📖 Ezekiel — Chapter 18 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Ezekiel 18:2 What Rmean 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?
Ezekiel 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, Rall 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.
Ezekiel 18:5 But if a man be just, and do RTthat which is lawful and right,
Ezekiel 18:6 And hath Rnot 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,
Ezekiel 18:7 And Rhath 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;
Ezekiel 18:8 He that Rhath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
Ezekiel 18:9 Hath Rwalked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 18:10 If he beget a son Rthat is a Trobber, a shedder of blood, and Tthat doeth the like to any one of these things,
Ezekiel 18:11 And Rthat doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
Ezekiel 18:12 Hath Roppressed 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,
Ezekiel 18:13 Hath Rgiven 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 Tblood shall be upon him.
Ezekiel 18:14 Now, lo, Rif he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
Ezekiel 18:15 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,
Ezekiel 18:16 Neither hath oppressed any, Thath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, Rbut hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
Ezekiel 18:17 That Rhath 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.
Ezekiel 18:18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, Reven he shall die in his iniquity.
Ezekiel 18:19 Yet say ye, RWhy? 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.
Ezekiel 18:20 The Rsoul 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.
Ezekiel 18:21 But Rif 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.
Ezekiel 18:22 All Rhis transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:23 Have RI any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Ezekiel 18:24 But Rwhen 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.
Ezekiel 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Rare not your ways unequal?
Ezekiel 18:26 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.
Ezekiel 18:27 Again, Rwhen 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.
Ezekiel 18:28 Because Rhe considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezekiel 18:29 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?
Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore RI will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn Tyourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Ezekiel 18:31 RCast 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?
Ezekiel 18:32 For RI have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn Tyourselves, and live ye.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezekiel 18:1–11 — The sour-grapes proverb is challenged
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord rejects using ancestral sin to deny present responsibility. A righteous man’s justice, restraint, and care for others are described, then contrasted with a violent son.
Key Truth: Take responsibility for your own ways.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ of the LORD came unto me again, saying,” (Ezekiel 18:1)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath ____ upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,” (Ezekiel 18:11)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:11 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that ____ the like to any one of these things,” (Ezekiel 18:10)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezekiel 18:12–22 — Each generation is accountable and repentance is possible
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A wicked son’s oppression and idolatry do not condemn a grandson who refuses to imitate them. The person who turns from wickedness to right conduct is promised life rather than permanent condemnation for former sins.
Key Truth: Refuse harmful patterns and respond to the chance to turn.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Hath oppressed the ____ and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the …” (Ezekiel 18:12)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:12 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his ____ ’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth …” (Ezekiel 18:14)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:14 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his ____ that he hath done he shall live.” (Ezekiel 18:22)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ezekiel 18:23–32 — Turn and live
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord declares no pleasure in the wicked person’s death and answers the claim that his ways are unequal. Returning from evil, casting away transgressions, and receiving a new heart and spirit frame the final appeal.
Key Truth: Let repentance become an actual change of direction.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Have I any pleasure at all that the ____ should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he …” (Ezekiel 18:23)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:23 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Because he ____ , and turneth away from all his transgressions that he …” (Ezekiel 18:28)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:28 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For I have no pleasure in the ____ of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn …” (Ezekiel 18:32)
Find it in Ezekiel 18:32 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Ezekiel 33:11 — The later appeal again calls the wicked to turn and live.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What family pattern can you refuse through a different choice today?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which summary best distinguishes Ezekiel 18:1–11 (The sour-grapes proverb is challenged) from the chapter’s other sections?
2. Which summary best distinguishes Ezekiel 18:12–22 (Each generation is accountable and repentance is possible) from the chapter’s other sections?
3. Which summary best distinguishes Ezekiel 18:23–32 (Turn and live) from the chapter’s other sections?
4. How does the passage distinguish a child’s responsibility from a parent’s?
5. What outcome is contrasted with the wicked person’s death?
Notes
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