Ezekiel 18:20
What is written? (ESV)
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. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
What does it say?
The soul (individual) that sins will die. Punishment or guilt for sin is not passed from one generation to the next. Each person's righteousness or wickedness will be their own.
What is its immediate context?
Ezekiel is speaking God’s words and, throughout the entire chapter, illustrates the point of individual responsibility and accountability before God. He further illustrates the point with an example covering three generations – father, son, and grandson. In vs 2, God says their proverb, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” will no longer be spoken. Apparently, it was a well-known expression and philosophy during Ezekiel’s time.
Jeremiah 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 sin. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.'”
How Ezekiel 18:20 is applied across Bible answers
Is the doctrine of original sin taught in the Bible?
Guilt for sin is not passed down from generation to generation.
Top 3: Why “believing children” shouldn’t be interpreted as a baptized Christian (Titus 1:6)?
The father does not bear the consequences of a child's sin, and vice versa.
