‘And if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have saved your life.'
However if Ezekiel did give the warning and the person did nothing about it, the same consequence would come on the person, but Ezekiel would be free from blame and would be spared. Note here the deliberate reference to ‘wickedness' in contrast with a ‘wicked way', suggesting a comparison between the state of mind and heart in rebellion against God, and the revealing of that in behaviour.