Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
I have made thee a watchman. Ezekiel alone among the prophets is called a "watchman," not merely to sympathize, but to give timely warning of danger to his people, where none was suspected. Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:1) speaks of standing upon his "watch," but it was only in order to be on the look out for the manifestation of God's power (so Isaiah 52:8; Isaiah 62:6); not as Ezekiel, to act as a watchman to others.