H T1 1.2 Proverb.
U1 3. Recrimination.
T2 4. Proverb.
U2 5-18. Discrimination.
T3 19-. Proverb.
U3 -19-24. Discrimination.
T4 25-. Proverb.
U4 -25-28. Discrimination.
T5 29-. Proverb.
U5 -29-32. Discrimination.
483 B.C.
Ezekiel 18)
1 And the word of the LORD (Yehovah) came to me again, saying,
2 "What mean you, that you use this proverb concerning the soil of Israel, saying, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the son's teeth are set on edge?' (Cp. Jer. 31:29,30)
3 As I live, says the Lord GOD (Adonai Yehovah), you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. (This refers to a future time, which has not come [Jer. 31:29,30]. Till then it is otherwise [21:3. Lam. 5:7], and has been since Gen. 3. Cp. Rom. 5:12-21.)
4 Behold, all persons are Mine; as the person of the father, so also the person of the son is Mine: the person that sins (descendants were not punished for the sins of their ancestors, unless they persevered in their ancestor's sins. Cp. Ex. 20:5. Matt. 23:30-32), it shall die. (Die and live in this chapter are used in the sense of 3:18.)
U2 c 5-9. The righteous. All in the Singular number.
d 10-13. The wicked. "
c 14-17. The righteous. "
d 18. The wicked. "
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And has not eaten upon the mountains (implies sacrificing and partaking of the idolatrous feast. See vv.11,12. Deut. 12:2), neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols put for worship) of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor's wife (see Lev. 18:20; 20:10), neither has come near to a menstrual woman, (See Lev. 18:19; 20:18.)
7 And has not oppressed any (cp. Ex. 22:21. Lev. 25:14. Deut. 23:16), but has restored to the debtor his pledge (cp. Ex. 22:26. Deut. 24:6,10,12,13), has spoiled none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; (Cp. Deut. 15:7,8.)
8 He that has not given forth upon usury, neither has taken any increase (cp. Ex. 22:23. Lev. 25:36,37. Deut. 23:19), that has withdrawn his hand from trickery, has executed true judgment between man and man, (See Lev. 19:15,35. Deut. 1:16,17; 16:18-20.)
9 Has walked in My statutes, and has kept My judgments, to deal truly (see Lev. 18:5. Deut. 4:1; 5:1; 6:1,2; 10:12,13; 11:1); he is just, he shall surely live (see Lev. 18:5), says the Lord GOD.
10 If he beget a son that is a robber (see Ex. 22:2 Lev. 19:13), a shedder of blood (see Gen. 9:6. Ex. 21:12. Num. 35:31), and that does the like to any one of these things,
11 And that does not any of those duties, but even has eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife,
12 Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,
13 Has given forth upon usury, and has taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. (See Lev. 20:9,11,12,13,16,27.)
14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that sees all his father's sins which he has done, and consider, and does not such like,
15 That has not eaten upon the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor's wife,
16 Neither has oppressed any, has not withheld the pledge, neither has spoiled by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment,
17 That has taken off his hand from the oppressed, that has not received usury nor increase, has executed My judgments, has walked in My statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his peoples, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
19 Yet say you, 'Why? does not the son bear the iniquity of the father?'
When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sin, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father (see Deut. 24:26), neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of a righteous one shall be upon him, and the wickedness of a lawless one shall be upon him.
21 But if a lawless one will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be remembered against him (no "purgatory" here): in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that a lawless one should die? (answered in v.32) says the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when a righteous one turns away from his righteousness, and commits trickery, and does according to all the abominations that a lawless man does, shall he live? All none of his righteous acts shall be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not equal.'
Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in them; for his trickery that he has done shall he die.
27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from his lawlessness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet says the house of Israel, 'The way of the LORD is not equal.'
O house of Israel, are not My ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so trickery shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit (put for all that is of the spirit, and not of the flesh. Cp. Luke 1:46,47. John 4:24. "The flesh profits nothing" [John 6:63]): for why will you die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies (this is the answer to the question of v.23), says the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live you.