יחזקאל, פרק ל״ג, פסוק ט׳

A prophet acts much like a watchman stationed on a city wall, tasked with receiving vital information and broadcasting it to the people. While he possesses no power to force anyone to change their behavior, he bears an absolute, inescapable duty to issue a warning [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Once the prophet fulfills this heavy responsibility, the burden of choice shifts entirely to the individual. If a sinner deliberately ignores the message and refuses to alter his path, the prophet is completely cleared of any guilt. The sinner will face the fatal consequences of his own actions, and the warning itself causes no harm [מצודת דוד].

Yet, there is a subtle layer of hope embedded in this tragic outcome. The deliberate omission of the label "wicked" when describing the sinner's death suggests that the prophet's words were not entirely wasted. As the end of his life approaches, the individual might finally reflect on the warning, experience a genuine change of heart, and repent. In such a scenario, his death ultimately serves as an atonement for his past deeds [מלבי״ם].

Beyond the potential impact on the sinner, the act of delivering the message protects the prophet himself. By speaking up, he saves his own life, escaping the severe punishment that would have fallen upon him for remaining silent. This strict accountability stems from the fact that there is always a lingering possibility that the sinner might have listened had the warning been given [מצודת דוד].