2 Kings 14:6 kjv
But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
2 Kings 14:6 nkjv
But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
2 Kings 14:6 niv
Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: "Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin."
2 Kings 14:6 esv
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."
2 Kings 14:6 nlt
However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes."
2 Kings 14 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 24:16 | Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. | Source of the legal principle applied by Amaziah. |
| Jer 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.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity… | Prophetic reaffirmation of individual responsibility. |
| Eze 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. | God's absolute ownership and individual accountability for sin. |
| Eze 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… | Explicit statement on non-transferability of guilt. |
| Lam 5:7 | Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities. | Lament over generational consequences, yet legal principle still stands for individual punishment. |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works. | Divine judgment is based on individual deeds. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping applied individually. |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear… | God's impartial judgment based on individual conduct. |
| John 9:1-3 | As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned or his parents…" | Jesus rejects direct correlation between suffering and immediate parental/personal sin. |
| Ps 62:12 | And that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work. | God's just recompense according to individual work. |
| Prov 1:31 | So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and have their fill of their own devices. | Individual consequences for one's choices. |
| Is 3:10-11 | Say to the righteous that it will be well with them… Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. | Righteous rewarded, wicked judged according to their deeds. |
| Job 34:11 | For according to the work of a man He will repay him, And according to the ways of a man He will cause him to find it. | God repays man according to his own actions. |
| Matt 16:27 | For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. | Christ's future judgment on individual actions. |
| Rev 2:23 | I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. | God judges hearts and repays individually. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Christ brings recompense for individual deeds. |
| Exod 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… | Divine judgment, distinct from human legal action. Applied to those who persist in idolatry, showing a broader divine principle, not a human judicial one. |
| Num 16:31-33 | …the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up… with all their possessions… they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol… | Example of divine corporate judgment for rebellion (Korah), not a general human legal rule. |
| Josh 7:24-25 | Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters… And all Israel stoned him with stones… | A unique instance of divine command for corporate judgment; Achan’s family likely complicit or witnesses. Not a precedent for human courts to punish innocent relatives. |
| Deut 7:9-10 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant… but repays to their face those who hate him… | God repays those who personally reject Him. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. | Universal individual accountability before Christ. |
2 Kings 14 verses
2 Kings 14 6 Meaning
This verse describes King Amaziah's just act after ascending to the throne. His father, King Joash, had been assassinated. Rather than seeking vengeance by executing the assassins' children, which was a common practice in the ancient world, Amaziah meticulously adhered to the Mosaic Law. This law, found in the book of Deuteronomy, clearly states that guilt and punishment for capital offenses are individual and not hereditary, emphasizing that each person should bear responsibility only for their own sin.
2 Kings 14 6 Context
This verse is situated early in the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, following the assassination of his father, King Joash (2 Kgs 12:20-21). Amaziah initially sought justice by executing the conspirators responsible for his father's death (2 Kgs 14:5). However, his notable act of restraint, detailed in this verse, sets him apart from common ancient Near Eastern practices, where collective punishment was often employed. By adhering strictly to the Mosaic Law regarding individual accountability, Amaziah demonstrates a commitment to divine principles of justice, distinguishing his actions from arbitrary vengeance. This early adherence to the Law is significant, though his reign would later be marked by military pride and idolatry, indicating a mixed character. Historically, the Near East frequently witnessed severe forms of retribution, including the elimination of an offender's entire family to prevent future reprisal. Thus, Amaziah's decision here was a radical act of faithfulness to YHWH's higher standard of justice. This legal standard set a distinct boundary against prevalent polemical beliefs of inherited guilt in human judicial systems.
2 Kings 14 6 Word analysis
- But he: Refers to Amaziah, the newly crowned King of Judah. This opening emphasizes his personal decision, standing out from his contemporaries.
- did not put to death: Hebrew lo' hemit (לֹא הֵמִית). This is a strong negative, indicating a deliberate and conscious refusal to commit a widely accepted act of vengeance common in that era. It highlights his choice to adhere to a higher, divine standard.
- the children of the murderers: Hebrew b'nei ha-hargim (בְּנֵי הַהֹרְגִים). Specifies the innocence of these individuals regarding the capital crime committed by their parents. This phrase is central to the principle of individual accountability.
- according to what is written: Hebrew ka'asher katuv (כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּתוּב). Points directly to the authority and binding nature of codified, divine law. It means "just as it is written" or "as prescribed."
- in the Law of Moses: Hebrew b'Torat Moshe (בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה). Affirms the Mosaic origin and divine authority of the law. This identifies the specific source of the legal principle applied.
- in the book of the law: Hebrew b'sefer ha-Torah (בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה). Reinforces that this was not merely an oral tradition, but a recorded, authoritative text that was accessible and could be consulted.
- where the LORD commanded: Hebrew asher tzivvah YHWH (אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה). Elevates the principle from a human legal tradition to a direct divine imperative, rooted in God's character and perfect justice.
- 'Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor children be put to death because of their fathers; but each one shall be put to death for his own sin.': This is a direct quote from Deut 24:16.
- Fathers... children, nor children... fathers: Articulates the non-transferability of guilt for capital punishment in human legal proceedings. It forbids collective or hereditary punishment.
- each one shall be put to death for his own sin: Hebrew ki ish b'khet'o yumat (כִּי אִישׁ בְּחֵטְאוֹ יוּמַת). Emphasizes radical individual accountability (ish meaning "man" or "each person"). "His own sin" limits the scope of judicial punishment to the personal transgression, upholding divine justice. This principle was revolutionary in a world where family liability was common.
- did not put to death the children of the murderers: This phrase group highlights Amaziah's active decision to refrain from collective punishment, setting him apart as a ruler committed to divine justice rather than blood revenge.
- according to what is written in the Law of Moses, in the book of the law, where the LORD commanded: This powerful cumulative phrase establishes the irrefutable divine authority behind Amaziah's action. It shows adherence to scripture as the ultimate legal and moral guide for kings.
- Fathers shall not be put to death... but each one shall be put to death for his own sin: This central legal maxim, directly quoted from the Torah, is the theological core of the verse, underpinning individual responsibility as a cornerstone of YHWH's justice system.
2 Kings 14 6 Bonus section
While 2 Kings 14:6 emphasizes individual responsibility in human judicial matters, particularly capital crimes, the Bible also presents instances of what might appear to be corporate or generational consequences for sin (e.g., Exod 20:5, Num 16, Josh 7). It is crucial to distinguish between these two aspects. The Mosaic Law here (Deut 24:16) defines the limits of human jurisdiction in applying punishment: humans cannot legally execute innocent family members for the sins of others. This is a progressive legal principle aimed at protecting justice and preventing cycles of vendetta.
Conversely, biblical passages describing God's "visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children" (Exod 20:5) refer to divine judgment and the ripple effects of spiritual and societal choices. This often manifests not as legal execution of the innocent by human hands, but as a decay in societal structure, generational curses stemming from continued idolatry or rebellion against God, or complicity within a family/community for severe sins (as arguably seen with Achan's family, who likely knew of or benefited from his crime, thus sharing in his guilt by complicity in the specific divine command). The prophet Ezekiel later clarifies that in God's ultimate moral economy, the soul that sins shall die, and a child will not bear the iniquity of the parent if they turn to righteousness (Eze 18:19-20). This distinction clarifies that God's overarching justice maintains individual culpability, even while acknowledging the complex ways sin can impact communities and future generations.
2 Kings 14 6 Commentary
This verse powerfully illustrates a pivotal principle of divine justice: individual accountability. Amidst the prevailing practices of collective punishment in the ancient Near East, Amaziah’s adherence to the Mosaic Law, specifically Deut 24:16, stands as a beacon of righteous governance. He executed the murderers of his father (2 Kgs 14:5), upholding justice for a capital crime. However, his refusal to extend this punishment to their innocent children marked a profound act of faithfulness to YHWH's revealed will. This demonstrated a deep respect for the sacred text, indicating that he knew, understood, and applied the Law in a nuanced way, avoiding impulsive vengeance. The principle "each one shall be put to death for his own sin" is foundational to God's justice and anticipates prophetic teachings later echoed by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It sets a standard for human legal systems, ensuring that judgment is always individual and based on personal culpability, reflecting God's perfect and righteous character.