Ezekiel 18:19

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.

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 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.

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 "But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right. ¹¹ And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, ¹² oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, ¹³ and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame. ¹⁴ "But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father's wickedness and decides against that kind of life. ¹⁵ This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. ¹⁶ He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. ¹⁷ He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father's sins; he will surely live. ¹⁸ But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people. ¹⁹ "‘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.

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
He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.

Genesis 18:4
Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.

Genesis 18:5
And since you've honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey." "All right," they said. "Do as you have said."

Genesis 18:6
So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, "Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread."

Genesis 18:7
Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.

Genesis 18:9
"Where is Sarah, your wife?" the visitors asked. "She's inside the tent," Abraham replied.

Genesis 18:10
Then one of them said, "I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!" Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent.

Genesis 18:19
I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised."

Genesis 18:20
So the Lord told Abraham, "I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.

Genesis 18:21
I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to 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?”