Ezekiel 3:17-21
Chapter 3
When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ if you do not warn the wicked man to give up his evil ways, and so live, he shall die for his sin, and I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you have warned the wicked man, and he has not given up his wickedness and evil ways, he shall die for his sin, but you will save yourself.
When the righteous man turns from what is good to do evil, I shall put an obstacle in his path: he shall die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. His good deeds will not be remembered, and I shall hold you responsible for his death.
But when you have warned the righteous man to keep him from sinning, and he has not sinned, he will live for sure, for he was warned; and you will save your life.”
Commentaries
The Prophet as Watchman.
The prophet of the true God, as a man of the Word, holds a great responsibility before the people: to warn, accompany, encourage, and point out what is not in line with God’s justice. The two references to the prophet as a watchman here and in Ezekiel 33 highlight two aspects of his role: the first involves delivering warnings and condemnations, and the second offers messages of hope and salvation.