Ezekiel 18:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-9

Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; and in like manner sometimes unjust reflections occasion just vindications; evil proverbs beget good prophecies. Here is, I. An evil proverb commonly used by the Jews in their captivity. We had one before (Ezek. 12:22) and a reply to it; here we have another. That sets God's justice at defiance: ?The days are prolonged and every vision fails; the threatenings are a jest.? This charges him with injustice, as if the judgments executed were a wrong: ?You use... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

Behold, all souls are mine ,.... By creation; they being the immediate produce of his power; hence he is called "the Father of spirits", Hebrews 12:9 , or the souls of men; these he has an apparent right unto; a property in; a dominion over; they are accountable to him, and will be judged impartially by him: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine ; and therefore must be thought to have as great a respect and affection for the one as for the other; for the soul... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

All souls are mine - Equally so; I am the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and shall deal impartially with the whole. The soul that sinneth, it shall die - None shall die for another's crimes, none shall be saved by another's righteousness. Here is the general judgment relative to the righteousness and unrighteousness of men, and the influence of one man's state on that of another; particularly in respect to their moral conduct. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

Verse 4 We now see why an oath is interposed, while he pronounces that he will take care that the Jews should not ridicule any longer Behold, says he, all souls are mine; as the sole of the son so the soul of the father, all souls are mine; the soul, therefore, which has sinned it shall die. Some interpreters explain the beginning of the verse thus: that men vainly and rashly complain when God seems to treat them too severely, since the clay does not rise against the potter. Since God is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-4

The Divine equity. The unbounded compassion of God is seen in his patience under human provocation, and in his repeated messages to rebellious men. There is "line upon line, precept upon precept." Every style of expostulation is adopted; every complaint silenced; for his "love is stronger than death," mightier than sin. I. GOD HAS SUPREME PROPRIETORSHIP IN MEN . "All souls are mine." This statement is prefaced by a "Behold!" for this was a fact overlooked by querulous men.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-4

The misapplied proverb of sour grapes. "The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel?" etc. In the 'Speaker's Commentary' a connection between this and the preceding chapter is pointed out. "The last verse of the preceding chapter declares that God is wont to abase the lofty and to exalt those of low estate. This gives occasion for a declaration of the principle upon which these providential dispensations proceed,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:2-4

Heredity and individuality. The proverb here quoted embodied a popular sentiment. Those who suffered from the troubles and calamities of the time were not willing to admit that their sufferings were only their deserts; they endeavoured to thrust the blame upon others than themselves; and accordingly they complained that they had to endure the consequences of the evil deeds of their ancestors. One generation—so they put it—ate the sour grapes, and escaped the consequences; a succeeding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

Behold, all souls are mine , etc. The words imply, not only creation, ownership, absolute authority, on the part of God, but, as even Calvin could recognize ( in loc. ) , "a paternal affection towards the whole human race which he created and formed." Ezekiel anticipates here, and yet more fully in verse 32. the teaching of St. Paul, that "God willeth that all men should be saved" ( 1 Timothy 2:4 ). The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The sentence, though taken from the Law, which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

The death penalty. I. THE PENALTY OF SIN IS DEATH . This is taken for granted in the present passage. The prophet is not now describing the kind of punishment that follows sin; he is indicating the persons on whom that punishment shall fall. When asked who is to die, he answers—The sinner; not his child, but the sinner himself. But the very fact that the nature of the death penalty is taken for granted makes it the more apparent that the prophet had no doubt about it. Now, we... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

All souls are mine - Man is not simply to ascribe his existence to earthly parents, but to acknowledge as his Father Him who created man in His own image, and who gave and gives him the spirit of life. The relation of father to son is merged in the common relation of all (father and son alike) as sons to their heavenly Father. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:2-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 18:4

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