Ezekiel 18:14
“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Hebrew word used here for "sees" is actually repeated, emphasizing that it's not just a casual glance, but a deep, deliberate observation of the father's wrongdoings. This intense looking is crucial because sons often overlook or even admire their fathers' sins, rather than learning from them.
Ezekiel is systematically dismantling a common proverb that blames parents' sins for their children's suffering. After showing a righteous man's son perishing and a wicked man's son living, he now presents a third scenario. This case illustrates that a son can witness his father's wicked ways, reflect on them, and choose a completely different path.
Understand the original words
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
Violations of the divine standard; missing the mark of God's holiness. It covers both actions and states of being that are contrary to God’s nature and law.
Ezekiel is speaking into the devastating aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, a time when many felt hopelessly burdened by the sins of past generations. The prophet's powerful message counters the popular proverb that 'the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge,' emphasizing individual accountability before God.
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 and the introduction of foreign populations into the land.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Babylon deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This event is the central crisis Ezekiel addresses.
This passage directly addresses the proverb that 'the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge,' a notion that Ezekiel 18 is refuting by emphasizing individual responsibility.
Romans 2:6Paul echoes the principle found in Ezekiel that God 'will repay each one according to what he has done,' underscoring the theme of individual accountability for one's actions.
Deuteronomy 24:16This earlier passage states, 'Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers,' which Ezekiel's prophecy elaborates on and makes more personal and immediate.
2 Kings 22:1-2This historical account provides a real-world example of Ezekiel's point, featuring Josiah, a righteous son who walked with God despite having a wicked father (Amon).
ellicottEzekiel 18:14: "Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,"
(14) Doeth not such like. —This is the third case—that of the righteous son of a wicked father. The general principle is the same, that each man is to be judged according to his own individual character. The son of the righteous man has advantages, and the son of the wicked has hindrances in the way of righteousness which are not specified here, although el…
clarkeEzekiel 18:14: "Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,"
Now, lo, if he beget a son that seeth all his father's sins - and considereth - Lays to heart the evil of his father's life, and the dreadful consequences of a life of rebellion against God. And doeth not such like - Is quite a different man in moral feeling and character; and acts up to the thirteen points already laid down.
The Hebrew word used here for "sees" is actually repeated, emphasizing that it's not just a casual glance, but a deep, deliberate observation of the father's wrongdoings. This intense looking is crucial because sons often overlook or even admire their fathers' sins, rather than learning from them.
Ezekiel is systematically dismantling a common proverb that blames parents' sins for their children's suffering. After showing a righteous man's son perishing and a wicked man's son living, he now presents a third scenario. This case illustrates that a son can witness his father's wicked ways, reflect on them, and choose a completely different path.
Ezekiel is systematically dismantling a common proverb that blames parents' sins for their children's suffering. After showing a righteous man's son perishing and a wicked man's son living, he now presents a third scenario. This case illustrates that a son can witness his father's wicked ways, reflect on them, and choose a completely different path.
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c. 580-560 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel delivers powerful prophecies to the exiles in Babylon, addressing their guilt, the sins of their leaders and people, and promising future restoration.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, paving the way for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles to Judah.
"“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:" — The Hebrew word used here for "sees" is actually repeated, emphasizing that it's not just a casual glance, but a deep, deliberate observation of the father's wrongdoings. This intense looking is cruc…
