God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].
Ver. 19. God layeth up his iniquity for his children] That is, the punishment of his iniquity, while he visiteth the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him, Exodus 20:5. Neither doth this contradict that of the prophet Ezekiel, "The son, shall not die for the iniquity of his father," Ezekiel 18:17; nor that of the apostle, "Every man shall bear his own burden," Galatians 6:5; for the meaning of those words is, that no man be damned for the sin of his father, nor one man for the sin of another, unless by commission, or approbation, or some way or other he make it his own. But for temporal punishments there is none but (by occasion of others' sin) may have their portion in them; and wicked parents leave Job's legacy to their children; 2Sa 3:29 yea, though they prove to be good children, 1 Kings 14:12,13, for whom God layeth up their parents' iniquity in the treasures of his justice to be produced in due tine.
He rewardeth him] For every transgression and disobedience; that is, every commission and omission "receiveth a just recompense of reward," Hebrews 2:2. God will abate him nothing.
And he shall know it] Know it to his cost. Vexation shall give understanding; he that, before this judgment came, would know nothing of the bitter effect of sin upon him and his, now hath his eyes forced open (as the blind mole is said to have by the pangs of death), and cry out with the lion in the snare, Si praescivissem, Oh! if I had foreknown the mischief, &c. The wicked are wise too late; the fool passeth on and is punished; he knows not the evil of sin till he feels it.