Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 3:19
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
His wickedness: this may denote the sinfulness of his mind and heart, which is the spring of all.
His wicked way; his actual sinful courses; the practices of sin and the habits of sin must be left.
He shall die in his iniquity; the punishment of his unrepented sins shall be death, but there is no danger unto the watchman, the prophet and minister, who did his duty, and warned the sinner.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. wickedness . . . wickedwayinternal wickedness of heart, and externalof the life, respectively.
delivered thy soul(Isa 49:4; Isa 49:5;Act 20:26).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet if thou warn the wicked,…. Of his sin and danger; lay before him his evil, and show him the sad consequences of going on in a course of sin, and warn him to flee from wrath to come:
and he turn not from his wickedness, and from his wicked way; does not repent of it, nor abstain from it:
he shall die in his iniquity; and for it, and that very righteously:
but thou hast delivered thy soul; thou hast done the duty of thine office; thou art clear from the charge of negligence and sloth, and from being answerable for the death of the sinner; and shalt save thyself, though not the wicked man; see 1Ti 4:16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet is here taught how usefully he will lay out his labor, although he should appear to fail, for he ought to be satisfied with this alone, that God approves his efforts. Although, therefore, those who were to be brought back by holy exhortations remain obstinate, yet God’s servants ought not, through fastidiousness, to throw up their commission as if it were useless, for they free their own souls. It has been formerly said, that a necessity was imposed upon them, but if they are dumb dogs the destruction of souls will be imputed to them, but when they have executed their duty and satisfied the Almighty, ought not it to suffice them to be absolved in his opinion? We see then, that the Prophet was animated by this consolation, lest he should be weary of admonishing abandoned and obstinate men, because, if they were not profited by his teaching, yet its fruit should return to himself. That expression of Christ’s is well known, “Into whatsoever house ye enter, salute it: if the house be unworthy, your blessing shall return to yourselves.” (Mat 10:12; Luk 10:5.) So also when the Prophets anxiously desired to reclaim the wandering sheep and to collect them within the fold, if they experienced such petulance that their labor did not profit them, yet their usefulness shall return to themselves. Now we understand the counsel of God in these words, Thou, therefore, hast freed thy soul. Here he does not put impiety only, but impious way, for the sake of explanation: unless any one had rather distinguish that impiety is the interior wickedness of the heart, but an impious way is the outward life and comprehends all actions, which is perhaps more probable, although there is no reason to object to add impious way as an explanation after the mention of impiety. Now it follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘And if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have saved your life.’
However if Ezekiel did give the warning and the person did nothing about it, the same consequence would come on the person, but Ezekiel would be free from blame and would be spared. Note here the deliberate reference to ‘wickedness’ in contrast with a ‘wicked way’, suggesting a comparison between the state of mind and heart in rebellion against God, and the revealing of that in behaviour.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Ver. 19. He shall die in his iniquity. ] Because now he falleth with open eyes. Many sorrows shall be to such wicked as will not be warned. Psa 32:9-10 a
But thou hast delivered thy soul,
a De Temp., 99.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thy soul = thyself. Heb, nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
if thou: 2Ki 17:13-23, 2Ch 36:15, 2Ch 36:16, Pro 29:1, Jer 42:19-22, Jer 44:4, Jer 44:5, Luk 10:10, Luk 10:11, Act 18:5, Act 18:6, 1Th 4:6, Heb 2:1-3, Heb 12:25
he shall: Eze 3:18, 2Th 1:8, 2Th 1:9, Heb 10:26, Heb 10:27
but thou: Eze 3:21, Eze 14:14, Eze 14:20, Eze 33:5, Eze 33:9, Isa 49:4, Isa 49:5, Act 13:45, Act 13:46, Act 20:26, 2Co 2:15-17
Reciprocal: Exo 33:3 – for I Num 18:1 – shall bear Isa 55:7 – the wicked Jer 31:30 – General Eze 2:5 – yet Eze 33:14 – Thou shalt Mar 6:18 – It is Joh 8:21 – and shall die Act 4:11 – you 1Ti 4:16 – thou shalt
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 3:19. A watchman might not be able to induce a wicked man to turn from his sinful course and the guilty one would have to suffer. But if the watchman has done what he could to turn the unrighteous man from his great error, the entire blame will be placed on his head and not on that of the watchman.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
If, however, Ezekiel did warn the people and they refused to repent, they would die, but the Lord would not hold Ezekiel responsible.