Ezekiel 3:21

Neuerthelesse if thou warne the righteous man, that the righteous sinne not, and he doth not sinne; he shall surely liue, because he is warned: also thou hast deliuered thy soule. Ezekiel 3:21 (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. Ezekiel 3:21 (KJV)

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

The book of Ezekiel is written by the prophet Ezekiel, who was a priest and a prophet during the Babylonian exile. God called Ezekiel to be a watchman over the house of Israel, warning them of impending judgment if they did not turn from their wicked ways. In this verse, God is speaking to Ezekiel, emphasizing the importance of delivering His message faithfully.

The verse begins by addressing the act of warning a righteous person. Here, the term “righteous” refers to someone who is living in accordance with God’s commandments and seeking to do what is right in His sight. The righteous person is already on the right path, but they may still be susceptible to sin and need reminders to stay on track.

God instructs Ezekiel to warn the righteous person so that they do not sin. The purpose of the warning is to prevent the righteous from straying from the path of righteousness and falling into sin. God desires obedience and holiness from His people, and He uses His messengers to guide and protect them.

The verse continues by stating that if the righteous person heeds the warning and does not sin, they will surely live. This refers to spiritual life and a relationship with God. The righteous person will experience the blessings and favour of God, as they have remained faithful and obedient to His commands.

God also emphasizes that by faithfully delivering His message and warning the righteous, Ezekiel fulfills his duty as a watchman. The promise of life to those who heed the warning highlights the importance of personal responsibility in fulfilling one’s calling and responsibilities, and it frees the watchman from guilt for having delivered his soul.