Ezekiel 3:20 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Ezekiel 3:20
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
to turn back (hence · conjunction + preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct
righteous
צַדִּ֤יקtza.Dik
H6662
just · adjective, masculine singular absolute
turn
שׁוּבshûwb
H7725
to turn back (hence
righteousness
מִצִּדְקוֹ֙mi.tzid.Ko
H6664
the right (natural · preposition + noun, common masculine singular construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
commit
וְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sah
H6213
to do or make · conjunction + verb, qal sequential perfect, 3rd person masculine singular
iniquity
עָ֔וֶל'A.vel
H5766
(moral) evil · noun, common masculine singular absolute
lay
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wi…
Ezekiel 33:12-13 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his…
Ezekiel 18:26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done sha…
Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to…
Romans 2:7-8 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Psalms 125:5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Isra…
2 Peter 2:18-22 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were cle…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 3:16-21
These further instructions God gave to the prophet at the end of seven days, that is, on the seventh day after the vision he had; and it is very probably that both that and this were on the sabbath day, which the house of Israel, even in their captivity, observed as well as they could in those circumstances. We do not find that their conquerors and oppressors tied them to any constant service, as their Egyptian task-masters had formerly done, but that they might observe the sabbath-rest for a sign to distinguish between them and their neighbours; but for the sabbath-work they had not the convenience of temple or synagogue, only it should seem they had a place by the river side where prayer w…
righteous . . . turn from . . . righteousness--not one "righteous" as to the root and spirit of regeneration (Psa 89:33; Psa 138:8; Isa 26:12; Isa 27:3; Joh 10:28; Phi 1:6), but as to its outward appearance and performances. So the "righteous" (Pro 18:17; Mat 9:13). As in Eze 3:19 the minister is required to lead the wicked to good, so in Eze 3:20 he is to confirm the well-disposed in their duty.
commit iniquity--that is, give himself up wholly to it (Jo1 3:8-9), for even the best often fall, but not wilfully and habitually.
I lay a stumbling-block--not that God tempts to sin (Jam 1:13-14), but God gives men over to judicial blindness, and to their own corruptions (Psa 9:16-17; Psa 94:23…
When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness - Which these words plainly state he may do, and commit iniquity and die in his sin; and consequently die eternally, which is also here granted; if he have not been warned, though he die in his sin, the blood - the life and salvation, of this person also will God require at the watchman's hand. Pastor hunc occidit, quia eum tacendo morti tradidit. "This man the pastor kills; for in being silent, he delivers him over to death." - Gregory. From these passages we see that a righteous man may fall from grace, and perish everlastingly. Should it be said that it means the self-righteous, I reply, this is absurd; for self-righteousness is a fall…
The Church Fathers
Thus it happens that all things are changed, pass away and perish. No one considers anyone more base than himself or more lowly than God. If there is a time at which anyone can legally place God second to his blood and marriage relatives, there is no time in which God must lawfully be placed ahead of them. But if, because it is true, there is no time whatever in which he should not be given preference, there is no time when he can lawfully be placed second to them. Indeed, there is no time, not even at the point of death, because the prophet says that even the just person will perish on the day he errs.
(Verse 20, 21.) But even if a righteous person turns away from their righteousness and commits iniquity, I will set a stumbling block before them. They shall die because you did not warn them; in their sin they shall die, and their righteous deeds shall not be remembered; but I will require their blood from your hand. However, if you warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they shall surely live because you warned them, and you have saved your own soul. Just as we read about two wicked or unjust individuals: One, who did not hear, and perished; the other, who heard and persisted in wickedness: so there are two righteous individuals, one who did not hear and perished; the other who heard and turned to repentance, saved his soul. It should be noted that a righteous person can fall; and if he has a teacher, he can be converted to better things. And therefore, good works require a constant teacher, so that a slip does not cause him to step back from the best path. And indeed the wicked, or the unjust if they have not converted, will die in their wickedness and injustice. But if the just commit impiety and sin, they do not immediately die; but a stumbling block or torment is set before them, as Theodotius said, an infirmity, so that they may be tormented and not find a straight path, and understand themselves to be weak, of whom the Apostle also says: Therefore many are weak and sleep among you (I Corinthians 11:30). For it is advantageous for the just to understand their own transgression and the torment of their conscience, and to say with the Psalmist: I am turned in my sorrow while the thorn is fastened on me (Psalm 31:4). And just as the wickedness of the impious is not obvious if they turn away from their wicked ways and live, so the ancient virtues do not benefit the just if they are oppressed by new crimes. But what has been brought upon oneself: He will die, because you did not announce to him, it is understood, that he could have lived if the watcher and teacher had instructed him.
Dictionary and topics
Apostasy · UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO — UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO
Backsliders · 8:22; — 8:22;
Prophets · Were required: To be vigilant and faithful — Were required: To be vigilant and faithful
Stumbling · .R. V.) — .R. V.)
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
וְנָתַתִּ֥יve.na.ta.Ti
H5414
to give · conjunction + verb, qal sequential perfect, 1st person common singular
stumblingblock
מִכְשׁ֛וֹלmikh.Shol
H4383
a stumbling-block · noun, common masculine singular absolute
before
לְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.Nav
H6440
the face (as the part that turns) · preposition + noun, common masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
die
יָמ֑וּתya.Mut
H4191
to die (literally or figuratively) · verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
warning
הִזְהַרְתּוֹ֙hiz.har.To
H2094
to gleam · verb, hiphil perfect, 2nd person masculine singular + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
die
יָמ֔וּתya.Mut
H4191
to die (literally or figuratively) · verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
sin
בְּחַטָּאת֣וֹbe.cha.ta.To
H2403
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness) · preposition + noun, common feminine singular construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
righteousness
צִדְקֹתָיו֙tzid.ko.Tav
H6666
rightness (abstractly) · noun, common feminine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
done
עָשָׂ֔ה'a.Sah
H6213
to do or make · verb, qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular
remembered
תִזָּכַ֗רְןָti.za.Khar.na
H2142
properly · verb, niphal imperfect, 3rd person feminine plural
blood
וְדָמ֖וֹve.da.Mo
H1818
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or… · conjunction + noun, common masculine singular construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine singular
require
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ'a.va.Kesh
H1245
to search out (by any method · verb, piel imperfect, 1st person common singular
hand
מִיָּדְךָ֥mi.ya.de.Kha
H3027
a hand (the open one (indicating power · preposition + noun, common both genders singular construct + pronominal suffix, 2nd person masculine singular
Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness,.... This is to be understood not of one that is truly righteous, or is justified by the righteousness of Christ; for such can never turn from that righteousness, or be in an unjustified state; seeing that is the righteousness of God, and an everlasting one; but of one that is denominated righteous, from "his" own righteousness, from a righteousness "which he hath done", as is afterwards expressed; one that is outwardly righteous before men, that is outwardly reformed, that has a righteousness of his own, consisting of a little negative holiness, and a few moral performances; from such righteousness a man may apostatize, and go int…
Ezekiel 3:20
20. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
20. Et si justus aversus fuerit a justitia sua, et fecerit iniquitatem, et posuero offendiculum coram facie ejus, [79] ipse morietur; quia non admonueris, in scelere suo morietur, et in memoriam non venient justitiae ejus, quia (quas) fecit, sanguinem vero ejus e manu tua requiram.
Here God adds another part of duty which is incumbent on all Prophets. For they are f…
After the Lord had pointed out to the prophet the difficulties of the call laid upon him, He prepared him for the performance of his office, by inspiring him with the divine word which he is to announce. - Eze 2:8. And thou, son of man, hear what I say to thee, Be not stiff-necked like the stiff-necked race; open thy mouth, and eat what I give unto thee. Eze 2:9. Then I saw, and, lo, a hand outstretched towards me; and, lo, in the same a roll of a book. Eze 2:10. And He spread it out before me; the same was written upon the front and back: and there were written upon it lamentations, and sighing, and woe. Eze 3:1. And He said to me: Son of man, what thou findest eat; eat the roll, and go and…
The prophet spoke to two classes of people, the righteous and the wicked. Ezekiel was to express his message indiscriminately, for both the righteous and the wicked would be judged on the basis of their response to his words (cp. Matt 13:3-9, 18-23). Those who heeded him would receive life; those who rejected his message would receive death, even if they had previously been righteous. Faith in the Lord’s word through his prophet was the sole criterion that divided those who would live from those who would die.
Rashi on Ezekiel 3:20
I shall place a stumbling block before him When he does his deeds in secret and displays himself as a righteous man, I place an overt sin before him in order to reveal his deeds, and when I bring evil upon him, they will not question Me.
and his righteous deeds...will not be remembered Our Rabbis explained this as referring to one who regrets his first oneshe regrets the first righteous deeds that he performed.
Because the preacher remained silent toward the just man who fell into sin, he is held guilty of his blood. And he who did not strive to be diligent in preaching has become a participant in damnation. But when it is said: "He will die in his sin, and his acts of justice which he performed will not be remembered," we must especially consider this: that when we commit evil deeds, we recall our past good deeds to memory in vain, since in the perpetration of evil there should be no confidence in past good deeds. But it can be asked whether preaching should be done to the just man after he has fallen, or also before he falls? The preacher must be vigilant lest he come to a fall—without doubt, even before he falls. But in all these things which have been said about the just man turned to iniquity, this is difficult to speak of, this is greatly to be feared: that the Lord says, "I will place a stumbling block before him." For He says: "If the just man, having turned from his justice, shall commit iniquity, I will place a stumbling block before him." For we say that if he commits iniquity, he stumbles, and what we say is entirely true. Why then does almighty God place a stumbling block before him whom He already sees to have struck against it and fallen through the iniquity he has committed? But the judgments of almighty God are strict; and He who long waits for the sinner to return, places before the one who does not return and who shows contempt yet another place where he may stumble more grievously. For indeed a sin which is not quickly wiped away through repentance is either a sin and a cause of sin, or a sin and a punishment for sin, or a sin that is simultaneously both a cause and a punishment for sin. For everything that is first committed is a sin. But if it is not quickly cleansed through repentance, by just judgment almighty God permits the bound mind of the sinner to fall into yet another fault, so that the one who refused to amend what he had done through weeping and correction begins to heap sin upon sin. Therefore the sin which is not washed away by the lament of repentance is simultaneously a sin and a cause of sin, because from it arises that by which the sinner's soul is bound still more deeply. But the sin which follows from sin is simultaneously a sin and a punishment for sin, because, as blindness increases, it is generated from the retribution…
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
