This chapter contains an answer to an objection of the Jews to the dealings of God with them in a providential way. The objection is expressed in a proverb of common use among them, and complained of as being without cause, Ezek. 18:1, Ezek.

And the word of the Lord came unto me again, saying. ] The word of prophecy from the Lord, as the Targum; and its being mentioned is coming from the Lord is to give it weight and authority. This is a distinct sermon or prophecy from the former, and was sent and delivered out at another time.

What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel This is spoken to the Jews in Babylon, who used the following proverb concerning the land of Israel; not the ten tribes, but the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, concerning the desolation of the land, and the hardships the Jews…

As I live, saith the Lord God This is a form of an oath; the Lord here swears by his life, by himself, because he could swear by no greater, ; and it expresses how displeased he was with the above proverb, and how much he resented it, as well as the certainty of what follows; which, it might be…

Behold, all souls are mine By creation; they being the immediate produce of his power; hence he is called “the Father of spirits”, , or the souls of men; these he has an apparent right unto; a property in; a dominion over; they are accountable to him, and will be judged impartially by him: as the…

But if a man be just Not legally, as to be wholly free from sin, for there is no such just man, ; but evangelically, through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ unto him; and who has a principle of grace and holiness wrought in him; a man of a just principle and good conscience; who is…

And hath not eaten upon the mountains Where temples and altars were built for idols, and sacrifices offered up to them; and where feasts were kept to the honour of them, and the sacrifices to them eaten; see ; for otherwise it was not unlawful to eat common food on mountains, as well as on other…

And hath not oppressed any By fraud or force, particularly the poor, to the great grief and hurt of them: but hath restored to the debtor his pledge; which was pawned; not embezzling it, or keeping it beyond the time fixed by the law of God, (Deut. 24:12, Deut.

He that hath not given forth upon usury Money, victuals, or any other thing, which was forbidden the Jews to take of their brethren, though they might of strangers, (Deut. 23:19, Deut.

Hath walked in my statutes Respecting the worship of God and true religion; being observant of all laws and ordinances relating thereunto: and hath kept my judgments to deal truly; in things moral and civil among men; regarding all such laws of God as oblige to such things: he is just; such a man…

If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood But if this just man beget a son that is a thief and a murderer, as he may; for grace is not conveyed by natural generation, though sin is: a good man has often bad children, even such as are guilty of capital crimes, as a “robber”, a…

And that doeth not any of those duties Before mentioned, which his father did, but the reverse of them; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “and in the way of his righteous father does not walk”; does not tread in his steps, and work righteousness as he did: but even hath eaten…

Hath oppressed the poor and needy Who are weak, and have none to help them, and stand by them, and so are oppressed by such a man. This serves to explain the clause, in ; hath spoiled by violence; his neighbour’s goods; taken them away from him by force: hath not restored the pledge; to the…

Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase Contrary to the law of God; (See Gill on Ezek. 18:8); shall he then live? by virtue of his father’s righteousness and goodness, free from calamities, and in the quiet possession of the land of Israel, and the good things of it: he shall not live;…

Now, lo, if he beget a son That is, the wicked man before mentioned; if he begets a son who proves a good man, which sometimes is the case, as Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, and Josiah the son of Amon: that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done; not every particular action, but the principal of…

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.] (See Gill on Ezek.

Neither hath oppressed any (See Gill on Ezek. 18:7). hath not withholden the pledge; or, hath not pledged the pledge [[7]]. The meaning is, not that he had not given one, but had not taken one.

That hath taken off his hand from the poor When he perceived it lay heavy upon him, withdrew it from hurting him, and forbore to do it when it was in his power, and perhaps eased him of the hardships his father had laid upon him; which was very kind and humane: that hath not received usury nor…

As for his father It shall be otherwise with him: because he cruelly oppressed; or, “oppressed an oppression”; or, “with an oppression” [[8]]; oppressed the poor, and had no mercy on them, but used them in the most rigorous manner: spoiled his brother by violence; took away the spoil of his…

Yet say ye, why? &c.] Why do you say so? why do you go on to assert that which is not fact, or which is contrary to fact, contrary to what we feel and experience every day, to say that children are not punished for their parents’ sins? these are the words of the murmuring, complaining, and…

The soul that sinneth, it shall die This is repeated from , for the further confirmation of it: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; that is, as the Targum paraphrases it, “the son shall not be punished for the sins of the father,…

But if the wicked So far is the Lord from punishing the sins of one man upon another, that he will not punish a man for his own sins: if he will turn from all his sins that he hath committed: if he truly repents of them, and thoroughly forsakes them; for it must not be one sin only, but all; every…

All his transgressions that he hath committed Before his repentance, conversion, and obedience: they shall not be mentioned unto him; they shall not be charged upon his conscience, or brought against him in providence; he shall not be upbraided with them, or punished for them; but they shall be…

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God Perish by sword, famine, or pestilence, or go into captivity; this, though the Lord’s will and work, yet is his strange work; mercy is his delight.

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, &c.] This is to be understood, not of a truly righteous man; for no man can be so denominated from his own righteousness; but from the righteousness and obedience of Christ; and such a man cannot turn from his righteousness; for that is…

Yet ye say Notwithstanding these plain instances, which show the equity of God in his proceedings, and vindicate his justice in the dispensations of his providence; yet such was the blindness and stupidity of these people, or rather their stubbornness, obstinacy, and impudence, that they still…

When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, &c.] This is repeated for the further confirmation of it, and to raise their attention to it; to make it more plain and manifest to them, and to fix it upon their minds: and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them: or, “he shall die for them”…

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed Repents of his sins, and forsakes the vicious course of life he has lived: and doeth that which is lawful and right; or “judgment” and “righteousness” [[12]]; that which is agreeable to the law and will of God, and…

Because he considereth Being come to himself, and in his right mind, he considers the evil of his ways; what they lead to; what they deserve at the hand of God; and what he may expect, should he continue in them; see ; and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed; not only…

Yet saith the house of Israel, the way of the Lord is not equal Though the case was put so many ways, and the thing was made so clear and plain, by the instances given; as, if a man was a just man, let his father be what he would, he should live; but, if his son was a wicked man, he should die;…

Therefore will I judge you, O house of Israel The case being fairly stated, the charge removed, instances to the contrary given, the Lord, as Judge, proceeds to bring the controversy to an issue, and to pass the definitive sentence, and to deal with them in the way of his providence as they…

Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed As unprofitable and pernicious, to be abhorred and abstained from, and to be cast off, as loads and burdens upon them.

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth Which is not to be interpreted simply and absolutely, and with respect to all persons afflicted and punished by him; for he does take delight in the exercise of “judgment” and “righteousness”, and “laughs” at the “calamity” of wicked men, ; but…