Ezekiel 18:19-20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

God, by the prophet, having laid down the general rule of judgment, that he will render eternal life to those that patiently continue in well-doing, but indignation and wrath to those that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness (Rom. 2:7, 8), comes, in these verses, to show that men's parentage and relation shall not alter the case either one way or other. I. He applied it largely and particularly both ways. As it was in the royal line of the kings of Judah, so it often happens in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

Yet say ye, why ?.... Why do you say so? why do you go on to assert that which is not fact, or which is contrary to fact, contrary to what we feel and experience every day, to say that children are not punished for their parents' sins? these are the words of the murmuring, complaining, and blaspheming Jews, quarrelling with the prophet, and with the Lord himself: doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father ? have not we proof of it every day we live? are not our present case and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:20

The soul that sinneth, it shall die ,.... This is repeated from Ezekiel 18:4 , for the further confirmation of it: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son ; that is, as the Targum paraphrases it, "the son shall not be punished for the sins of the father, nor shall the father be punished for the sins of the son.' This is to be understood of adult persons, and of actual sins; for of such only the prophet speaks... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:20

The soul that sinneth, it shall die - Hitherto we have had to do with the simple cases or the righteous and the wicked; of him who lived and died a holy man, and of him who lived and died a wicked man. But there are two cases behind: That of the wicked man, who repents and turns to God. 2. That of the righteous man, who backslides, and does not return to God by repentance. On both these cases God decides thus: - read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:20

Verse 20 Ezekiel still pursues the sentiment which we have explained, namely, that God is a just judge and treats every one according to his conduct; as Paul says, As each has lived in the flesh, so God lays up a reward for him. (Romans 8:13.) But he more clearly refuted the proverb, that the sons should suffer for their fathers’ sins. He says, then, that each when he comes before God’s tribunal should be judged by his works. As far then as the general sentiment is concerned, it is in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:5-24

God's remonstrance with man's reason. It is an act of singular kindness that God should stoop to reason with the perverted mind of man. It had been a pleasure to instruct the uncorrupted mind; but now that the instrument is injured, it requires infinitely more patience and skill to deal with it. Yet God deigns to explain his principles of rule, and will eventually vindicate, as supremely just, every secret act. But sinful men are self-blinded. I. WE ARE REMINDED OF MAN 'S ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

Personal character sad destiny. "If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood," etc. Most of the features of character mentioned in these verses came under our notice in our preceding homily. And other parts of these verses ( e.g. "the soul that sinneth, it shall die") have already engaged our attention. But the paragraph suggests the following observations. I. THAT PERSONAL CHARACTER IS NOT HEREDITARY . We have pointed out (on Ezekiel 18:1-4 ) that moral... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

Why? doth not the son, etc.? The words are better taken, with the LXX ; Vulgate, Revised Version, and most critics, as a single question, Why doth not the son bear, etc.? What is the explanation of a fact which seemingly contradicts the teaching of the Law? The answer to the question seems at first only an iteration of what had been stated before. The son repents, and therefore does not bear his father's iniquity. A man is responsible for his own sins, and for those only. To think... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19-22

Personal responsibility. We can only account for the Prophet Ezekiel laying such special stress upon the principle of individuality in religion by supposing that, in his time and among those with whom he associated, there was a prevalent disposition and habit leading to the denial of what seems to us an unquestionable truth. Indeed, in some form or other, men do incline to shift responsibility from themselves to their parents, their early teachers, their companions, the society in which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 18:19

Why?... - Rather, “Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father?” read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:5-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19-22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 18:19

Group of Brands