Ezekiel 18 17

Ezekiel 18:17 kjv

That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

Ezekiel 18:17 nkjv

Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor And not received usury or increase, But has executed My judgments And walked in My statutes? He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live!

Ezekiel 18:17 niv

He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.

Ezekiel 18:17 esv

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 18:17 nlt

He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father's sins; he will surely live.

Ezekiel 18 verses

Ezekiel 18 17 Meaning

Ezekiel 18:17 declares that an individual who actively turns away from oppressing the vulnerable, abstains from usury and unjust gain, and diligently observes God's statutes and judgments, will not be punished for the sins of their father but will unequivocally experience life. This verse summarizes the attributes of a righteous individual who, by their own choice and actions, chooses to walk in God's ways, thereby securing their own blessed future and escaping the consequence of ancestral iniquity. It emphasizes personal moral responsibility and the promise of life for the obedient.

Ezekiel 18 17 Context

Ezekiel 18 is a pivotal prophetic discourse aimed at refuting a widespread proverb among the Babylonian exiles: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ez 18:2). This fatalistic saying implied that the current generation was unjustly suffering for the sins of their ancestors, fostering a sense of helplessness and excusing personal responsibility. God, through Ezekiel, directly confronts this belief, asserting His perfect justice and emphasizing individual accountability. The chapter outlines three distinct cases: a righteous father (vv. 5-9) whose son becomes wicked (vv. 10-13), and importantly for verse 17, a son who despite having a wicked father, chooses to live righteously (vv. 14-17). Verse 17 serves as the culminating summary of the righteous grandson's conduct, reaffirming that his adherence to God's ways breaks the supposed cycle of inherited guilt and guarantees him life. The historical setting is the despair of the exile, where many questioned God's justice; Ezekiel's message offered a transformative promise of hope and renewal based on personal choice and repentance.

Ezekiel 18 17 Word analysis

• who turns his hand from afflicting the poor and needy:
  • who turns his hand (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר מִיַּד ... הֵשִׁיב – asher miyad... heshiv): This idiomatic phrase signifies a deliberate, active cessation or withdrawal from a specific action. It implies a conscious moral choice to actively prevent harm or wrong. It is not passive non-action, but an intentional redirection of one's conduct.
  • from afflicting (Hebrew: implicit from context of עָנִי – ani, the afflicted): Refers to the act of causing distress, harm, or exploitation.
  • the poor and needy: These terms (עָנִי – ani and אֶבְיוֹן – evyon implied through broader chapter context though only ani appears here directly linked to 'afflicting') specifically identify the most vulnerable members of society. Their protection and care are frequently highlighted in biblical law as a litmus test for true righteousness and justice. This phrase underscores social justice as a core aspect of God's command.
• and does not take interest or profit:
  • does not take (Hebrew: לֹא לָקָח – lo laqach): A direct and absolute negation, signifying explicit avoidance of the prohibited action.
  • interest (Hebrew: נֶשֶׁךְ – neshech): Means "a bite," referring to usury, specifically interest taken on a loan to a fellow Israelite, which was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law as it exploited those in economic distress (Ex 22:25, Lv 25:36-37).
  • or profit (Hebrew: וְתַרְבִּית – v'tarbit): Means "increase" or "gain." Often paired with neshech, it refers to any additional charge or gain extracted from a loan or transaction beyond the principal, reinforcing the prohibition against exploiting one's neighbor through financial means.
• and executes My judgments, and walks in My statutes:
  • executes My judgments (Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּטַי עָשָׂה – mishpaṭay asah): Judgments (mishpatim) are God's legal decrees, judicial rulings, and moral pronouncements— His standards for justice. Executes (asah) implies active performance and doing. This indicates living out God's legal and moral commands, especially concerning justice and equity.
  • walks in My statutes (Hebrew: וּבְחֻקֹּתַי הָלָךְ – u'bechuqqotay halakh): Statutes (chuqqot) are God's ordinances, prescribed laws, or appointed ways, often ceremonial or social in nature. Walks (halakh) implies a habitual lifestyle, a continuous mode of conduct, suggesting a complete adherence to God's entire covenant law, both judicial and prescribed ways.
• he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.
  • he shall not die for his father's iniquity: This clause directly counters the false proverb of inherited guilt, which is the central theme of Ezekiel 18. It underscores divine justice, where punishment is always individually assigned.
    • die (Hebrew: יָמוּת – yamut): Encompasses not just physical death, but also spiritual and covenantal separation, leading to the absence of well-being, blessings, and relationship with God.
    • father's iniquity (Hebrew: עֲוֹן אָבִיו – avon aviv): The sin or moral crookedness, and thus the guilt, associated with the father's actions.
  • he shall surely live (Hebrew: חָיוֹ יִחְיֶה – ḥayoh yiḥyeh): This phrase uses an infinitive absolute before the verb, providing powerful emphasis and assurance. This "life" is comprehensive, referring to more than mere physical existence. It means flourishing, experiencing peace (shalom), prosperity, divine blessing, and maintaining a vital, ongoing covenant relationship with God. It signifies the abundant, blessed existence granted by God to the obedient.

Ezekiel 18 17 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "turning his hand" highlights not just avoiding wrong, but actively moving away from it and towards positive action. It signifies a profound shift in ethical and moral orientation.
• The three case studies in Ezekiel 18 (righteous father, wicked son, righteous son of a wicked father) systematically build the argument for individual responsibility. Verse 17 is the conclusive statement on the third case, providing strong hope that past generations' sins do not irrevocably determine one's fate.
• The concept of "life" (chayoh yiḥyeh) in Ezekiel 18, and Old Testament theology more broadly, often encompasses the multifaceted blessings of the covenant: prosperity, long life, offspring, peace (shalom), and intimacy with God, rather than solely physical existence or abstract eternal life. It represents wholeness and well-being.
• This passage lays foundational groundwork for the New Covenant understanding of individual salvation and sanctification. While we are saved by grace through faith, the righteousness described in Ezekiel 18 is a pattern that believers are enabled to follow through the Spirit, demonstrating a transformed life.

Ezekiel 18 17 Commentary

Ezekiel 18:17 stands as a powerful testament to God's equitable justice and the transformative potential of personal righteousness. It is a direct refutation of the fatalistic belief in inherited guilt prevalent among the exiles, offering hope through individual choice. The verse details concrete actions of righteousness: compassionate justice by abstaining from harming the vulnerable, ethical financial practices by shunning exploitative lending, and holistic obedience by actively performing and living by all of God's divine decrees. The culminating promise—"he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live"—underscores God's commitment to individual accountability, assuring that a life committed to Him, regardless of past lineage, will always be met with His blessing and abundant life. This concept of "life" transcends mere survival, representing a profound state of spiritual vitality, peace, and covenant relationship with God.

• A person raised in a deceitful family who, through faith, chooses radical honesty in all dealings exemplifies "executes My judgments."
• Someone from a line of neglectful individuals who actively dedicates time and resources to community outreach for the poor embodies "turns his hand from afflicting the poor."