20
People will die because of their own sins. The son will not be guilty because of what his father did. And the father will not be guilty because of what his son did. The right things a godly person does will be added to his account. The wrong things a sinful person does will be charged against him.
Reference
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Hebrew: gâvaʻ
to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire
Hebrew: gâlâl
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of
Greek: γνήσιος (gnḗsios)
legitimate (of birth), i.e. genuine
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ὑπόδικος (hypódikos)
under sentence, i.e. (by implication) condemned
Hebrew: gâlâl
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Greek: πατήρ (patḗr)
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Hebrew: ʼab
{father}
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: πατήρ (patḗr)
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Hebrew: ʼab
{father}
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ὑπόδικος (hypódikos)
under sentence, i.e. (by implication) condemned
Hebrew: gâlâl
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: εὐσεβῶς (eusebōs)
piously
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Greek: ἡγέομαι (hēgéomai)
to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider
Hebrew: cheshbôwn
properly, contrivance; by implication, intelligence
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: ʻavvâthâh
oppression
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlós)
sinful, i.e. a sinner
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ἔμπροσθεν (émprosthen)
in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)
Hebrew: ʼêth
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Parallel theme
Matthew 16:27
Revelation 20:12
Revelation 2:23
Righteousness
1 Kings 8:32
2 Chronicles 6:23
Sin
Deuteronomy 24:16
2 Kings 14:6
Ezekiel 18:4
2 Chronicles 25:4
Numbers 18:1
Verse Explanation
God gives the chapter's clearest statement of individual responsibility: the person who sins is the one who will die, while a child will not automatically bear the guilt of a parent and a parent will not automatically bear the guilt of a child.
History
c. 592 BC: Personal accountability is presented as a foundational principle of divine justice.