2 What mean ye, that ye use H4911 this proverb H4912 concerning the land H127 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 The fathers H1 have eaten H398 sour grapes, H1155 and the children's H1121 teeth H8127 are set on edge? H6949
Our fathers H1 have sinned, H2398 and are not; H369 and we have borne H5445 their iniquities. H5771
What mean ye that ye beat H1792 my people H5971 to pieces, H1792 and grind H2912 the faces H6440 of the poor? H6041 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts. H6635
In those days H3117 they shall say H559 no more, The fathers H1 have eaten H398 a sour grape, H1155 and the children's H1121 teeth H8127 are set on edge. H6949 But every one H376 shall die H4191 for his own iniquity: H5771 every man H120 that eateth H398 the sour grape, H1155 his teeth H8127 shall be set on edge. H6949
Nay but, G3304 O G5599 man, G444 who G5101 art G1488 thou G4771 that repliest against G470 God? G2316 G3361 Shall G2046 the thing formed G4110 say G2046 to him that formed G4111 it, Why G5101 hast thou made G4160 me G3165 thus? G3779
And I will cause H5414 them to be removed H2189 H2113 into all kingdoms H4467 of the earth, H776 because H1558 of Manasseh H4519 the son H1121 of Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 for that which he did H6213 in Jerusalem. H3389
Son H1121 of man, H120 set H7760 thy face H6440 toward the mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 and prophesy H5012 against them, And say, H559 Ye mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 hear H8085 the word H1697 of the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 to the mountains, H2022 and to the hills, H1389 to the rivers, H650 and to the valleys; H1516 Behold, I, even I, will bring H935 a sword H2719 upon you, and I will destroy H6 your high places. H1116
Also, thou son H1121 of man, H120 thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 unto the land H127 of Israel; H3478 An end, H7093 the end H7093 is come H935 upon the four H702 corners H3671 of the land. H776
Say H559 now to the rebellious H4805 house, H1004 Know H3045 ye not what these things mean? tell H559 them, Behold, the king H4428 of Babylon H894 is come H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and hath taken H3947 the king H4428 thereof, and the princes H8269 thereof, and led H935 them with him to Babylon; H894
And say H559 unto the Ammonites, H1121 H5983 Hear H8085 the word H1697 of the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thou saidst, H559 Aha, H1889 against my sanctuary, H4720 when it was profaned; H2490 and against the land H127 of Israel, H3478 when it was desolate; H8074 and against the house H1004 of Judah, H3063 when they went H1980 into captivity; H1473
Also, thou son H1121 of man, H120 prophesy H5012 unto the mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 and say, H559 Ye mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD: H3068 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because the enemy H341 hath said H559 against you, Aha, H1889 even the ancient H5769 high places H1116 are ours in possession: H4181 Therefore prophesy H5012 and say, H559 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because they have made you desolate, H8074 and swallowed you up H7602 on every side, H5439 that ye might be a possession H4181 unto the residue H7611 of the heathen, H1471 and ye are taken up H5927 in the lips H8193 of talkers, H3956 and are an infamy H1681 of the people: H5971 Therefore, ye mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 hear H8085 the word H1697 of the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 to the mountains, H2022 and to the hills, H1389 to the rivers, H650 and to the valleys, H1516 to the desolate H8074 wastes, H2723 and to the cities H5892 that are forsaken, H5800 which became a prey H957 and derision H3933 to the residue H7611 of the heathen H1471 that are round about; H5439 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Surely in the fire H784 of my jealousy H7068 have I spoken H1696 against the residue H7611 of the heathen, H1471 and against all Idumea, H123 which have appointed H5414 my land H776 into their possession H4181 with the joy H8057 of all their heart, H3824 with despiteful H7589 minds, H5315 to cast it out H4054 for a prey. H957 Prophesy H5012 therefore concerning the land H127 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto the mountains, H2022 and to the hills, H1389 to the rivers, H650 and to the valleys, H1516 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I have spoken H1696 in my jealousy H7068 and in my fury, H2534 because ye have borne H5375 the shame H3639 of the heathen: H1471
Then he said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 these bones H6106 are the whole house H1004 of Israel: H3478 behold, they say, H559 Our bones H6106 are dried, H3001 and our hope H8615 is lost: H6 we are cut off H1504 for our parts.
Say H1696 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will take H3947 the stick H6086 of Joseph, H3130 which is in the hand H3027 of Ephraim, H669 and the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 his fellows, H2270 and will put H5414 them with him, even with the stick H6086 of Judah, H3063 and make H6213 them one H259 stick, H6086 and they shall be one H259 in mine hand. H3027
And they shall dwell H3427 in the land H776 that I have given H5414 unto Jacob H3290 my servant, H5650 wherein your fathers H1 have dwelt; H3427 and they shall dwell H3427 therein, even they, and their children, H1121 and their children's H1121 children H1121 for ever: H5769 and my servant H5650 David H1732 shall be their prince H5387 for H5704 ever. H5769
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 18
Commentary on Ezekiel 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
Perhaps, in reading some of the foregoing chapters, we may have been tempted to think ourselves not much concerned in them (though they also were written for our learning); but this chapter, at first view, appears highly and nearly to concern us all, very highly, very nearly; for, without particular reference to Judah and Jerusalem, it lays down the rule of judgment according to which God will deal with the children of men in determining them to their everlasting state, and it agrees with that very ancient rule laid down, Gen. 4:7, "If though doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?' But, "if not, sin,' the punishment of sin,"lies at the door.' Here is,
And these are things which belong to our everlasting peace. O that we may understand and regard them before they be hidden from our eyes!
Eze 18:1-9
Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; and in like manner sometimes unjust reflections occasion just vindications; evil proverbs beget good prophecies. Here is,
Eze 18:10-20
God, by the prophet, having laid down the general rule of judgment, that he will render eternal life to those that patiently continue in well-doing, but indignation and wrath to those that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness (Rom. 2:7, 8), comes, in these verses, to show that men's parentage and relation shall not alter the case either one way or other.
Eze 18:21-29
We have here another rule of judgment which God will go by in dealing with us, by which is further demonstrated the equity of his government. The former showed that God will reward or punish according to the change made in the family or succession, for the better or for the worse; here he shows that he will reward or punish according to the change made in the person himself, whether for the better or the worse. While we are in this world we are in a state of probation; the time of trial lasts as long as the time of life, and according as we are found at last it will be with us to eternity. Now see here,
Eze 18:30-32
We have here the conclusion and application of this whole matter. After a fair trial at the bar of right reason the verdict is brought in on God's side; it appears that his ways are equal. Judgment therefore is next to be given; and one would think it should be a judgment of condemnation, nothing short of Go, you cursed, into everlasting fire. But, behold, a miracle of mercy; the day of grace and divine patience is yet lengthened out; and therefore, though God will at last judge every one according to his ways, yet he waits to be gracious, and closes all with a call to repentance and a promise of pardon upon repentance.