But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 31:30
What does Jeremiah 31:30 mean?
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Jeremiah 31:30
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This verse, following the promise of a new covenant, powerfully declares an end to the old proverb about fathers' sins affecting children. It emphasizes individual responsibility and God's justice, highlighting that in the coming era of restoration, each person will face the consequences of their own iniquity, not inherit their ancestors' guilt.
But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is about to establish a new covenant with His people, promising forgiveness and an internal transformation, which will replace the old covenant's shortcomings. In this future, the old, unjust proverb—that children suffer for their parents' sins—will be obsolete because God's justice will ensure each person is accountable only for their own iniquity.
Ever heard the saying, 'The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children'? For a long time, this was the common cry. But God declared a new day was coming.
The Old Proverb
The people of Israel had a saying: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' This proverb reflected a deep-seated belief that they were suffering for the sins of their ancestors. It was a way to avoid personal responsibility, to blame past generations for their present troubles. They felt like they were paying the price for actions they didn't commit.
God's Correction
But God, through Jeremiah, announced that this way of thinking would end. In the new covenant era, this proverb would no longer be used. Why? Because God's justice would be clear and personal. Everyone would face the consequences of their own iniquity. This wasn't about God being unfair; it was about establishing His righteous judgment.
God's justice is perfect, but His mercy is profound. Jeremiah 31:30 sits within a context that speaks of both judgment and a future hope.
Clear Judgment
Jeremiah 31:30 declares a fundamental truth: 'everyone shall die for his own iniquity.' This means God’s judgment is precise. It’s not arbitrary; it falls upon the individual who commits the wrong. There's no escaping personal accountability before a holy God. The sour taste of sin has direct and personal consequences.
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The Promise of Mercy
While this verse highlights judgment, it’s crucial to see it within the broader context of Jeremiah 31. God isn't just announcing punishment; He's promising a new covenant. This new covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, means that while sin has a consequence, there is a way for individuals to escape that consequence through God's grace. It's a future where God’s people will know Him intimately, and their sins will be forgiven. This forgiveness allows them to stand righteous, not because they perfectly avoid eating sour grapes, but because Christ has already borne the consequence for their sin.
Understand the original words
avon · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'wickedness' or 'perversion,' it refers to a moral perversion or crookedness before God, denoting the guilt of sin and its inherent consequences.
This verse directly confronts the common, despairing complaint among the exiled Israelites that they were being punished for their fathers' sins. God, through Jeremiah, clarifies that while past generations certainly sinned and faced consequences, the coming restoration would be marked by a renewed understanding where individual accountability for sin and God's justice would be paramount.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event fueled the sense among some Judeans that national calamities were divine punishments for collective sin.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judean nobility and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of immense suffering and loss for Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This intensifies the people's distress and questioning of God's justice.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, the Temple, and the city walls, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This catastrophic event deeply shakes the people's understanding of God's covenant and justice.
c. 580 BC
Prophecy of Jeremiah's Restoration
Jeremiah, prophesying during and after the exile, foretells a future restoration and a new covenant. This passage is part of that broader message of hope amidst judgment.
c. 540 BC
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry
Ezekiel addresses the exiles in Babylon, confronting their belief that they suffer solely for their ancestors' sins and emphasizing individual responsibility before God.
This entire chapter directly tackles the same proverb Jeremiah mentions, God emphatically states that individuals will be held accountable for their own sins, not their parents', emphasizing personal responsibility for iniquity.
Galatians 6:7This passage echoes the principle of personal accountability, stating that whatever a person sows, that is what they will reap, reinforcing the idea that consequences are directly tied to individual actions.
Romans 2:5-11Paul explains that God's judgment is impartial and based on deeds, stating He will repay each person according to what they have done, aligning with Jeremiah's message of individual judgment.
Matthew 7:24-27Jesus uses the analogy of building a house on rock versus sand; this highlights how individual choices and obedience to God's word lead to personal stability and consequence, rather than inherited righteousness or guilt.
calvinJeremiah 31:29-30: "In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge."
- Quin potius vir (hoc est; quisque) in sun iniquitate morietur; omnis homo comedens (hoc est, quisquis comederit) uvam acerbam obstupescent dentes ejus (aut, omnis viri qui comederit, dentes obstupescent)
Ezekiel shews that it was a complaint commonly prevailing among the people, that they suffered for the sins of their fathers, as Horace also says, a hea…
pooleJeremiah 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."
But yet (saith God) you must not think that sinners shall escape my vengeance; but if men commit iniquity, they shall die; no man’s teeth shall be set on edge but his only who hath eaten the sour grape.
This verse, following the promise of a new covenant, powerfully declares an end to the old proverb about fathers' sins affecting children. It emphasizes individual responsibility and God's justice, highlighting that in the coming era of restoration, each person will face the consequences of their own iniquity, not inherit their ancestors' guilt.
God is about to establish a new covenant with His people, promising forgiveness and an internal transformation, which will replace the old covenant's shortcomings. In this future, the old, unjust proverb—that children suffer for their parents' sins—will be obsolete because God's justice will ensure each person is accountable only for their own iniquity.
God is about to establish a new covenant with His people, promising forgiveness and an internal transformation, which will replace the old covenant's shortcomings. In this future, the old, unjust proverb—that children suffer for their parents' sins—will be obsolete because God's justice will ensure each person is accountable only for their own iniquity.
"But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge." — This verse, following the promise of a new covenant, powerfully declares an end to the old proverb about fathers' sins affecting children. It emphasizes individual responsibility and God's justice, h…
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Last reviewed October 2026