Ezekiel 3:21

Words and speech Justice Protection and safety

¹⁹ But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

²⁰ Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.

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.”

²² And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.”

²³ So I got up and went out to the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD was present there, like the glory I had seen by the River Kebar, and I fell facedown.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.”
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.
WEB: Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he will surely live, because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul.”
ASV: Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul.
DARBY: And if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall certainly live, for he hath taken warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul.
BLB: And you, if you warn the righteous not to sin—the righteous one—and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he was warned and you will have delivered your own soul.”

ÅB: Men når du har advart den rettferdige om at han, den rettferdige, ikke skal synde, og han da ikke synder, da skal han leve, fordi han lot seg advare, og du har reddet din sjel.
OTB: Men hvis du advarer den rettferdige personen om ikke å synde og de ikke synder, vil de sikkert leve fordi de tok advarselen, og du vil ha reddet deg selv.”
B1930: Men når du har advart den rettferdige om at han, den rettferdige, ikke skal synde, og han da ikke synder, da skal han visselig leve, fordi han lot sig advare, og du har reddet din sjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Read in context
James 5:20
consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 4:14
I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
Read in context
Proverbs 9:9
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
Read in context
Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Read in context
1 John 3:6–9
No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
Read in context
Acts 20:31
Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Read in context
Ezekiel 3:19–20
But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.
Read in context