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A Watchman for Israel
In this passage, Yahweh gives Ezekiel a serious job as a watchman for Israel. Ezekiel must listen carefully to God’s word, warn people truthfully, and speak only when God opens his mouth.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
After seven days, Yahweh’s word comes to Ezekiel and explains his responsibility. The passage then moves from the watchman warning to a further command in the plain, where Yahweh’s glory appears and Ezekiel receives limits on when he may speak.
Ezekiel 3:16–27Main takeaway
God makes Ezekiel responsible to hear his word and give his warning faithfully, while each hearer remains responsible for how they respond.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A watchman who must hear and warnYahweh calls Ezekiel a “watchman” for the house of Israel. In this passage, that role is explained clearly: Ezekiel must hear the word from Yahweh’s mouth and warn the people from him.
Explanation
Yahweh calls Ezekiel a “watchman” for the house of Israel. In this passage, that role is explained clearly: Ezekiel must hear the word from Yahweh’s mouth and warn the people from him. The emphasis is not on Ezekiel inventing a message, but on passing on God’s warning faithfully.
02Warning the wicked mattersIf the wicked are not warned, they still die in their iniquity, yet Ezekiel is held accountable for failing to speak.
Explanation
If the wicked are not warned, they still die in their iniquity, yet Ezekiel is held accountable for failing to speak. If he does warn them and they do not turn, they still die in their wickedness, but Ezekiel has delivered his own soul. The passage distinguishes the hearer’s guilt from the watchman’s duty.
03The righteous also need warningThe warning is not only for the wicked. A righteous person who turns to iniquity must also be warned.
Explanation
The warning is not only for the wicked. A righteous person who turns to iniquity must also be warned. If no warning is given, that person dies in sin, and former righteous deeds are not remembered. If warning is given and the person does not sin, that person lives because he took warning.
04God controls Ezekiel’s speakingYahweh tells Ezekiel to go to the plain, where Ezekiel sees Yahweh’s glory and falls on his face.
Explanation
Yahweh tells Ezekiel to go to the plain, where Ezekiel sees Yahweh’s glory and falls on his face. The Spirit sets him on his feet and sends him into his house. There he is told about ropes, muteness, and a rebellious house. Ezekiel will speak when God opens his mouth.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh say a watchman must do in this passage?
Look for the two linked actions in the command: Ezekiel must hear the word from Yahweh’s mouth and warn the people from him.
02How does the passage show that warning someone and controlling their response are different things?
Compare the results in the verses about warning the wicked: the hearer may still refuse to turn, but Ezekiel is responsible to give the warning.
03When is Ezekiel able to speak, and what is he meant to say?
Notice that Ezekiel is made mute for a time, then God says he will open Ezekiel’s mouth so he can say, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says.’
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 3:16–27
16At the end of seven days, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.
18When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die;’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity; but I will require his blood at your hand.
19Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
20“Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he will die. Because you have not given him warning, he will die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered; but I will require his blood at your hand.
21Nevertheless 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.”
22Yahweh’s hand was there on me; and he said to me, “Arise, go out into the plain, and I will talk with you there.”
23Then I arose, and went out into the plain, and behold, Yahweh’s glory stood there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar. Then I fell on my face.
24Then the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me, and said to me, “Go, shut yourself inside your house.
25But you, son of man, behold, they will put ropes on you, and will bind you with them, and you will not go out among them.
26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be mute and will not be able to correct them, for they are a rebellious house.
27But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.”