Ezekiel 18:20 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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.”

Ezekiel 18:20

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

{As for} his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did {that} which {is} not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, {and} hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

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.

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

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From This Chapter

Ezekiel 18:1

"The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,"

Ezekiel 18:2

"What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?"

Ezekiel 18:3

"{As} I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have {occasion} any more to use this proverb in Israel."

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."

Ezekiel 18:5

"But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, {that...: Heb. judgment and justice}"

Ezekiel 18:6

"{And} hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,"

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