2 Kings 14:6

4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

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.

7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

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

    The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:20

    The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 18:4

    Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 31:30

    But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

    Read in context