The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Ezekiel 18:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The soul that sinneth, the same shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son: the justice of the just shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Douay-Rheims

הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֣יא תָמ֑וּת בֵּ֞ן לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א ׀ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הָאָ֗ב וְאָב֙ לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הַבֵּ֔ן צִדְקַ֤ת הַצַּדִּיק֙ עָלָ֣יו תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְרִשְׁעַ֥ת רשע הָרָשָׁ֖ע עָלָ֥יו תִּֽהְיֶֽה׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

4 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 5 commentaries

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

It is stated by the prophets in various passages that neither parents face retribution for their offspring, nor do children suffer consequences for their parents' actions; each individual is accountable for their own transgressions. For instance, it is written, “Did the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?” (Jer. 31:29). Additionally, the scripture declares, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die,” and further, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers” (Deut. 24:16).

The prophet affirms, “The soul that sins, it shall die,” indicating not the complete cessation of existence, but rather judgment.

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If your adversaries conspire and speak ill of you, remember that their offenses are against themselves rather than against us. For it is stated, “But the soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” This reflects not on the one who has merely sinned, but on those who have committed the injustice. Therefore, we should refrain from seeking vengeance upon those who have passed but instead pray for them to save them from death.

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

And you ask, "Why should the son be responsible for the sins of his father?" The reason is that the son has acted justly and righteously, observing all my commandments and living according to them, thus he shall have life. The soul that transgresses will face death. The son will not carry the burden of his father's wrongdoing, nor will the father bear the consequences of his son's offenses. The righteousness of the upright will remain with him, while the wickedness of the unrighteous will be his own. He addresses a question that may have arisen among his listeners, stating: You often question why the righteous son does not suffer for the sins of his father. The answer is that the son performed good deeds and did not partake in his father's sins. Justice requires that, as the sinner faces death for his misdeeds, so too shall the righteous enjoy life because of their goodness, affirming that the soul which sins will die, while the soul that observes God's commandments shall live.

It is customary for speakers to commence their addresses by reflecting on the ancestors of the individual being honored, along with their accomplishments, before gradually shifting focus to the subject at hand. This practice serves to highlight the achievements of his forebears, making him more prominent; it also demonstrates that he is not a pariah, should they be virtuous, or that he himself enhanced their legacy if they were average. However, in extolling the soul, I will refrain from discussing the material possessions of the flesh that the individual himself held in disdain, nor will I foolishly boast of the heritage from others. For instance, the revered patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac, fathered sinners like Ishmael and Esau (Gen.

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16 and 25), while Jephthah, whom the apostle included among the faithful (Heb. 11:32), was born of a harlot (Judg. 11:1). It is written, "the soul that sins shall die" (Ezek. 18:4); therefore, what has not sinned shall continue to live. The merits or faults of parents do not transfer to their offspring. Our accountability begins anew when we are born again in Christ. Paul, once a persecutor of the church, was in his earlier years a ravenous wolf of Benjamin (Gen. 49:27), yet he ended up nourishing the flock by submitting humbly to Ananias (Acts 9).

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Death is referred to as sin, as stated: The soul that sins shall die.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

He articulated the idea more succinctly and clearly: the righteousness of the upright will rest upon him, while the transgressions of the wicked will be laid upon him. You emphasize this repeatedly, hoping that the listeners will be strongly reminded of it.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.