Ezekiel 18 10

Ezekiel 18:10 kjv

If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

Ezekiel 18:10 nkjv

"If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things

Ezekiel 18:10 niv

"Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things

Ezekiel 18:10 esv

"If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things

Ezekiel 18:10 nlt

"But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.

Ezekiel 18 verses

Ezekiel 18 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 18:10 introduces a scenario where the son of the righteous man, described in the preceding verses, deviates from his father's righteous path. This verse specifies the nature of this son's wickedness by labeling him a "robber" and a "shedder of blood," encompassing grievous acts of violence and lawlessness. It further broadens this category of sin to include "any such like thing," indicating other severe abominations similar to those forbidden earlier in the chapter or generally known as offenses against God's law. This verse sets the stage for demonstrating that personal sin incurs personal accountability, irrespective of the righteousness of one's parentage, directly refuting the popular proverb about inherited guilt.

Ezekiel 18 10 Context

Ezekiel chapter 18 addresses a critical theological and social crisis among the exiled Israelites. They were repeating a proverb, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Eze 18:2), suggesting that they were suffering for their ancestors' sins, specifically Judah's unfaithfulness which led to the exile. This proverb implied God's injustice and undermined personal accountability.

In response, God declares His personal rule of justice: "The soul who sins shall die" (Eze 18:4). The chapter then proceeds to illustrate this principle through three successive generations. Verses 5-9 describe a righteous father who lives by God's commandments. Verse 10, the focus, then introduces his wicked son. This son does not follow his father's righteous ways but commits heinous sins like robbery and bloodshed, alongside other forbidden acts. Verses 14-17 further develop the lineage by presenting this wicked son's righteous son (the grandson of the first man) who observes God's statutes and avoids his father's transgressions. This three-generation structure—righteous, wicked, righteous—systematically demolishes the notion of hereditary guilt, emphasizing that each individual stands accountable before God for their own choices and deeds. The verse thus serves as a pivotal point, establishing the wicked generation in the sequence, underscoring the shift to personal responsibility.

Ezekiel 18 10 Word analysis

• if he beget a son:
  • Significance: Highlights the familial connection but immediately pivots away from the idea of inherited spiritual status or automatic replication of parental righteousness. It establishes a biological link that does not necessarily dictate moral character or spiritual standing. The phrase emphasizes the choice of the offspring rather than the father's influence as the determinant of fate.
• that is a robber:
  • Hebrew: פָּרִ֕יץ (parits).
  • Meaning: This term signifies a violent, oppressive person, a lawless plunderer, one who breaks forth or violates. It denotes active transgression against property rights and possibly implies physical harm in the act of robbery.
  • Significance: Robbery is not merely a breach of human law but a violation of divine justice and love for one's neighbor (Exod 20:15). It indicates a heart disregardful of others' well-being and God's ordinances.
• a shedder of blood:
  • Hebrew: וְדָם֙ יִשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ (ve'dam yishpokh), literally "and blood he pours out/sheds."
  • Meaning: Refers directly to murder or violent acts resulting in the taking of human life. It is a severe offense, signifying a deep contempt for the sacredness of human life, which is created in God's image (Gen 9:6).
  • Significance: Shedding innocent blood is consistently highlighted in Scripture as an abomination, carrying severe consequences, both legal and divine (Num 35:33; Deut 19:10). This crime directly violates one of the fundamental commandments (Exod 20:13).
• or does any such like thing:
  • Significance: This phrase functions as a generalizing clause, broadening the scope beyond the explicitly mentioned "robber" and "shedder of blood." It implies that the wicked son commits not only these egregious acts but also other detestable practices akin to those previously condemned in verses 6-8, such as idolatry, sexual perversion, oppression of the poor, usury, and holding pledges. It communicates that this son is generally engaged in grave sin and moral depravity, a profound deviation from the righteousness described for his father. This comprehensive phrasing reinforces that any severe unrighteousness, not just specific named sins, separates one from God's favor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• if he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood: This grouping highlights the jarring contrast: a righteous lineage giving rise to grievous wickedness. It directly challenges the prevailing thought that the character of the parent automatically transfers to the child. The focus shifts to the independent actions and character of the son, preparing the theological argument that individual moral choices, not ancestral deeds, determine one's fate. The severe nature of these two listed sins—impacting property and life itself—underscores the depth of this son's depravity.
• or does any such like thing: This broad qualifier serves to be inclusive of other major transgressions. It signifies that the wicked son's character is not narrowly defined by just robbery and murder, but is generally one of defiance against God's law, encapsulating other "abominations" that characterize an unrighteous life. This general phrase solidifies the portrayal of a fully corrupt individual, contrasting starkly with the "righteous father."

Ezekiel 18 10 Bonus section

Ezekiel 18 uses a precise rhetorical and structural device to present its argument. The three-generation example (righteous father -> wicked son -> righteous grandson) functions as a legal brief or a detailed theological case study. Verse 10, describing the wicked son, is crucial as it creates the direct opposition necessary to demonstrate the principle of individual retribution. Without this contrast of character between the father and the son, the proverb of "sour grapes" could not be so decisively overturned. The detailed description of the son's sins in v.10 (and more explicitly in v.11-13) provides concrete examples that show his chosen deviance is not trivial but profound and life-threatening, justifying the severe consequence that awaits him (death) and further highlighting that this outcome is directly due to his own actions, not the father's perceived iniquity or the ancestors'. The careful repetition of sinful actions (oppression, robbery, bloodshed, idolatry) across different scenarios within the chapter reinforces that God's justice is based on adherence to or deviation from these specific commandments.

Ezekiel 18 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 18:10 is a pivotal verse in the Lord's argument for individual accountability. Following the description of a righteous father (Eze 18:5-9), this verse introduces his son who does not walk in righteousness but chooses a path of significant wickedness. By identifying him as "a robber" and "a shedder of blood," the text pinpoints crimes that directly violate fundamental divine and human laws, emphasizing gross disregard for life and property. The additional phrase, "or does any such like thing," serves to encompass a broader spectrum of similar grave sins, implying a lifestyle of abomination in contrast to the law-keeping described of the father. This verse establishes that one's spiritual standing and ultimate fate are determined by personal actions and choices, not by the virtue of one's parents. It fundamentally counters the prevalent cultural belief that children automatically bear the consequences or inherit the righteousness/unrighteousness of their forebears. The son's active choices toward evil ensure his own personal culpability and subsequent judgment.