Ezekiel 18:19

New King James Version

"Yet you say, "Why 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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live.

Hebrew Names Version
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.

King James Version
Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

English Standard Version
"Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.

New American Standard Bible
"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not suffer the punishment for the father's guilt?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them, he shall certainly live.

New Century Version
"But you ask, ‘Why is the son not punished for the father's sin?' The son has done what is fair and right. He obeys all my rules, so he will surely live.

Amplified Bible
"Yet do you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's sin?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and has done them, he shall certainly live.

World English Bible
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Yet say ye, Wherefore shall not the sonne beare the iniquitie of the father? because ye sonne hath executed iudgement & iustice, and hath kept all my statutes, and done them, he shal surely liue,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' But the son has done justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them. He shall surely live.

Berean Standard Bible
Yet you may ask, 'Why should the son not bear the iniquity of the father?' Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.

Contemporary English Version
You may wonder why a son isn't punished for the sins of his father. It is because the son does what is right and obeys my laws.

Complete Jewish Bible
"You ask, ‘Why doesn't the son bear his father's guilt?' When the son has done what is lawful and right, has kept all my laws and obeyed them, he will certainly live.

Darby Translation
And ye say, Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? But the son hath done judgment and justice, hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them; he shall certainly live.

Easy-to-Read Version
"You might ask, ‘Why will the son not be punished for his father's sins?' The reason is that the son was fair and did good things. He very carefully obeyed my laws, so he will live.

George Lamsa Translation
And if they should say, Why does not the son bear the sins of his father? say to them, Because the son has done that which is lawful and right and has kept all my commandments, he shall surely live.

Good News Translation
"But you ask, ‘Why shouldn't the son suffer because of his father's sins?' The answer is that the son did what was right and good. He kept my laws and followed them carefully, and so he will certainly live.

Lexham English Bible
"Yet you say, ‘Why does the son not bear the guilt of the father?' And since the son does justice and righteousness and he keeps all of my statutes and does them, he shall surely live!

Literal Translation
Yet you say, Why? Does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son has done justice and righteousness, he has kept all My statutes and has done them, living he shall live.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And yet saye ye: Wherfore the shulde not this sonne beare his fathers synne? Therfore: because the sonne hath done equyte and right, hath kepte all my commaundementes, and done them: therfore, shall he lyue in dede.

American Standard Version
Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

Bible in Basic English
But you say, Why does not the son undergo punishment for the evil-doing of the father? When the son has done what is ordered and right, and has kept my rules and done them, life will certainly be his.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Yet say ye: Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father with him? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all My statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

King James Version (1611)
Yet say yee, Why? doeth not the sonne beare the iniquitie of the father? when the sonne hath done that which is lawfull and right, and hath kept all my Statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely liue.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And yet say ye, wherfore then should not this sonne beare his fathers sinne? Because the sonne hath done iudgment and righteousnesse, he hath kept all my statutes and done them: therefore shall he liue in deede.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But ye will say, Why has not the son borne the iniquity of the father? Because the son has wrought judgement and mercy, has kept all my statues, and done them, he shall surely live.

English Revised Version
Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And ye seien, Whi berith not the sone the wickidnesse of the fadir? That is to seie, for the sone wrouyte doom and riytfulnesse, he kepte alle my comaundementis, and dide tho, he schal lyue in lijf.

Update Bible Version
Yet you say, Why doesn't 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

New English Translation
"Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer 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.

New Living Translation
"‘What?' you ask. ‘Doesn't the child pay for the parent's sins?' No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.

New Life Bible
"Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer for the father's sin?' Since the son has done what is right and good, and has kept and obeyed all My Laws, he will live for sure.

New Revised Standard
Yet you say, "Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?" When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Will ye then say. Why hath not the son borne a part of the iniquity of the father? But the son hath done justice and righteousness, All my statutes, hath observed and done them He shall surely live.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And you say: Why hath not the son borne the iniquity of his father? Verily, because the son hath wrought judgment and justice, hath kept all my commandments, and done them, living, he shall live.

Revised Standard Version
"Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.

Young's Literal Translation
And ye have said, Wherefore hath not the son, Borne of the iniquity of the father? And -- the son judgment and righteousness hath done, All My statutes he hath kept, And he doeth them, he surely liveth.

THE MESSAGE
"Do you need to ask, ‘So why does the child not share the guilt of the parent?' "Isn't it plain? It's because the child did what is fair and right. Since the child was careful to do what is lawful and right, the child will live truly and well. The soul that sins is the soul that dies. The child does not share the guilt of the parent, nor the parent the guilt of the child. If you live upright and well, you get the credit; if you live a wicked life, you're guilty as charged.

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ "If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things ¹¹ And does none of those duties, But has eaten 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 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; 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 Who has not eaten 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 the poor Ezekiel 18:8). ">[fn] And not received usury or increase,But has executed My judgmentsAnd 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, he shall die for his iniquity. ¹⁹ "Yet you say, "Why 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Why: Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9, 2 Kings 23:26, 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4, Jeremiah 15:4, Lamentations 5:7

When: Ezekiel 20:18-20, Ezekiel 20:24, Ezekiel 20:30, Zechariah 1:3-6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 10:17 - to bear Leviticus 26:39 - and also Deuteronomy 6:18 - shalt do 2 Kings 9:26 - I will requite Job 21:19 - for his Ezekiel 18:3 - General Ezekiel 18:17 - he shall not Ezekiel 18:21 - and do Luke 11:48 - ye bear

Cross-References

Genesis 18:2
So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

Genesis 18:4
Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

Genesis 18:5
And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."

Genesis 18:6
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes."

Genesis 18:7
And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.

Genesis 18:9
Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, in the tent."

Genesis 18:10
And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)

Genesis 18:19
For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

Genesis 18:20
And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

Genesis 18:21
I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet say ye, why?.... Why do you say so? why do you go on to assert that which is not fact, or which is contrary to fact, contrary to what we feel and experience every day, to say that children are not punished for their parents' sins? these are the words of the murmuring, complaining, and blaspheming Jews, quarrelling with the prophet, and with the Lord himself:

doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? have not we proof of it every day we live? are not our present case and circumstances a full evidence of it? or the words may be rendered, "why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father?" so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; or, as the Targum,

"why is not the son punished for the sins of the father?''

and so they are an objection, which is foreseen might be made, and is here anticipated, to which an answer is returned; and so the Syriac version introduces it, "but if they said", c. then adds, "tell them", as follows:

when, or "because"

the son hath done that which is lawful [and] right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them: this is the reason why he shall not bear his father's sins, or be punished for them intimating that they had not done these things that made the complaint, or put the, question; but had committed the same sins their fathers had, and so were punished, not for their fathers' sins, but their own: for otherwise the man that does what is just and right with God, and between man and man,

he shall surely live; :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Why?... - Rather, “Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father?”