nevertheless, Note, Righteous, Safe, Saved, Sin, Sinned, Soul, Surely, Upright, Warn, Warned, Warning

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ezekiel 3:16-21

5054 responsibility, examples

Ezekiel 3:17-21

7773 prophets, role

Library

Cæsarius of Arles.
He was born in the district of Chalons-sur-Saone, A. D. 470. He seems to have been early awakened, by a pious education, to vital Christianity. When he was between seven and eight years old, it would often happen that he would give a portion of his clothes to the poor whom he met, and would say, when he came home, that he had been, constrained to do so. When yet a youth, he entered the celebrated convent on the island of Lerins, (Lerina,) in Provence, from which a spirit of deep and practical piety …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Boniface, Apostle of the Germans.
BONIFACE, or Winfried, as they called him in Anglo-Saxon, born at Crediton in Devonshire, in 680, deserves to be honoured as the father of the German Church, although he was by no means the first who brought the seeds of the Gospel to Germany. Many had already laboured before him; but the efforts which had been made here and there did not suffice to secure the endurance of Christianity amongst the many perils to which it was exposed. Christianity needs to be linked with firm ecclesiastical institutions, …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity of my position not to hold my peace. For it is written, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet (Isai. lviii. 1). And again it is written, I have given thee for a watchman …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Greatness of the Soul,
AND UNSPEAKABLENESS 0F THE LOSS THEREOF; WITH THE CAUSES OF THE LOSING IT. FIRST PREACHED AT PINNER'S HALL and now ENLARGED AND PUBLISHED FOR GOOD. By JOHN BUNYAN, London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682 Faithfully reprinted from the Author's First Edition. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Our curiosity is naturally excited to discover what a poor, unlettered mechanic, whose book-learning had been limited to the contents of one volume, could by possibility know …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint.'--ISAIAH l. 7. What a striking contrast between the tone of these words and of the preceding! There all is gentleness, docility, still communion, submission, patient endurance. Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. It is like the contrast between a priest and a warrior. And that gentleness is the parent of this boldness. The same Will which is all submission …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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