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Individual Retribution

18 The Lord’s message came to me: “What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel:

“‘The fathers eat sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth become numb?’[a]

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord,[b] you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore! Indeed! All lives are mine—the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one[c] who sins will die.

“Suppose a man is righteous. He practices what is just and right, does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains[d] or pray to the idols[e] of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, does not approach a woman for marital relations[f] during her period, does not oppress anyone, but gives the debtor back whatever was given in pledge,[g] does not commit robbery,[h] but gives his bread to the hungry and clothes the naked, does not engage in usury or charge interest,[i] but refrains[j] from wrongdoing, promotes true justice[k] between men, and follows my statutes and observes my regulations by carrying them out.[l] That man[m] is righteous; he will certainly live,[n] declares the Sovereign Lord.

10 “Suppose such a man has[o] a violent son who sheds blood and does any of these things[p] mentioned previously 11 (though the father did not do any of them).[q] He eats pagan sacrifices on the mountains,[r] defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the poor and the needy,[s] commits robbery, does not give back what was given in pledge, prays to[t] idols, performs abominable acts, 13 engages in usury, and charges interest. Will he live? He will not! Because he has done all these abominable deeds he will certainly die.[u] He will bear the responsibility for his own death.[v]

14 “But suppose he in turn has a son who notices all the sins his father commits, considers them, and does not follow his father’s example.[w] 15 He does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains, does not pray to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, 16 does not oppress anyone or keep what has been given in pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked, 17 refrains from wrongdoing,[x] does not engage in usury or charge interest, carries out my regulations, and follows my statutes. He will not die for his father’s iniquity;[y] he will surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practices extortion, robs his brother, and does what is not good among his people, he will die for his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer[z] for his father’s iniquity?’ When the son does what is just and right, and observes all my statutes and carries them out, he will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A son will not suffer[aa] for his father’s iniquity, and a father will not suffer[ab] for his son’s iniquity; the righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness.[ac]

21 “But if the wicked person turns from all the sin he has committed and observes all my statutes and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the sins he has committed will be held[ad] against him; because of the righteousness he has done, he will live. 23 Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the Sovereign Lord? Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?

24 “But if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing according to all the abominable practices the wicked carry out, will he live? All his righteous acts will not be remembered; because of the unfaithful acts he has done and the sin he has committed, he will die.[ae]

25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s conduct[af] is unjust!’ Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust? 26 When a righteous person turns back from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing, he will die for it;[ag] because of the wrongdoing he has done, he will die. 27 When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. 28 Because he considered[ah] and turned from all the sins he had done, he will surely live; he will not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s conduct is unjust!’ Is my conduct unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?

30 “Therefore, I will judge each person according to his conduct,[ai] O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent[aj] and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity.[ak] 31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit![al] Why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone,[am] declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:2 tn This word occurs three times, in the Qal stem here and the parallel passage in Jer 31:29-30, and in the Piel stem at Eccl 10:10. In the latter passage it refers to the bluntness of an ax that has not been sharpened. Here the “bluntness” of the teeth is not due to grinding them down because of the bitter taste of sour grapes but to the fact that they have lost their “edge,” “bite,” or “sharpness” because they are numb from the sour taste. For this meaning for the word, see W. L. Holladay, Jeremiah (Hermeneia), 2:197.
  2. Ezekiel 18:3 tn This expression occurs often in Ezekiel (5:11; 14:16, 18, 20; 16:48; 17:16, 19; 20:3, 31, 33; 33:11, 27; 34:8; 35:6, 11).
  3. Ezekiel 18:4 tn Heb “life.”
  4. Ezekiel 18:6 tn Heb “on the mountains he does not eat.” The mountains are often mentioned as the place where idolatrous sacrifices were eaten (Ezek 20:28; 22:9; 34:6).
  5. Ezekiel 18:6 tn Heb “does not lift up his eyes.” This refers to looking to idols for help.
  6. Ezekiel 18:6 tn The expression קָרַב אֶל (qarav ʾel) means “draw near to” or “approach,” but is also used as a euphemism for the intended purpose of sexual relations (Lev 18:14; Deut 22:14; Isa 8:3).
  7. Ezekiel 18:7 tn Heb “restores to the debtor his pledge.” The root occurs in Exod 22:25 in reference to restoring a man’s garment as a pledge before nightfall.
  8. Ezekiel 18:7 tn The Hebrew term refers to seizure of property, usually by the rich (Isa 3:14; 10:2; Mic 2:2; see Lev 5:21, 22 HT [6:2, 3 ET]).
  9. Ezekiel 18:8 sn This law was given in Lev 25:36.
  10. Ezekiel 18:8 tn Heb, “turns back his hand.”
  11. Ezekiel 18:8 tn Heb “justice of truth.”
  12. Ezekiel 18:9 tc The MT reads לַעֲשׂוֹת אֱמֶת (laʿasot ʾemet, “to do with integrity”), while the LXX reads “to do them,” presupposing לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתָם (laʿasot ʾotam). The ם (mem) and ת (tav) have been reversed in the MT. The LXX reflects the original, supported by similar phrasing in Ezekiel 11:20; 20:19.
  13. Ezekiel 18:9 tn Heb “he.”
  14. Ezekiel 18:9 tn Heb “living, he will live.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
  15. Ezekiel 18:10 tn Heb “begets.”
  16. Ezekiel 18:10 tn Heb “and he does, a brother, from one of these.” If “brother” is retained, it may be an adverbial accusative: “against a brother” (i.e., fellow Israelite). But the form is likely dittographic, as the consonants that spell “brother” אח (alef-het) occur in the following word).
  17. Ezekiel 18:11 tn Heb “and he all of these did not do.” The parenthetical note refers back to the father described in the preceding verses.
  18. Ezekiel 18:11 sn See note on “mountains” in v. 6.
  19. Ezekiel 18:12 sn The poor and needy are often mentioned together in the OT (Deut 24:14; Jer 22:16; Ezek 16:49; Pss 12:6; 35:10; 37:14).
  20. Ezekiel 18:12 tn Heb “lifts up his eyes.”
  21. Ezekiel 18:13 tn Heb “be put to death.” The translation follows an alternative reading that appears in several ancient textual witnesses.
  22. Ezekiel 18:13 tn Heb “his blood will be upon him.”
  23. Ezekiel 18:14 tn Heb “and he sees and does not do likewise.”
  24. Ezekiel 18:17 tc This translation follows the LXX. The MT reads: “restrains his hand from the poor,” which makes no sense here.
  25. Ezekiel 18:17 tn Or “in his father’s punishment.” The phrase “in/for [a person’s] iniquity/punishment” occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel: here and in vv. 18, 19, 20; 3:18, 19; 4:17; 7:13, 16; 24:23; 33:6, 8, 9; 39:23. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” may also mean the “punishment for iniquity.”
  26. Ezekiel 18:19 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  27. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  28. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “lift up, bear.”
  29. Ezekiel 18:20 tn Heb “the righteousness of the righteous one will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked one will be upon him.”
  30. Ezekiel 18:22 tn Heb “remembered.”
  31. Ezekiel 18:24 tn Heb “because of them he will die.”
  32. Ezekiel 18:25 tn Heb “way.”
  33. Ezekiel 18:26 tn Heb “for them” or “because of them.”
  34. Ezekiel 18:28 tn Heb “he saw.”
  35. Ezekiel 18:30 tn Heb “ways.”
  36. Ezekiel 18:30 tn The verbs and persons in this verse are plural whereas the individual has been the subject of the chapter.
  37. Ezekiel 18:30 tn Or “leading to punishment.”
  38. Ezekiel 18:31 sn In Ezek 11:19 and 36:26 the new heart and new spirit are promised as future blessings.
  39. Ezekiel 18:32 tn Heb “the death of the one dying.”

La responsabilidad individual

18 Y vino a mí la palabra del Señor, diciendo: ¿Qué queréis decir al usar este proverbio acerca de la tierra de Israel(A), que dice:

«Los padres comen las uvas agrias,
pero los dientes de los hijos tienen la dentera[a](B)»?

Vivo yo —declara el Señor Dios[b]— que no volveréis a usar más este proverbio en Israel. He aquí, todas las almas son mías(C); tanto el alma del padre como el alma del hijo mías son. El alma que peque, esa morirá(D). Pero el hombre que es justo, y practica el derecho y la justicia, y no come en los santuarios de los montes ni levanta sus ojos a los ídolos de la casa de Israel(E), ni amancilla a la mujer de su prójimo(F), ni se acerca a una mujer durante su menstruación; el hombre que no oprime a nadie, sino que devuelve al deudor su prenda(G); que no comete robo(H), sino que da su pan al hambriento y cubre al desnudo con ropa(I), que no presta dinero a interés ni exige con usura(J), que retrae su mano de la maldad(K) y hace juicio verdadero entre hombre y hombre(L), que anda en mis estatutos y mis ordenanzas(M) obrando fielmente(N), ese es justo; ciertamente vivirá —declara el Señor Dios(O).

10 Pero si engendra un hijo violento que derrama sangre y que hace cualquiera de estas cosas a un hermano 11 (aunque él mismo no hizo ninguna de estas cosas)(P), que también come en los santuarios de los montes y amancilla a la mujer de su prójimo, 12 oprime al pobre y al necesitado(Q), comete robo, no devuelve la prenda(R), que levanta sus ojos a los ídolos y comete abominación(S), 13 que presta a interés y exige con usura(T); ¿vivirá? ¡No vivirá! Ha cometido todas estas abominaciones, ciertamente morirá; su sangre será sobre él(U).

14 Mas he aquí, si engendra un hijo que observa todos los pecados que su padre ha cometido(V), y viéndolo no hace lo mismo, 15 no come en los santuarios de los montes, ni levanta sus ojos a los ídolos de la casa de Israel, ni amancilla a la mujer de su prójimo, 16 que no oprime a nadie, ni retiene la prenda, ni comete robo, sino que da su pan al hambriento y cubre al desnudo con ropa(W), 17 que retrae su mano del pobre[c], no cobra interés ni usura, cumple mis ordenanzas y anda en mis estatutos, ese no morirá por la iniquidad de su padre, ciertamente vivirá(X). 18 Su padre, que practicó la extorsión, robó[d] a su hermano e hizo lo que no era bueno en medio de su pueblo[e], he aquí, morirá por su iniquidad.

19 Y vosotros decís: «¿Por qué no carga el hijo con la iniquidad de su padre(Y)?». Cuando el hijo ha practicado el derecho y la justicia, ha observado todos mis estatutos y los ha cumplido, ciertamente vivirá(Z). 20 El alma que peque, esa morirá. El hijo no cargará con la iniquidad del padre, ni el padre cargará con la iniquidad del hijo(AA); la justicia del justo será sobre él(AB) y la maldad del impío será sobre él(AC).

21 Pero si el impío se aparta de todos los pecados que ha cometido, guarda todos mis estatutos y practica el derecho y la justicia, ciertamente vivirá, no morirá(AD). 22 Ninguna de las transgresiones que ha cometido le serán recordadas; por la justicia que ha practicado(AE), vivirá(AF). 23 ¿Acaso me complazco yo en la muerte del impío —declara el Señor Dios— y no en que se aparte de sus caminos(AG) y viva(AH)?

24 Pero si el justo se aparta de su justicia y comete iniquidad, actuando conforme a todas las abominaciones que comete el impío, ¿vivirá? Ninguna de las obras justas que ha hecho le serán recordadas(AI); por la infidelidad que ha cometido y el pecado que ha cometido, por ellos morirá(AJ). 25 Y vosotros decís: «No es recto el camino del Señor(AK)». Oíd ahora, casa de Israel: ¿No es recto mi camino? ¿No son vuestros caminos los que no son rectos(AL)? 26 Cuando el justo se aparta de su justicia, comete iniquidad y muere a causa de ello, por la iniquidad que ha cometido, morirá. 27 Y cuando el impío se aparta de la maldad que ha cometido y practica el derecho y la justicia, salvará su vida(AM). 28 Porque consideró y se apartó de todas las transgresiones que había cometido, ciertamente vivirá, no morirá. 29 Pero la casa de Israel dice: «El camino del Señor no es recto». ¿No son rectos mis caminos, oh casa de Israel? ¿No son vuestros caminos los que no son rectos?

30 Por tanto, os juzgaré, a cada uno conforme a su conducta, oh casa de Israel —declara el Señor Dios—. Arrepentíos y apartaos de todas vuestras transgresiones, para que la iniquidad no os sea piedra de tropiezo(AN). 31 Arrojad de vosotros todas las transgresiones que habéis cometido(AO), y haceos un corazón nuevo y un espíritu nuevo(AP). ¿Por qué habéis de morir, casa de Israel? 32 Pues yo no me complazco en la muerte de nadie[f] —declara el Señor Dios—. Arrepentíos y vivid(AQ).

Footnotes

  1. Ezequiel 18:2 Lit., se embotan
  2. Ezequiel 18:3 Heb., YHWH, generalmente traducido Señor, y así en el resto del cap.
  3. Ezequiel 18:17 La versión gr. (sept.) dice: de la maldad como en el vers. 8
  4. Ezequiel 18:18 Lit., cometió robo
  5. Ezequiel 18:18 Lit., sus parientes
  6. Ezequiel 18:32 Lit., del que muere

The One Who Sins Will Die

18 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?(A)

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb(B) in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins(C) is the one who will die.(D)

“Suppose there is a righteous man
    who does what is just and right.
He does not eat at the mountain(E) shrines
    or look to the idols(F) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
    or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.(G)
He does not oppress(H) anyone,
    but returns what he took in pledge(I) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery(J)
    but gives his food to the hungry(K)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(L)
He does not lend to them at interest
    or take a profit from them.(M)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
    and judges fairly(N) between two parties.
He follows my decrees(O)
    and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;(P)
    he will surely live,(Q)
declares the Sovereign Lord.

10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood(R) or does any of these other things[a] 11 (though the father has done none of them):

“He eats at the mountain shrines.(S)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor(T) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.(U)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.(V)
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit.(W)

Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.(X)

14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:(Y)

15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines(Z)
    or look to the idols(AA) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16 He does not oppress anyone
    or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
    but gives his food to the hungry(AB)
    and provides clothing for the naked.(AC)
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
    and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws(AD) and follows my decrees.

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.(AE) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(AF) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.(AG)

21 “But if(AH) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees(AI) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.(AJ) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.(AK) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased(AL) when they turn from their ways and live?(AM)

24 “But if a righteous person turns(AN) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness(AO) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.(AP)

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’(AQ) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?(AR) Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.(AS) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.(AT) 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!(AU) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.(AV) 31 Rid(AW) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(AX) and a new spirit. Why(AY) will you die, people of Israel?(AZ) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(BA) and live!(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:10 Or things to a brother

A False Proverb Refuted

18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:

‘The (A)fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.

“Behold, all souls are (B)Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
(C)The soul who sins shall die.
But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
(D)If he has not eaten [a]on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor (E)defiled his neighbor’s wife,
Nor approached (F)a woman during her impurity;
If he has not (G)oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his (H)pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has (I)given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with (J)clothing;
If he has not [b]exacted (K)usury
Nor taken any increase,
But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
And (L)executed true [c]judgment between man and man;
If he has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully—
He is just;
He shall surely (M)live!”
Says the Lord God.

10 “If he begets a son who is a robber
Or (N)a shedder of blood,
Who does any of these things
11 And does none of those duties,
But has eaten [d]on the mountains
Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;
12 If he has oppressed the poor and needy,
Robbed by violence,
Not restored the pledge,
Lifted his eyes to the idols,
Or (O)committed abomination;
13 If he has exacted usury
Or taken increase—
Shall he then live?
He shall not live!
If he has done any of these abominations,
He shall surely die;
(P)His blood shall be upon him.

14 If, however, he begets a son
Who sees all the sins which his father has done,
And considers but does not do likewise;
15 (Q)Who has not eaten [e]on the mountains,
Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;
16 Has not oppressed anyone,
Nor withheld a pledge,
Nor robbed by violence,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
17 Who has withdrawn his hand from [f]the poor
And not received usury or increase,
But has executed My judgments
And 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,
Robbed his brother by violence,
And did what is not good among his people,
Behold, (R)he shall die for his iniquity.

Turn and Live

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why (S)should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 (T)The soul who sins shall die. (U)The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. (V)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (W)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “But (X)if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 (Y)None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall (Z)live. 23 (AA)Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But (AB)when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? (AC)All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

25 “Yet you say, (AD)‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 (AE)When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, (AF)when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he (AG)considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 (AH)Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?

30 (AI)“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. (AJ)“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 (AK)Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a (AL)new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For (AM)I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and (AN)live!”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:6 At the mountain shrines
  2. Ezekiel 18:8 Lent money at interest
  3. Ezekiel 18:8 justice
  4. Ezekiel 18:11 At the mountain shrines
  5. Ezekiel 18:15 At the mountain shrines
  6. Ezekiel 18:17 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX iniquity (cf. v. 8)