Ezekiel 33:4
New International Version
then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.

New Living Translation
Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.

English Standard Version
then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Berean Standard Bible
Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

King James Bible
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

New King James Version
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

New American Standard Bible
then someone who hears the sound of the horn but does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

NASB 1995
then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

NASB 1977
then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

Legacy Standard Bible
then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

Amplified Bible
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his [own] head.

Christian Standard Bible
Then, if anyone hears the sound of the ram’s horn but ignores the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his death will be his own fault.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

American Standard Version
then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

English Revised Version
then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If the people hear the horn and ignore the warning and the enemy comes and takes them, they will be responsible for their own deaths.

Good News Translation
If someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death.

International Standard Version
then if anyone who hears the sound of the alarm does not heed the warning, when the sword arrives and destroys him, his shed blood will remain his own responsibility.

Majority Standard Bible
Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

NET Bible
but there is one who hears the sound of the trumpet yet does not heed the warning. Then the sword comes and sweeps him away. He will be responsible for his own death.

New Heart English Bible
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn't take warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then whoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword shall come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

World English Bible
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and doesn’t heed the warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the hearer has heard the voice of the horn, and he has not taken warning, "" And the sword comes in, and takes him away, "" His blood is on his [own] head.

Young's Literal Translation
And the hearer hath heard the voice of the trumpet, and he hath not taken warning, And come in doth the sword, and taketh him away, His blood is on his head.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he hearing, heard the voice of the trumpet, and he took not warning; and the sword will come and take him away; his blood shall be upon his head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he that heareth the sound of the trumpet, whosoever he be, and doth not look to himself, if the sword come, and cut him off: his blood shall be upon his own head.

Catholic Public Domain Version
then, having heard the sound of the trumpet, whoever he is, if he also does not take care of himself, and the sword arrives and takes him: his blood will be upon his own head.

New American Bible
If they hear the trumpet but do not take the warning and a sword attacks and kills them, their blood will be on their own heads.

New Revised Standard Version
then if any who hear the sound of the trumpet do not take warning, and the sword comes and takes them away, their blood shall be upon their own heads.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not heed the warning, if the sword should come and take his life away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not pay attention, and the sword comes, he himself shall bear his blood on his head
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
then whosoever heareth the sound of the horn, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and he that hears the sound of the trumpet shall hear indeed, and yet not take heed, and the sword shall come upon him, and overtake him, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezekiel the Watchman for Israel
3and he sees the sword coming against that land and blows the ram’s horn to warn the people. 4Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5Since he heard the sound of the horn but failed to heed the warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 3:18-19
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 blood. / But 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.

Ezekiel 18:13
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

Ezekiel 18:21-23
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. / None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. / Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Ezekiel 33:7-9
As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me. / If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. / But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Jeremiah 6:17
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

Jeremiah 42:19-22
The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today! / For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’ / For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you. ...

Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

Isaiah 21:6-9
For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. / When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.” / Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post. ...

Amos 3:6-8
If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? / Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. / The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?

2 Kings 17:13-14
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. / For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 10:14-15
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. / Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

2 Chronicles 25:16
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Jeremiah 6:17
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

his blood

Ezekiel 33:5,9
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…

Ezekiel 18:13
Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Leviticus 20:9,11
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him…

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Blood Head Heard Hearer Heareth Hearing Hears Horn Life Note Responsible Sound Sword Trumpet Voice Warning
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














then if anyone hears
The phrase "then if anyone hears" emphasizes personal responsibility and the universal call to be attentive. The Hebrew word for "hears" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and obeying. In the biblical context, hearing is often linked with obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). This phrase underscores the importance of being spiritually alert and responsive to God's warnings.

the sound of the trumpet
The "sound of the trumpet" refers to the shofar, a ram's horn used in ancient Israel for various purposes, including calling people to assembly, signaling war, or warning of danger (Numbers 10:1-10). The trumpet's sound is a metaphor for God's prophetic warnings through His messengers. Historically, the trumpet was a clear and unmistakable sound, symbolizing the clarity and urgency of God's call to repentance and vigilance.

but fails to heed the warning
This phrase highlights the consequence of ignoring divine warnings. The Hebrew root for "heed" is "זָהַר" (zahar), meaning to be warned or to shine, suggesting enlightenment or illumination. Failing to heed is not merely a passive act but a deliberate choice to ignore the light of God's truth. Biblically, ignoring God's warnings leads to spiritual peril (Proverbs 1:24-33).

and the sword comes
The "sword" symbolizes impending judgment or destruction. In the context of Ezekiel, it often represents the Babylonian invasion and God's instrument of judgment against Israel's unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 21:1-17). The sword is a recurring biblical motif for divine retribution (Genesis 3:24; Revelation 19:15), reminding believers of the seriousness of God's justice.

and takes him away
This phrase indicates the finality and inevitability of judgment for those who ignore warnings. The Hebrew verb "לָקַח" (laqach) means to take or capture, suggesting a forceful removal. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of spiritual negligence and the certainty of divine accountability.

his blood will be on his own head
This expression signifies personal accountability for one's actions. The concept of "blood on one's own head" is a legal idiom in ancient Near Eastern cultures, indicating self-inflicted guilt or responsibility (2 Samuel 1:16). Biblically, it underscores the principle that individuals are responsible for their response to God's warnings (Acts 18:6). It serves as a call to personal repentance and vigilance in heeding God's voice.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then if anyone hears
וְשָׁמַ֨ע (wə·šā·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the sound
ק֤וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the trumpet
הַשּׁוֹפָר֙ (haš·šō·w·p̄ār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

but fails
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to heed the warning,
נִזְהָ֔ר (niz·hār)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2094: To gleam, to enlighten

and the sword
חֶ֖רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

comes
וַתָּ֥בוֹא (wat·tā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and takes him away,
וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ (wat·tiq·qā·ḥê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

his blood
דָּמ֥וֹ (dā·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

will be
יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on his own head.
בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ (ḇə·rō·šōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 33:4 Then whoever hears the sound (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 33:3
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