Ezekiel 33:7-9
Chapter 33
7
For your part, son of man, I have made you a watchman for Israel; when you hear my word, you must warn them.
8
When I say to the wicked: ‘Wicked man, you shall die for sure,’ if you do not warn the wicked man to turn from his ways, he will die because of his sin; but I will also hold you accountable for his blood.
9
If you warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin; but you, yourself, will be saved.
Commentaries
The Prophet as Watchman.
This chapter begins the second part of the book. Three notes serve as an inclusion to separate the first part, which focuses more on judgment and condemnation: the references to Ezekiel’s role as a watchman (3:16; 33:1-9) and to his silence (3:24-27; 33:22), as well as the statement: “they will realize that they had a prophet in their midst” (2:5; 33:22). Once again, the Lord addresses the prophet with the title “son of Adam.” As a watchman, the prophet has the role of warning the people, who in turn must pay attention to him.