Ezekiel 18

The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "What do you 1 mean s by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, t 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? 3 u As I live, declares the Lord God, v this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: w the soul who sins shall die.

5 "If a man is righteous and does x what is just and right - 6 if he y does not eat upon the mountains or z lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, a does not defile his neighbor's wife b or approach c a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, 7 d does not oppress anyone, but e restores to the debtor his pledge, f commits no robbery, g gives his bread to the hungry g and covers the naked with a garment, 8 h does not lend at interest h or take any profit, 2 withholds his hand from injustice, i executes true justice between man and man, 9 j walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully - he is righteous; k he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.

10 "If he fathers a son who is violent, l a shedder of blood, who does any of these things 11 (though he himself did none of these things), m who even eats upon the mountains, n defiles his neighbor's wife, 12 oppresses the poor and needy, o commits robbery, o does not restore the pledge, p lifts up his eyes to the idols, q commits abomination, 13 r lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; s his blood shall be upon himself.

14 "Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: 15 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, 16 does not oppress anyone, t exacts no pledge, u commits no robbery, v but gives his bread to the hungry v and covers the naked with a garment, 17 withholds his hand from iniquity, 3 takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, w and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; x he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, y behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

19 "Yet you say, z 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done a what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, b he shall surely live. 20 c The soul who sins shall die. d The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. e The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, f and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 g "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does h what is just and right, i he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 j None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 k Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 l But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? m None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for n the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

25 o "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 l When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, p when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

30 "Therefore q I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. r Repent and turn from all your transgressions, s lest iniquity be your ruin. 4 31 t Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and u make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! v Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 w For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; r so turn, and live."

  1. Cross References
    Ezekiel 12:22
    Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?
    Ezekiel 16:44
    "Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: 'Like mother, like daughter.'
  2. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:29
    In those days they shall no longer say: "'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
  3. Cross References
    Ezekiel 16:48
    As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.
  4. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:29 - 30
    In those days they shall no longer say: "'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
  5. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:20
    The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
  6. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:19
    Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
    Ezekiel 18:21
    But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
    Ezekiel 18:27
    Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:11
    (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife.
    Ezekiel 18:15
    He does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife.
    Ezekiel 22:9
    There are men in you who slander to shed blood, and people in you who eat on the mountains; they commit lewdness in your midst.
  8. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:25
    Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God : You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land?
  9. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:11
    (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife.
    Ezekiel 18:15
    He does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife.
    Ezekiel 22:11
    One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter.
  10. Cross References
    Leviticus 18:19
    You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 22:10
    In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are unclean in their menstrual impurity.
  12. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:12
    Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination.
    Ezekiel 18:16
    Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
    Exodus 22:21
    You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
  13. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:12
    Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination.
    Ezekiel 33:15
    If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
    Exodus 22:26
    If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.
  14. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:12
    Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination.
    Ezekiel 18:16
    Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
    Ezekiel 18:18
    As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:16
    Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
    Isaiah 58:7
    Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
    Matthew 25:35 - 36
    For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:16
    Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
    Isaiah 58:7
    Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
    Matthew 25:35 - 36
    For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
  17. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:13
    Lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
    Ezekiel 18:17
    Withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.
    Ezekiel 22:12
    In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.
    Exodus 22:25
    If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
    Psalms 15:5
    Who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
  18. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:13
    Lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
    Ezekiel 18:17
    Withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.
    Ezekiel 22:12
    In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.
    Exodus 22:25
    If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
    Psalms 15:5
    Who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
  19. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:16
    And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
    Zechariah 8:16
    These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:17
    Withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.
  21. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:17
    Withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.
    Ezekiel 18:19
    Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
    Ezekiel 18:21
    But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
    Ezekiel 20:11
    I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live.
    Amos 5:4
    For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live.
  22. Cross References
    Ezekiel 16:38
    And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.
  23. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:6
    If he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity.
  24. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:6
    If he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity.
    Leviticus 18:20
    And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her.
  25. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
  26. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
  27. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:6
    If he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity.
  28. Cross References
    Ezekiel 8:6
    And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.
    Ezekiel 8:17
    Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose.
  29. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:8
    Does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man.
  30. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:4
    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.
    Leviticus 20:9
    For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.
    Leviticus 20:11
    If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
    Ezekiel 3:18
    If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  31. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
    Ezekiel 18:12
    Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination.
  32. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
  33. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
  34. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment.
  35. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:9
    Walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully - he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.
  36. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:9
    Walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully - he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.
  37. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:18
    If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 20:5
    You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.
    Ezekiel 18:2
    What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
  39. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:5
    If a man is righteous and does what is just and right -
    Ezekiel 18:21
    But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
    Ezekiel 18:27
    Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.
  40. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:9
    Walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully - he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.
  41. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:4
    Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
  42. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:6
    But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, "Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.
  43. Cross References
    Isaiah 3:10 - 11
    Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
  44. Cross References
    Romans 2:9
    There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek.
  45. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:27
    Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.
  46. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:5
    If a man is righteous and does what is just and right -
    Ezekiel 18:19
    Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
  47. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:9
    Walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully - he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.
  48. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:16
    None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
  49. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:32
    For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, ...
    Ezekiel 33:11
    Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, ...
    1 Timothy 2:4
    Who desires all people to be saved and to come ...
    1 Timothy 2:6
    Who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is ...
    2 Peter 3:9
    The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as ...
    Titus 2:11
    For the grace of God has appeared, bringing sal...
  50. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:20
    Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.
    Ezekiel 33:12 - 13
    And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.
    Ezekiel 33:18
    When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it.
  51. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:20 - 21
    For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
  52. Cross References
    Ezekiel 14:13
    Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast.
  53. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:17
    Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just,' when it is their own way that is not just.
    Ezekiel 33:20
    Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.
  54. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:24
    But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
  55. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:21
    But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
    Ezekiel 33:19
    And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
    Ezekiel 13:22
    Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life.
    Ezekiel 33:11 - 12
    Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
  56. Cross References
    Ezekiel 7:3
    Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations.
    Ezekiel 7:8
    Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations.
    Ezekiel 33:20
    Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.
    Ezekiel 36:19
    I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them.
    Ezekiel 39:24
    I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.
  57. Cross References
    Ezekiel 14:6
    Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God : Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
    Hosea 14:1
    Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
  58. Cross References
    Isaiah 3:8
    For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.
  59. Cross References
    Ezekiel 20:7
    And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
  60. Cross References
    Ezekiel 11:19
    And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
  61. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:11
    Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
  62. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:23
    Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
  63. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:30
    Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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