Ezekiel 18:20

Sin Parents and children Justice Guilt and conscience

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.

¹⁹ 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.

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.

²¹ But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

²² All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: The soul who sins, he 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 on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: 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.
BLB: The soul sinning, it will die. The son will not bear the guilt of the father, and the father will not bear the guilt of the son; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

ÅB: Den som synder, han skal dø; en sønn skal ikke bære sin fars misgjerning, og en far skal ikke bære sin sønns misgjerning; den rettferdiges rettferdighet skal hvile over ham, og den ugudeliges ugudelighet skal hvile over ham.
OTB: Den sjel som synder, den skal dø. Sønnen skal ikke bære farens misgjerning, og faren skal ikke bære sønnens misgjerning. Den rettferdiges rettferdighet skal være over ham selv, og den ugudeliges ugudelighet skal være over ham selv.
B1930: Den som synder, han skal dø; en sønn skal ikke bære sin fars misgjerning, og en far skal ikke bære sin sønns misgjerning; den rettferdiges rettferdighet skal hvile over ham, og den ugudeliges ugudelighet skal hvile over ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Kings 14:6
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.
Read in context
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 18:4
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 31:29–30
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
Read in context
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 25:4
But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
Read in context
1 Kings 8:32
Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
Read in context
Romans 2:6–9
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Read in context