Ezekiel 18:2 net — “What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,“‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’…

NET Bible

"“What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,“‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’s teeth become numb?’"

— Ezekiel 18:2, NET Bible

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Ezekiel 18:2 in Other Translations

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Ezekiel 18 — Context

1

Individual Retribution The LORD’s message came to me:

2

“What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,“‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’s teeth become numb?’

3

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore!

4

Indeed! 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.

5

“Suppose a man is righteous. He practices what is just and right,

Ezekiel 18:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ezekiel 18:2 say?
Ezekiel 18:2 in the NET Bible reads: ““What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,“‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’s teeth become numb?’”
Where is Ezekiel 18:2 in the Bible?
Ezekiel 18:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 2.
Who wrote Ezekiel?
Ezekiel is traditionally attributed to Ezekiel the priest. It was written c. 593–571 BC.
What is the book of Ezekiel about?
Ezekiel ministers among the exiles in Babylon with vivid visions, sign-acts, and oracles. He sees God's glory depart from a defiled temple, then promises dry bones brought to life, a new heart, and a restored temple — pictures of resurrection and the new covenant fulfilled in Christ.
What are the major themes of Ezekiel?
Ezekiel explores themes including Glory of God, Judgment, New Heart, Resurrection, New Temple. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ezekiel 18:2.
What translation should I read Ezekiel 18:2 in?
Ezekiel 18:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ezekiel 18:2?
Ezekiel 18:2 reads (NET): ““What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,“‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’s teeth become numb?’” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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