18:2 quoting this proverb Compare Ezek 12:22 and 17:2. Proverbs could be wise, enigmatic sayings by important teachers, as well as conventional adages by common people (see note on 17:2).

the teeth of the child became blunt Depicts a person’s involuntary reaction to an extremely unpleasant taste. Since experience cannot be transferred, the saying implies that the children’s suffering for their parents’ sin is unnatural. Their criticism of Yahweh is later illustrated in a false proverb in v. 25, which expresses that the way of Yahweh is not right. The popularity of the saying here in v. 2 is shown by the parallel in Jer 31:29–30, which also rejects the saying and promotes individual responsibility.

18:3 it will surely not any longer be appropriate for you to quote this proverb Ezekiel 12:23 displays a similar pattern in disputing the traditional wisdom of the people.

18:4 Look! All lives are mine Because all souls belong to Yahweh, He can judge them according to His own standard—not a standard that is externally imposed by the people who feel His standard is unfair.

The person sinning will die The statement here (and a similar remark in Jer 31:30) offers a contrast to Exod 20:5, which declares that Yahweh will punish sin across generations, sometimes delaying judgment for future generations. The idea of punishment across generations was well-established in the culture of the biblical world. (Compare the disciples’ question to Jesus about the man born blind in John 9:2.) This concept corresponds with Yahweh’s great patience as He withholds punishment and hopes for Israel and Judah to repent. A delay in full-blown judgment, however, did not imply that earlier generations went unpunished or that the current generation is without guilt.

18:5 does justice and righteousness The list of virtues—what one does and does not do—resembles Psa 15 and Job’s declaration of innocence in Job 31. Ezekiel will condemn Judah for engaging in many of these forbidden behaviors in Ezek 22.

18:6 on the mountains he does not eat Probably an indirect reference to idol-worship on the mountain shrines called high places (see note on Isa 57:7). The high places were used for sacrifices. Usually only part of the offering was burned to the deity while the rest was consumed by the worshiper or the priests.

the idols of the house of Israel This phrase also occurs in Ezek 8:10, referring to idolatry in the Jerusalem temple. The Hebrew word used for idols, gillulim, is an intentionally crude word emphasizing the extreme ritual impurity of idols. See note on 14:3.

the wife of his neighbor he does not defile Forbidden in Lev 18:20. Compare Exod 20:17; Ezek 22:11.

he does not approach a woman of menstruation Forbidden in Lev 18:19. See Ezek 22:10.

18:7 he returns a pledge for his loan A requirement of Exod 22:26. An ancient Hebrew letter records a laborer’s protest that his superior had not returned his cloak given in pledge.

he commits no robbery See Lev 6:1–7 and Exod 20:15.

he gives his bread to the hungry Caring for the poor was an ideal moral virtue (see Isa 58:7).

18:8 he does not charge interest Forbidden in Exod 22:25 and Lev 25:36. Compare Ezek 22:12; Psa 15:5.

18:9 in my statutes he goes about Exemplifies the proper covenant obedience (see Lev 26:3; Ezek 11:12, 20).

certainly he will live The granting of life sums up the positive blessings for covenant obedience found in Lev 26:3–13 (compare Ezek 20:11; Amos 5:4).

18:10 And now he has a son, a violent one Ezekiel’s test cases run through three generations: a righteous man who fathers a wicked son, who in turn fathers a righteous son. The relative merit and punishment warranted to each for their behavior does not cross generational lines.

18:11 he did not do all of these things The wicked son engages in the same behaviors that his righteous father had avoided (compare Ezek 18:6–9, 11–13).

18:13 His blood will be on him The wicked son will die for his sins and bear the responsibility for his own behavior (compare Lev 20:9–11).

18:14 And look! He has a son The third generation, but only the second after the sinful generation. Here is the real test: whether the wickedness of the father brings punishment onto the son. The grandson follows the example of his righteous grandfather, not his wicked father.

but he does not do it The list again covers the behaviors from Ezek 18:6–9 in a positive fashion, describing what he did not do.

18:17 will not die because of the guilt of his father His righteous behavior preserves his life just as it had for his grandfather.

18:19 does the son not bear the guilt of the father They expected the descendants to suffer the consequences of their ancestors’ sin, even though their proverb (see v. 2) expressed that such an arrangement was unfair. Ezekiel anticipates their objection and answers by reiterating that all are responsible for their own behavior, good or bad.

18:21 if the wicked returns The wicked are not excluded from possible salvation. Full repentance also leads to life.

18:23 turning from his way, so that he lives Yahweh prefers repentance to punishment.

18:24 turns from his righteousness Just as a full turning away created a clean break from a sinful past, a turning away from righteous living creates a clean break from the merit of a righteous past.

18:25 The way of the Lord is not fair See note on v. 2. An explicit objection to Yahweh’s sovereignty, repeated in v. 29.