Ezekiel 18:14-18 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

Now, lo, if he begot a son, that seeth all his father's sins ... and doeth not such like. The third case: a son who walks not in the steps of an unrighteous father, but in the ways of God; e.g., Josiah, the pious son of guilty Amon; Hezekiah, of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-20; 2 Kings 18:1-37; 2 Kings 21:1-26; 2 Kings 22:1-20).

Seeth ... and considereth. The same Hebrew х raa'ah (H7200)] stands for both verbs, "seeth ... yea, seeth." The repetition implies the attentive observation needed, in order that the son may not be led astray by his father's bad example; as sons generally are blind to parents' sins, and even imitate them as if virtues.

Verse 17. Hath taken off his hand from the poor - i:e., abstained from oppressing the poor, when he had the opportunity of doing so with impunity. The different sense of the phrase in Ezekiel 16:49 ("neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor"), in reference to relieving the poor, seems to have suggested the reading followed by Fairbairn, but not sanctioned by the Hebrew, 'hath not turned his hand from,' etc. But Ezekiel 20:22 uses the phrase in a somewhat similar sense to the English version here, abstained from hurting.

Ezekiel 18:14-18

14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath 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 people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.