The Meaning of Ezekiel 33:5 Explained

Ezekiel 33:5

KJV: He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

YLT: The voice of the trumpet he heard, And he hath not taken warning, his blood is on him, And he who took warning his soul hath delivered.

Darby: He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood is upon him: whereas had he taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.

ASV: He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He heard  the sound  of the trumpet,  and took not warning;  his blood  shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning  shall deliver  his soul. 

What does Ezekiel 33:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 33:1-16 - "why Will Ye Die?"
The prophet depicts the peasantry of a fertile valley as engaged in pastoral pursuits. It is a peaceful, happy scene; but, creeping through the mountain passes, are their deadliest foes. How necessary that there should be a watchman, trumpet in hand, to give notice; and how unspeakable his guilt if he forbear to sound a warning! We are not responsible for those who refuse to take warning from our announcements, faithfully given; but if we perceive a soul in mortal danger and forbear to warn it, we are not only responsible for its ruin, but we bring awful retribution upon ourselves. Well might Richard Baxter lie awake at night beneath his awful sense of responsibility for the souls of men. God desires our salvation. If only the sinner will confess his sins to the faithful and merciful High Priest, and make such restitution as he can, not one of his sins shall be remembered against him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 33

1  According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people
7  Ezekiel is admonished of his duty
10  God shows the justice of his ways toward the penitent and toward revolters
17  He maintains his justice
21  Upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem
25  he prophecies the desolation of the land
30  God's judgment upon the mockers of the prophets

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 33:5 mean?

- The sound of the trumpet He heard but not did take warning his blood upon himself shall be but he who takes warning his life will save
אֵת֩ ק֨וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֤ר שָׁמַע֙ וְלֹ֣א נִזְהָ֔ר דָּמ֖וֹ בּ֣וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְה֥וּא נִזְהָ֖ר נַפְשׁ֥וֹ מִלֵּֽט

אֵת֩  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
ק֨וֹל  The  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הַשּׁוֹפָ֤ר  of  the  trumpet 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁופָר  
Sense: horn, ram’s horn.
שָׁמַע֙  He  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נִזְהָ֔ר  did  take  warning 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָהַר 
Sense: to admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining.
דָּמ֖וֹ  his  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
בּ֣וֹ  upon  himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יִֽהְיֶ֑ה  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וְה֥וּא  but  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
נִזְהָ֖ר  who  takes  warning 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָהַר 
Sense: to admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining.
נַפְשׁ֥וֹ  his  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מִלֵּֽט  will  save 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.