lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though the text uses the singular "blood" in translation, the original Hebrew uses the plural "bloods." This powerful image conveys that this person is responsible not only for his own forfeited life but also for any innocent blood he may have shed through his greedy and abominable practices.
lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is addressing the people's common proverb that "the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." He counters this by presenting contrasting examples of a righteous man and his wicked son. This verse describes that wicked son, detailing specific sinful actions like usury, emphasizing that such behavior leads to certain death, and that the guilt rests solely on the individual.
The idea of inherited righteousness or inherited sin can be confusing. What happens when a child of God strays far from the path?
This verse hits hard because it cuts through any notion that family ties can shield us from God's judgment. The prophet is clear: lending at interest and taking profit – these are serious 'abominations' that disqualify someone from living freely under God's favor.
The Law's Verdict
This isn't a suggestion; it's a direct echo of the Law. Taking unfair advantage of others, especially through financial exploitation like usury, was a violation that carried severe penalties.
Your Own Actions Count
The core message here is absolute personal accountability. Your deeds, your choices, your embrace of sin – these are what determine your standing before God. There's no hiding behind ancestral piety or assuming your family's righteousness will cover for your own failings. God's justice is impartial.
When judgment comes, who bears the blame? This verse uses a powerful image to describe the consequence of personal sin.
The phrase 'his blood shall be upon him' is a stark and profound declaration of self-condemnation. It means that the death, destruction, or ultimate consequence faced is a direct result of the individual's own actions.
Self-Inflicted Ruin
God declares that He is not the author of this person's downfall. Instead, the responsibility lies squarely on the sinner's shoulders. The blood forfeited isn't just physical life, but represents the total cost of their rebellion – their very life and soul.
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Vindicating God's Justice
This isn't about God being harsh; it's about Him being just. By placing the blame upon the individual, God's righteousness is upheld. The punishment is not arbitrary; it is a righteous consequence of chosen sin. This ensures that God's character remains untainted, even in judgment.
Understand the original words
neshek · Hebrew Noun
The charging of interest, particularly against the poor or fellow Israelites, which was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law as it exploited the vulnerability of one's neighbor.
chayah · Hebrew Verb
Used in the sense of 'shall he live' or 'he shall die,' this refers to the totality of existence, encompassing physical life, spiritual well-being, and participation in the covenant blessings of God.
dam · Hebrew Noun
In this context, it refers to the spiritual and covenantal accountability a person bears for their own sinful choices, meaning they are responsible for the resulting consequences of their own actions.
Ezekiel is speaking to people who have lost everything – their land, their Temple, their king – and are burdened by the question of why. They're wrestling with the idea that they are suffering solely because of the sins of their ancestors. Ezekiel is directly countering this by emphasizing individual responsibility before God. The historical context of exile and national catastrophe makes this message of personal accountability incredibly bold and perhaps even controversial to his audience.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event deeply scarred the collective memory of God's people.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and thousands of Jewish leaders, craftsmen, and soldiers are exiled to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This is the nadir of Israel's history.
c. 593 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Ezekiel, already in exile in Babylon, receives his call to prophesy to the exiled community. He confronts their despair and challenges their inherited guilt.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews, to their homeland.
This passage, like Ezekiel 18:13, echoes the legal formula 'shall surely die' when referencing specific abominations, underscoring the severe consequences of such actions.
James 2:10James 2:10 states that if someone keeps the whole law but fails in one point, they are guilty of breaking it all. This powerfully illustrates the principle in Ezekiel 18:13 that willingly committing any serious sin places one in the category of those who have rebelled against God's will.
Romans 6:23The stark declaration that 'the wages of sin is death' in Romans 6:23 resonates deeply with Ezekiel's message that abominations lead to certain death and that one's 'blood shall be upon himself,' emphasizing personal responsibility for sin's ultimate consequence.
Deuteronomy 24:16Deuteronomy 24:16 explicitly states that 'fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their fathers,' providing the foundational legal principle that Ezekiel is upholding: individuals are accountable for their own sins, not those of their parents.
ellicottEzekiel 18:13: "Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him."
(13) Hath done all these abominations.— This expression is collective, while that in Ezekiel 18:10 is partitive. This is not because he who commits one sin is considered as having committed all, but because he who willingly commits any sin thereby puts himself into the class of sinners, of those who d…
cambridgeEzekiel 18:13: "Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him."
13 . shall surely die ] The formula common in the law, “shall surely be put to death,” Leviticus 20:11 ; Exodus 21:15 ; Exodus 22:18 . his blood … upon him ] He shall suffer the death due to his own deeds, ch. Ezekiel 33:4 ; Leviticus 20:9 ; 2 Samuel 1:16 . Ezekiel 18:14-20 . Third link in the chain o…
Even though the text uses the singular "blood" in translation, the original Hebrew uses the plural "bloods." This powerful image conveys that this person is responsible not only for his own forfeited life but also for any innocent blood he may have shed through his greedy and abominable practices.
Ezekiel is addressing the people's common proverb that "the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." He counters this by presenting contrasting examples of a righteous man and his wicked son. This verse describes that wicked son, detailing specific sinful actions like usury, emphasizing that such behavior leads to certain death, and that the guilt rests solely on the individual.
Ezekiel is addressing the people's common proverb that "the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." He counters this by presenting contrasting examples of a righteous man and his wicked son. This verse describes that wicked son, detailing specific sinful actions like usury, emphasizing that such behavior leads to certain death, and that the guilt rests solely on the individual.
"lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself." — Even though the text uses the singular "blood" in translation, the original Hebrew uses the plural "bloods." This powerful image conveys that this person is responsible not only for his own forfeited…
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Last reviewed October 2026