The soul that sinneth, it 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 upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
The soul {H5315} that sinneth {H2398}, it shall die {H4191}. The son {H1121} shall not bear {H5375} the iniquity {H5771} of the father {H1}, neither shall the father {H1} bear {H5375} the iniquity {H5771} of the son {H1121}: the righteousness {H6666} of the righteous {H6662} shall be upon him, and the wickedness {H7564} of the wicked {H7563} shall be upon him.
The person who sins is the one that will die - a son is not to bear his father's guilt with him, nor is the father to bear his son's guilt with him; but the righteousness of the righteous will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked will be his own.
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.
The soul that sinneth, it 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 upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
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2 Kings 14:6
But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. -
Deuteronomy 24:16
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. -
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. -
Jeremiah 31:29
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. -
Jeremiah 31:30
But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. -
2 Chronicles 25:4
But he slew not their children, but [did] as [it is] written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin. -
Romans 2:6
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Context of Ezekiel 18:20
The prophet Ezekiel ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, a people who often felt that they were being punished for the sins of previous generations. A popular proverb among them was, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ezekiel 18:2). This saying expressed a fatalistic view of inherited guilt and divine judgment, suggesting that they were suffering not for their own transgressions but for those of their ancestors. Ezekiel 18, and particularly verse 20, is a direct refutation of this misconception, emphasizing God's individual justice and personal accountability.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The word "soul" in "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" is from the Hebrew word nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), which often refers to the entire person, the individual being. It emphasizes that it is the very person who sins who will face the consequences. The "die" (Hebrew: muth, מות) here signifies not merely physical cessation of life, but separation from God, judgment, and spiritual death, which is the ultimate consequence of unrepented sin.
Cross-References & Connections
This principle of individual responsibility is foundational and echoed throughout Scripture. It aligns with the Old Testament law found in Deuteronomy 24:16, which states, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Jeremiah also addresses the same proverb and looks forward to a time when this truth will be fully embraced: "But every one shall die for his own iniquity". In the New Testament, Paul reiterates the universal consequence of sin, stating that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and the principle that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
Practical Application
Ezekiel 18:20 remains profoundly relevant today. It calls every individual to personal responsibility for their choices and actions before God. It challenges any tendency to blame upbringing, circumstances, or the sins of others for one's own spiritual condition. This verse offers both a stern warning about the consequences of sin and a profound hope: regardless of one's family history or past, an individual's destiny is determined by their own response to God. It encourages repentance and turning to righteousness, knowing that God judges each person fairly and justly based on their own walk with Him.