1.
The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
The word = And the word.
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
2.
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
the land = the soil. Hebrew. 'admatk . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 . The fathers, &c. Compare Jeremiah 31:29 , Jeremiah 31:30 .
children's = sons.
3.
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.
the Lord God . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .
any more . This refers to a future time, which has not yet come (Jeremiah 31:29 , Jeremiah 31:30 ). Till then it is otherwise (Ezekiel 21:3 .Lamentations 5:2; Lamentations 5:2 ), and has been since Genesis 3 . Compare Romans 5:12-21 .
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.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
souls = persons. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
sinneth. Descendants were not punished for the sins of their ancestors, unless they persevered in their ancestors' sins. Compare Exodus 20:5 .Matthew 23:30-32 . Here Hebrew. chata', App-44 .
die . Die and live in this chapter are used in the sense of Ezekiel 8:18 .
5.
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
6.
And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
eaten , &c. Implies sacrificing and partaking of the idolatrous feast. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 12:2 compared with verses: Ezekiel 18:11 , Ezekiel 18:15 ). App-92 .
hath lifted up his eyes, he. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for worship.
defiled , Be. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:20 ; Leviticus 20:10 ).
come near . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:19 ; Leviticus 20:18 ).
7.
And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
hath not oppressed , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:21 .Leviticus 25:14 .Deuteronomy 23:10; Deuteronomy 23:10 ). App-92 .
hath restored , he. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:26 . Deuteronomy 24:6 , Deuteronomy 24:10 , Deuteronomy 24:12 , Deuteronomy 24:13 ). App-92 .
hath given his bread , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 15:7 , Deuteronomy 15:8 ).
8.
He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
hath not given forth , &c. Ref'. to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:25 , Leviticus 25:36 , Leviticus 25:37 . Deuteronomy 23:19 ). App-92 .
iniquity = trickery. Hebrew. 'aval . App-44 . Not the same word as in verses: Ezekiel 18:17 , Ezekiel 18:18 , Ezekiel 18:19 , Ezekiel 17:20 , Eze 17:30 .
hath executed, he. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:15 , Leviticus 19:35 .Deuteronomy 1:16 , Deuteronomy 1:17 ; Deuteronomy 16:18-20 ). App-92 .
9.
Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
Hath walked , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 .Deuteronomy 4:1 ; Deuteronomy 5:1 ; Deuteronomy 5:6 , Deuteronomy 5:1 , Deuteronomy 5:2 ; Deuteronomy 10:12 , Deuteronomy 10:13 ; Deuteronomy 11:1 ).
he shall surely live . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 ),
live . See note on Leviticus 18:5 .
10.
If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
a robber. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:2 .Leviticus 19:13; Leviticus 19:13 ), a shedder of blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 9:6 . Exodus 21:12 .Numbers 35:31; Numbers 35:31 ). App-92 .
11.
And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
12.
Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13.
Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
his blood shall be upon him. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 20:9 , Leviticus 20:11 , Leviticus 20:12 , Leviticus 20:13 , Leviticus 20:16 , Leviticus 20:27 ). App-92 .
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,
hath not, &c. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and bath not", &c.
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.
the poor = the oppressed. The Septuagint reads "injustice", as in Ezekiel 18:8 .
iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 . Not the same word as in or. Eze 8:24 , Eze 8:26 .
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.
people = peoples
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.
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.
The son , he. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 24:26 ). App-92 .
the righteous = a righteous one.
wickedness . . . the wicked . Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew text margin, with some codices and three early printed editions, read lawless ones".
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.
all his sins . Hebrew text reads "any sin of his"; but the margin, some codices, and two early printed editions, read "all his sins".
he shall not die, Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), here, Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and 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.
transgressions. Heb, pasha'. App-44 .
mentioned unto = remembered against, No "purgatory "here.
23.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Have I any pleasure. ? Answered in Ezekiel 18:32 .
ways. Many codiecs, with eight early printed editions, read plural; but others, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "way" (singular)
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.
24.
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
righteousness. So Hebrew text; but margin, with scone codices and one early printed edition, read plural = "none of his righteous acts The Hebrew verb is plural
trespass. trespassed. Hebrew. ma' al. App-44 .
25.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
the LORD. This is one of the 134 places where the Sopherim say that they changed " Jehovah " of the primitive text to " Adonai ". See App-32 .
equal , See note on "pondereth", Proverbs 21:2 , unequal. Note the Figure of speech Anticategoria ( App-6 ).
26.
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27.
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28.
Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29.
Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31.
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
whereby , &c. The = Septuagint reads "which ye have committed against Me".
heart. spirit . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for all that is of the spirit, and not of the flesh. Compare Luke 1:44 , Luke 1:47 . John 4:24 . "The flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63 ).
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-49 .
32.
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
I have no pleasure. This is the answer to the question in Ezekiel 18:23 .