2 Kings 14:6

4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.

Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”

7 Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”
KJV
But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
WEB
but the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”
ASV
but the children of the murderers he put not to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Jehovah commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.
DARBY
But the children of those that smote [him] he did not put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein Jehovah commanded saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
BLB
And the sons of those striking he did not kill, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which YHWH commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, and children shall not be put to death for their fathers; for but a person for his own sin shall be put to death.”
ÅB
Men mordernes barn drepte han ikke, etter det som er skrevet i Mose lovbok, hvor Herren har gitt dette bud: Foreldre skal ikke lide døden for sine barns skyld, og barn ikke lide døden for sine foreldres skyld; men enhver skal dø for sin egen synd.
OTB
Men han drepte ikke morderens barn, i samsvar med det som er skrevet i Mose lovbok, slik Herren befalte, og sa, “Fedre skal ikke dø for sønner, og sønner skal ikke dø for fedre; men hver skal dø for sin egen synd.”
B1930
Men mordernes barn drepte han ikke, efter det som er skrevet i Mose lovbok, hvor Herren har gitt dette bud: Foreldre skal ikke lide døden for sine barns skyld, og barn ikke lide døden for sine foreldres skyld; men enhver skal dø for sin egen synd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 24:16

    Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:20

    The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:4

    Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 31:30

    Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

    Read in context