I’m trying to understand the “Watchman” passage in Ezekiel 3:16-21 (largely repeated in 33:1-9). Excerpting from 3:18-19 (ESV):
If….you give him no warning….in order to save his life (ləḥayyōtô), that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand (dāmô mîyyādəkā ʾăbaqqēš).
But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness….he shall die (yāmût) for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul (ʾet–napšəkā hiṣṣaltā).
I’m trying to determine whether “deliver your soul” means anything different from “save [your] life”. For some reason, each time the wicked man turns from his wickedness he “saves his life”, but the watchman, by his obedience, “delivers [his] soul”.
In the logic of the contingencies, these two don’t seem to be exactly interchangeable. They have different opposites:
- “save his life” ↔ “die”, whereas
- “deliver his soul” ↔ “his blood I will require…” .
The last I understand (mostly from looking at the more dynamic translations) to mean “I will hold you responsible for his death”. This makes me wonder whether “deliver his soul” actually means “not be held responsible [for another’s death]”.
Does “deliver your soul” mean anything different from “save your life”?
Louise Cummings
I should have put it is fake news. Because the body doesn’t believe everything.
Louise Cummings
There is a Scripture in the Bible. 1 st Corinthians 13: 7. Talking about Charity. Going to verse (4). It says Charity (love) suffers long. (Patience) and is kind; envies not; (does not want what others have) Love vaunts not itself( never a braggart) is not puffed up( is not prideful) (5) Does not behave itself unseemly(is forgetful of self and thoughtful of others ), seems not her own (is unselfish), is not easily provoked. ( is not embittered by abuse, insults, or injury), thinks no evil(takes no account of evil. (6) Rejoiced not in iniquity (never gossips about the misdeeds Of others ), but rejoices inthe Truth;(proclaims that which the Word Of zGod proclaims as Truth. )(7) Bears all things , Believers all things, hoped all things, endures all things. ( I believe this Scripture. ).