Ezekiel 3:20 “Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniqui…”

Ezekiel 3:20

Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

“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.

American Standard Version

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 righteous deeds which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.

Geneva Bible 1599

Likewise if a righteous man turne from his righteousnesse, and commit iniquitie, I will lay a stumbling blocke before him, and he shall die, because thou hast not giuen him warning: he shall die in his sinne, and his righteous deedes, which he hath done, shall not be remembred: but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Darby Translation

And when a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and do what is wrong, 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 righteous acts which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.

Young's Literal Translation

'And in the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, and he hath done perversity, and I have put a stumbling-block before him, he dieth; because thou hast not warned him, in his sin he dieth, and not remembered is his righteousness that he hath done, and his blood from thy hand I require.

Bible in Basic English

Again, when an upright man, turning away from his righteousness, does evil, and I put a cause of falling in his way, death will overtake him: because you have given him no word of his danger, death will overtake him in his evil-doing, and there will be no memory of the upright acts which he has done; but I will make you responsible for his blood.

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Cross references

“When”

Ezekiel 18:24 Ezekiel 18:26 Hebrews 10:38 Psalm 125:5 2 Peter 2:18–22 1 John 2:19

Ezekiel 18:24 · BSB

But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulnes…

Ezekiel 18:26 · BSB

If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

Hebrews 10:38 · BSB

But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”

Psalm 125:5 · BSB

But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.

2 Peter 2:18–22 · BSB

With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

1 John 2:19 · BSB

They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.

“righteousness”

Isaiah 64:6 Daniel 9:18

Isaiah 64:6 · BSB

Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Daniel 9:18 · BSB

Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great co…

“and I lay”

Psalm 119:165 Isaiah 8:14 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 Ezekiel 7:19 Ezekiel 14:7–9 Deuteronomy 13:3

Psalm 119:165 · BSB

Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.

Isaiah 8:14 · BSB

And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 · BSB

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

Ezekiel 7:19 · BSB

They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with…

Ezekiel 14:7–9 · BSB

For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the L…

Deuteronomy 13:3 · BSB

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

“because”

Ezekiel 3:18 Proverbs 25:12 Leviticus 19:17 2 Samuel 12:7–13 2 Chronicles 19:2–4 2 Chronicles 25:15

Ezekiel 3:18 · BSB

If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his…

Proverbs 25:12 · BSB

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

Leviticus 19:17 · BSB

You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.

2 Samuel 12:7–13 · BSB

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

2 Chronicles 19:2–4 · BSB

Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

2 Chronicles 25:15 · BSB

Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”

“and his”

Matthew 12:43–45 Luke 8:15 Romans 2:7 Romans 2:8 2 Peter 2:21

Matthew 12:43–45 · BSB

When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

Luke 8:15 · BSB

But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Romans 2:7 · BSB

To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

Romans 2:8 · BSB

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

2 Peter 2:21 · BSB

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.

“but his”

Ezekiel 33:6 Hebrews 13:17

Ezekiel 33:6 · BSB

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountab…

Hebrews 13:17 · BSB

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Also

Ezekiel 33:18

Ezekiel 33:18 · BSB

If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

19But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

21But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

Read Ezekiel 3