Ezekiel · Berean Standard Bible
Ezekiel 18 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
1 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,
2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?
2 “What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
3 “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel.
4 Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.
5 Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
5 “But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,
6 He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.
6 and has not eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife, hasn’t come near a woman in her impurity,
7 He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;
8 He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.
8 he who hasn’t lent to them with interest, hasn’t taken any increase from them, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,
9 He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.
9 has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.
10 Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things,
10 “If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things,
11 though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.
11 or who does not do any of those things but has eaten at the mountain shrines and defiled his neighbor’s wife,
12 He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.
12 has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,
13 He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
13 has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor, shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him.
14 Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:
14 “Now, behold, if he fathers a son who sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and fears, and doesn’t do likewise,
15 He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
15 who hasn’t eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife,
16 He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
16 hasn’t wronged any, hasn’t taken anything to pledge, hasn’t taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;
17 He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.
17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who hasn’t received interest or increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live.
18 As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he will die in his iniquity.
19 Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live.
20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
20 The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
21 “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
22 None of his transgressions that he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.
23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
24 But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
24 “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?
26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.
26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in it, then he dies in his iniquity that he has done.
27 But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive.
28 Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.
28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?
30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, house of Israel?
32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!
Cross references (30)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 2 Jeremiah 31:29–30; Lamentations 5:7; Ezekiel 37:11; Ezekiel 37:19; Ezekiel 37:25
- 3 Ezekiel 18:19–20; Ezekiel 33:11–20; Ezekiel 18:30; Ezekiel 36:31–32; Romans 3:19
- 4 Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23; Numbers 16:22; Hebrews 12:9; Galatians 3:10–13
- 5 Ezekiel 33:14; Proverbs 21:3; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 5:2–5; 1 John 2:29
- 6 Ezekiel 18:15; Deuteronomy 4:19; Ezekiel 20:24; Ezekiel 6:13; Ezekiel 22:9–11
- 7 Ezekiel 18:16; Exodus 22:26; Ezekiel 18:12; Deuteronomy 24:12–13; Ezekiel 33:15
- 8 Exodus 22:25; Zechariah 8:16; Deuteronomy 23:19–20; Leviticus 25:35–37; Psalm 15:5
- 9 Ezekiel 20:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Amos 5:4; Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Romans 1:17
- 10 Exodus 21:12; Exodus 22:2; Malachi 3:8–9; 1 John 3:12; Leviticus 19:13
- 11 Ezekiel 18:15; 1 Kings 13:22; 1 John 3:22; Matthew 7:21–27; John 15:14
- 12 Ezekiel 8:17; Ezekiel 8:6; Amos 4:1; 2 Kings 21:11; Zechariah 7:10
- 13 Exodus 22:25; Ezekiel 18:8; Leviticus 20:9; Ezekiel 18:32; Ezekiel 33:4–5
- 14 2 Chronicles 34:21; Proverbs 23:24; Isaiah 44:19; Ezekiel 18:28; Jeremiah 8:6
- 15 Ezekiel 18:6–7; Ezekiel 18:11–13
- 16 Ezekiel 18:7; Proverbs 25:21; Psalm 41:1; Job 22:7; Luke 14:13
- 17 Ezekiel 18:8–9; Matthew 18:27–35; Jeremiah 16:11–13; Ezekiel 33:15–16; Ezekiel 18:28
- 18 Ezekiel 3:18; Ezekiel 18:24; John 8:21; Ezekiel 18:26; John 8:24
- 19 Exodus 20:5; Zechariah 1:3–6; Deuteronomy 5:9; Ezekiel 18:9; Jeremiah 15:4
- 20 2 Kings 14:6; Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:4; Jeremiah 31:29–30; Matthew 16:27
- 21 Ezekiel 33:19; Titus 2:11–14; Ezekiel 18:27–28; Romans 8:13; Acts 3:19
- 22 Micah 7:19; Isaiah 43:25; Ezekiel 33:16; Psalm 18:20–24; Ezekiel 18:24
- 23 Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:32; Luke 15:10
- 24 Ezekiel 33:18; Proverbs 21:16; 2 John 8; Ezekiel 33:12–13; 2 Chronicles 24:17–22
- 25 Ezekiel 33:17; Malachi 3:13–15; Malachi 2:17; Ezekiel 33:20; Genesis 18:25
- 27 Ezekiel 18:21; Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 55:7; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21
- 28 Deuteronomy 32:29; Luke 15:17–18; James 2:10–12; Colossians 3:5–9; Ezekiel 12:3
- 29 Proverbs 19:3; Ezekiel 18:25; Ezekiel 18:2
- 30 Matthew 16:27; Ezekiel 18:21; Matthew 3:2; Luke 13:3; Ezekiel 14:6
- 31 Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 8:13; Ezekiel 11:19; Isaiah 1:16–17
- 32 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11; Lamentations 3:33
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, "As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance;" adding, moreover, this gracious declaration, "Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, …
… not to despair of any so long as "the patience of God leadeth the ungodly to repentance," and doth not hurry him out of this life; "God, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but that he should return from his ways and live." He is a heathen today; but how knowest thou whether he may not be a …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Doth he turn away, and not return?" and, "I do not will the death of the sinner, so much as that he should turn and live:" and, "To-day if ye will hear His voice:" and many other such things, both sayings and examples are set in the Scripture.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… to thyself, "God hath promised me forgiveness, whenever I reform myself I am secure; I read the divine Scripture, "In the day that the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, I will forget all his iniquities." I am secure then, whenever I reform myself, God will give me pardon for my …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)