The Meaning of Ezekiel 33:8 Explained

Ezekiel 33:8

KJV: When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

YLT: In My saying to the wicked, O wicked one -- thou dost surely die, And thou hast not spoken to warn the wicked from his way, He -- the wicked -- in his iniquity doth die, And his blood from thy hand I require.

Darby: When I say unto the wicked, Wicked man, thou shalt certainly die; and thou speakest not to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.

ASV: When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When I say  unto the wicked,  O wicked  [man], thou shalt surely  die;  if thou dost not speak  to warn  the wicked  from his way,  that wicked  [man] shall die  in his iniquity;  but his blood  will I require  at thine hand. 

What does Ezekiel 33:8 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 33:8 mean?

when I say to the wicked wicked [man] surely you shall die and not you do speak to warn the wicked from his way that in his iniquity shall die but his blood at your hand I will require
בְּאָמְרִ֣י לָרָשָׁ֗ע רָשָׁע֙ מ֣וֹת תָּמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א דִבַּ֔רְתָּ לְהַזְהִ֥יר רָשָׁ֖ע מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ ה֤וּא בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְדָמ֖וֹ מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ

בְּאָמְרִ֣י  when  I  say 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָרָשָׁ֗ע  to  the  wicked 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
רָשָׁע֙  wicked  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
מ֣וֹת  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
תָּמ֔וּת  you  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
דִבַּ֔רְתָּ  you  do  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לְהַזְהִ֥יר  to  warn 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: זָהַר 
Sense: to admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining.
רָשָׁ֖ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ  from  his  way 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
ה֤וּא  that 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ  in  his  iniquity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
יָמ֔וּת  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְדָמ֖וֹ  but  his  blood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
מִיָּדְךָ֥  at  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ  I  will  require 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.