New International VersionFor everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
New Living TranslationFor all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.
English Standard VersionBehold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
Berean Standard BibleBehold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
King James BibleBehold, 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.
New King James Version“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.
New American Standard BibleBehold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
NASB 1995“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
NASB 1977“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
Legacy Standard BibleBehold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
Amplified BibleBehold (pay close attention), all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
Christian Standard BibleLook, every life belongs to me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
Holman Christian Standard BibleLook, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.”
American Standard VersionBehold, 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.
Contemporary English VersionThe lives of all people belong to me--parents as well as children. However, only those who sin will be put to death.
English Revised VersionBehold, 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.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe life of every person belongs to me. Fathers and their children belong to me. The person who sins will die.
Good News TranslationThe life of every person belongs to me, the life of the parent as well as that of the child. The person who sins is the one who will die.
International Standard VersionLook! Every living soul belongs to me—the father's as well as the son's. So pay attention! The person who keeps on sinning is going to die."
NET BibleIndeed! All lives are mine--the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one who sins will die.
New Heart English BibleLook, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.
Webster's Bible TranslationBehold, 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBehold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
World English BibleBehold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBehold, all the souls are Mine, "" As the soul of the father, "" So also the soul of the son—they are Mine, "" The soul that is sinning—it dies.
Young's Literal Translation Lo, all the souls are Mine, As the soul of the father, So also the soul of the son -- they are Mine, The soul that is sinning -- it doth die.
Smith's Literal TranslationBehold, all souls to me; behold, as the soul of the father, and so the soul of the son, they are to me. The soul sinning, it shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBehold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die.
Catholic Public Domain VersionBehold, all souls are mine. Just as the soul of the father is mine, so also is the soul of the son. The soul that sins, the same shall die.
New American BibleFor all life is mine: the life of the parent is like the life of the child, both are mine. Only the one who sins shall die!
New Revised Standard VersionKnow that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBecause all souls are mine; the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sins, it shall die.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedBecause all souls are mine. The soul of the father and the soul of the son, they are mine! The soul that sins, that shall die! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Behold, 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.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationFor all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son, they are mine: the soul that sins, it shall die.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context A Proverb about Israel… 3As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4Behold,everysoulbelongs to Me;both fatherandsonareMine.The soulwho sinsis the one whowill die.5Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:…
Cross References Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Deuteronomy 24:16Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Jeremiah 31:30Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.
2 Kings 14:6Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”
Galatians 6:7-8Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
James 1:15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Proverbs 24:12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Revelation 20:12-13And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
John 8:34Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Isaiah 3:10-11Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
Job 4:8As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
Psalm 62:12and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Treasury of Scripture Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die. all souls Numbers 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? Numbers 27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. the soul that Ezekiel 18:20 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. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sinis death; but the gift of Godis eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Galatians 3:10-13,22 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursedis every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them… Jump to Previous AlikeBelongBelongsDeathDieFateSinnethSinningSinsSoulSoulsJump to Next AlikeBelongBelongsDeathDieFateSinnethSinningSinsSoulSoulsEzekiel 18 1.God defends his justice31.and exhorts to repentanceBehold, every soul belongs to Me;This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and ownership over all human life. In the biblical context, it reflects the monotheistic belief that God is the creator and sustainer of all souls, as seen in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes life into man. This ownership implies accountability to God, aligning with the covenant relationship established with Israel. The use of "behold" serves as a call to attention, underscoring the importance of the statement. both father and son are Mine.
This highlights the individual responsibility of each person before God, regardless of familial relationships. In ancient Israel, family lineage and heritage were significant, often determining one's social and religious standing. However, this phrase asserts that each person, whether father or son, is directly accountable to God. This challenges the prevailing cultural notion of collective punishment or blessing based on ancestry, as seen inExodus 20:5-6, and emphasizes personal responsibility. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
This statement introduces the principle of individual moral responsibility, a key theme in Ezekiel's prophecy. It counters the belief that children bear the punishment for their parents' sins, as suggested in the proverb mentioned earlier inEzekiel 18:2. The concept of death here can be understood both physically and spiritually, reflecting the consequences of sin as outlined inRomans 6:23. This principle foreshadows the New Testament teaching of personal repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ, who offers life to those who turn from sin, as seen inJohn 3:16. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel conveyed God's messages to the Israelites, emphasizing personal responsibility and the need for repentance. 2. IsraelitesThe audience of Ezekiel's prophecy, they were in exile due to their collective disobedience and idolatry, struggling with understanding God's justice. 3. Babylonian ExileThe period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies and teachings on individual accountability. Teaching Points Personal ResponsibilityEach individual is accountable to God for their own actions. This challenges the belief that one can blame their circumstances or heritage for their spiritual state. God's OwnershipRecognize that every soul belongs to God, which implies a divine claim over our lives and a call to live in accordance with His will. The Consequence of SinSin leads to spiritual death, underscoring the importance of repentance and seeking God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Generational AccountabilityWhile generational influences exist, each person must choose their path, emphasizing the need for personal faith and obedience. Hope in RepentanceDespite the dire warning, there is hope in turning away from sin and towards God, who offers life and restoration. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 18
Can Christians sell their souls to the devil?
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Ezekiel 18:25 – How can God declare His ways fair when the reality of suffering and injustice seems to contradict this claim?
Romans 5:19 implies many are made sinners by Adam’s disobedience, so how does this align with Ezekiel 18’s insistence on individual moral accountability?(4) All souls are mine.--This is the basis of the subsequent teaching. Since all alike belong to God and are absolutely in His power. He has no occasion to punish one lest another should escape; and again, since all are His, He loves and would save them all, and inflicts punishment only when it is deserved and His grace is rejected. Four cases are now discussed separately: (1) That of the righteous man who honestly seeks to follow the ways of the Lord ( Ezekiel 18:5-9); (2) that of his wicked son ( Ezekiel 18:10-13); (3) that of the righteous son of the wicked ( Ezekiel 18:14-20); (4) that of a change of character in the individual, whether from sin to righteousness or the reverse ( Ezekiel 18:21-29). The word "soul" throughout the chapter does not mean exclusively the immortal part of our nature, but, as so often in Scripture, is equivalent to man,or person,or self;and the word "die" is used, as often elsewhere, in the broad sense of suffer punishment.Verse 4. - Behold, all souls are mine, etc. The words imply, not only creation, ownership, absolute authority, on the part of God, but, as even Calvin could recognize ( in loc.), "a paternal affection towards the whole human race which he created and formed." Ezekiel anticipates here, and yet more fully in ver. 32. the teaching of St. Paul, that "God willeth that all men should be saved" ( 1 Timothy 2:4). The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The sentence, though taken from the Law, which ordered capital punishment for the offences named, cannot be limited to that punishment. "Death" and "life" are both used in their highest and widest meaning - "life" as including all that makes it worth living, "death" for the loss of that only true life which is found in knowing God ( John 17:3).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Behold,הֵ֤ן(hên)Interjection
Strong's 2005:Lo! behold!everyכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everysoulהַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙(han·nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ)Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotionbelongs to Me;לִ֣י(lî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrewboth fatherהָאָ֛ב(hā·’āḇ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1:Father[and]וּכְנֶ֥פֶשׁ(ū·ḵə·ne·p̄eš)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotionsonהַבֵּ֖ן(hab·bên)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121:A sonareהֵ֑נָּה(hên·nāh)Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2007:ThemselvesMine.לִי־(lî-)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's HebrewThe soulהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ(han·ne·p̄eš)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotionwho sinsהַחֹטֵ֖את(ha·ḥō·ṭêṯ)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 2398:To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemnis the one whoהִ֥יא(hî)Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, arewill die.תָמֽוּת׃(ṯā·mūṯ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to kill
Links Ezekiel 18:4 NIVEzekiel 18:4 NLTEzekiel 18:4 ESVEzekiel 18:4 NASBEzekiel 18:4 KJV
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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 18:4 Behold all souls are mine (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
