Ezekiel 3:16-21

Ezekiel 3:16-21

[16] And it came to pass at the end  of seven  days,  that the word  of the LORD  came unto me, saying,  [17] Son  of man,  I have made  thee a watchman  unto the house  of Israel:  therefore hear  the word  at my mouth,  and give them warning  [18] When I say  unto the wicked,  Thou shalt surely  and thou givest him not warning,  nor speakest  to warn  the wicked  way,  to save his life;  the same wicked  man shall die  in his iniquity;  but his blood  will I require  at thine hand.  [19] Yet if thou warn  the wicked,  and he turn  not from his wickedness,  nor from his wicked  way,  he shall die  in his iniquity;  but thou hast delivered  thy soul.  [20] 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.  [21] Nevertheless if thou warn  the righteous  sin  he shall surely  because he is warned;  also thou hast delivered  thy soul. 

What does Ezekiel 3:16-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This section describes God"s formal induction of Ezekiel into the prophetic office in legal language designed to impress his pastoral accountability on him (cf. Jeremiah 6:16-21).