Ezekiel 18:18 kjv
As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
Ezekiel 18:18 nkjv
"As for his father, Because he cruelly oppressed, Robbed his brother by violence, And did what is not good among his people, Behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
Ezekiel 18:18 niv
But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
Ezekiel 18:18 esv
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.
Ezekiel 18:18 nlt
But the father will die for his many sins ? for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.
Ezekiel 18 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 18:4 | "Behold, all souls are mine... The soul who sins shall die." | Individual responsibility; God's ownership. |
| Eze 18:20 | "The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for... " | Clear statement on no generational transfer. |
| Deu 24:16 | "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall childr..." | Legal precedent for individual culpability. |
| Jer 31:29-30 | "In those days they shall no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour g..." | Prophetic promise of individual judgment. |
| Rom 14:12 | "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." | Personal accountability before God. |
| Gal 6:5 | "For each will have to carry his own load." | Every person bears their own responsibility. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that eac..." | Judgment based on one's own deeds. |
| Matt 16:27 | "For the Son of Man is going to come... and he will repay each person a..." | Jesus' teaching on individual recompense. |
| Deu 32:4 | "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of..." | God's absolute justice and righteousness. |
| Job 34:10-12 | "Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God ..." | God acts justly and rewards according to deeds. |
| Psa 7:11 | "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day." | God's nature as a just judge. |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works." | God's impartial judgment. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay ea..." | Christ's final judgment based on deeds. |
| Isa 3:10-11 | "Say to the righteous that it will be well with them... Woe to the wick..." | Contrasting outcomes for righteous and wicked. |
| Pro 11:21 | "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished; but the..." | The wicked will not escape punishment. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life..." | Spiritual consequence of sin. |
| Jas 1:15 | "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it..." | The full development of sin leading to death. |
| Lev 20:20 | "If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nak..." | Example: Sin leading to specific penalty, including death. |
| Num 27:3 | "Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of tho..." | Acknowledging individual death due to specific sin (Korath). |
| Pro 22:16 | "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the..." | Condemnation of oppressing the poor. |
| Zech 7:9-10 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and..." | Call to avoid oppression and uphold justice. |
| Psa 82:3-4 | "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of th..." | Divine command to defend the oppressed. |
| Jer 22:13-17 | "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness... he judges the ca..." | Condemnation of wicked rulers who oppress. |
| Psa 9:16 | "The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked..." | The wicked caught in the trap of their own deeds. |
Ezekiel 18 verses
Ezekiel 18 18 Meaning
Ezekiel 18:18 declares that the father in the generational sequence, due to his specific acts of cruel oppression, violent plundering, and widespread wickedness against his own community, will unequivocally face death as a direct consequence of his personal sin. This verse underscores God's principle of individual accountability, refuting the notion that his righteous son might suffer for his father's transgressions.
Ezekiel 18 18 Context
Ezekiel 18:18 is part of a foundational chapter in the book of Ezekiel, delivered during the Babylonian exile (around 593-571 BC). The exiles grappled with theological confusion, believing they were being punished for their ancestors' sins, often citing the proverb, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Eze 18:2). Ezekiel, commissioned by God, vigorously refutes this proverb. The chapter systematically presents three case studies: a righteous father (verses 5-9), his wicked son (verses 10-13), and the wicked son's righteous son (verses 14-17). Verse 18 directly addresses the wicked father's outcome within this lineage, emphasizing that his death is a result of his own abominations. This passage provides a crucial theological corrective, asserting God's perfect justice by affirming individual accountability and the possibility of personal repentance and righteousness, even amidst corporate sin and exile. It counters a fatalistic mindset, instilling hope for a righteous future based on personal adherence to God's ways.
Ezekiel 18 18 Word analysis
- As for his father: Connects this figure directly to the wicked son described in the preceding verses (10-13) and establishes the contrast with the righteous grandson. This links the narrative segments and highlights the individual focus.
- because he cruelly oppressed (אָשַׁק
ashaq): Signifies a specific type of wrongdoing.Ashaqrefers to extorting, defrauding, or crushing others through superior power, implying unjust financial gain or social harm. It describes an act of injustice against vulnerable individuals, highlighting a severe violation of communal ethics. - plundered (גָּזַל
gazal): Denotes a more aggressive act than oppression.Gazalmeans to rob, snatch away, or seize by violence. This emphasizes the father's use of force or intimidation to illegally acquire others' possessions, showing blatant disregard for others' rights and property. - his brother: While it could refer to a literal sibling, in a broader biblical context, "brother" often refers to fellow Israelites or neighbors, highlighting a breach of covenantal love and social responsibility within the community. The father exploited those within his own shared identity.
- and did what was not good: This phrase functions as a broader, encompassing descriptor of the father's general moral conduct. It's a succinct condemnation of widespread wickedness, going beyond just the specified acts of oppression and plunder to include other forms of sin and rebellion against God's law.
- among his people (בְּתוֹךְ עַמָּיו
betok ammo): This phrase emphasizes the public and communal nature of the father's sins. His actions were not private failings but had a damaging impact within the social fabric of Israel, violating justice and order among those he lived with. - behold, he shall die: "Behold" (הִנֵּה
hinneh) serves as an exclamation, drawing attention to the certainty and clarity of the coming judgment. "Shall die" is a definitive declaration of physical and/or spiritual death as the direct consequence of his actions, not as punishment for others' sins or for the actions of his offspring. - for his iniquity (בַּעֲוֹנוֹ
ba'avono):Avon(עָוֹן) signifies perversity, guilt, or the punishment of iniquity. It's a comprehensive term for moral evil and its consequences. This phrase serves as the explicit causal link: the father's death is directly attributable to his own personal sin, guilt, and the ensuing divine judgment. It is the cornerstone of the chapter's argument for individual responsibility.
Ezekiel 18 18 Bonus section
Ezekiel's declaration in chapter 18, and particularly in this verse, was profoundly counter-cultural in its emphasis on individual responsibility. Ancient Near Eastern thought, and even earlier Israelite understanding, often prioritized corporate identity and familial solidarity, implying that the sins of one could directly lead to the personal doom of another within the same generation. While biblical teaching affirms a level of corporate solidarity (e.g., the blessings/curses on generations in Exodus 20:5; corporate sin leading to national judgment), Ezekiel refines this by clarifying that individual souls are judged for their own actions and moral standing before God, especially concerning personal salvation and the right to life or death based on individual choices within one's lifetime. This radical individualization of justice offered hope: one could choose righteousness and live, regardless of the sins of their family or nation, and equally, one could not escape judgment for personal sin by relying on a righteous lineage.
Ezekiel 18 18 Commentary
Ezekiel 18:18 provides a critical clarification of divine justice. In a time when the exiles wrongly blamed ancestral sin for their plight, God, through Ezekiel, makes an unequivocal statement: the wicked father in this illustrative case died for his own sins. His acts of cruel oppression, violent plunder, and general evil against his own community brought about his judgment. This verse rejects the concept of a righteous individual bearing the immediate penalty for another's direct transgressions, especially within the lifetime of the perpetrator. It highlights that while generational consequences exist (e.g., exile as a consequence of national apostasy over centuries), individual culpability for personal sin is paramount for personal destiny. God's justice ensures that personal choices lead to personal outcomes.