Ezekiel 18:13 He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

◄ Ezekiel 18:13 ►

New International Version
He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

New Living Translation
and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

English Standard Version
lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.

Berean Standard Bible
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

King James Bible
Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

New King James Version
If he has exacted usury Or taken increase— Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him.

New American Standard Bible
lends money at interest and takes interest; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he shall certainly be put to death; his blood will be on himself.

NASB 1995
he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

NASB 1977
he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

Legacy Standard Bible
he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has done all these abominations; he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on himself.

Amplified Bible
and charges interest and takes [a percentage of] increase on what he has loaned; will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these disgusting things, he shall surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

Christian Standard Bible
and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His blood will be on him.”

American Standard Version
hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Contemporary English Version
and charges high interest when lending money. An evil man like that will certainly not live. He is the one who has done these horrible sins, so it's his own fault that he will be put to death.

English Revised Version
hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations: he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He lends money for interest and makes excessive profits. Will this person live? He will not live. He has done all these disgusting things. So he must die, and he will be responsible for his own death.

Good News Translation
and lends money for profit. Will he live? No, he will not. He has done all these disgusting things, and so he will die. He will be to blame for his own death.

International Standard Version
loans with usury, and exacts interest; will he live? He certainly will not! He has done all these detestable practices. He will certainly die, and his guilt will be his own fault."

Majority Standard Bible
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

NET Bible
engages in usury and charges interest. Will he live? He will not! Because he has done all these abominable deeds he will certainly die. He will bear the responsibility for his own death.

New Heart English Bible
has given forth on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

World English Bible
has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor, shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
He has given in usury, and taken increase, "" And he lives? He does not live, "" He has done all these abominations, "" He surely dies, his blood is on him.

Young's Literal Translation
In usury he hath given, and increase taken, And he liveth: he doth not live, All these abominations he hath done, He doth surely die, his blood is on him.

Smith's Literal Translation
Giving upon interest, and taking interest: and living, he shall not live: doing all these abominations, dying, he shall die; his bloods shall be upon him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
That giveth upon usury, and that taketh an increase: shall such a one live? he shall not live. Seeing he hath done all these detestable things, he shall surely die, his blood shall be upon him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
who lends upon usury, and who takes an increase, then shall he live? He shall not live. Since he has done all these detestable things, he shall certainly die. His blood shall be upon him.

New American Bible
lends at interest and exacts usury—this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely be put to death; his own blood shall be on him.

New Revised Standard Version
takes advance or accrued interest; shall he then live? He shall not. He has done all these abominable things; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Lends money with usury, and takes a discount; shall he then live? He shall not live: because he has done all these evil things; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Or he will lend with interest or has taken with cut rates, shall he live? He shall not live, because he did all these evil things, but he shall surely die, and his blood shall be upon him

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live--he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely be put to death, his blood shall be upon him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
has lent upon usury, and taken usurious increase; he shall by no means live: he has wrought all these iniquities; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Proverb about Israel
…12He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. 13He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head. 14Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 24:16
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

Jeremiah 31:30
Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do 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.

Proverbs 11:21
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

2 Kings 14:6
Yet 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.”

2 Chronicles 25:4
Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book 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.”

Matthew 16:27
For 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.

Romans 2:6-8
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do 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.

James 1:15
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Psalm 37:38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

John 5:29
and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Treasury of Scripture

Has given forth on usury, and has taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.

given

Ezekiel 18:8,17
He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, …

shall he

Ezekiel 18:24,28,32
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die…

blood [heb] bloods

Ezekiel 3:18
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 33:4
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Leviticus 20:9,11-13,27
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him…

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Abominable Abominations Blood Committed Death Detestable Die Disgusting Excessive Fate Forth Great Head Increase Interest Live Money Profits Surely Usury

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Abominable Abominations Blood Committed Death Detestable Die Disgusting Excessive Fate Forth Great Head Increase Interest Live Money Profits Surely Usury

Ezekiel 18

1. God defends his justice
31. and exhorts to repentance

Berean Study Bible

He lends at interest and takes a profit
In the Hebrew context, the practice of lending at interest, or "usury," was often condemned, especially when it exploited the poor or vulnerable. The Hebrew word for interest, "נֶשֶׁךְ" (neshek), implies a biting or oppressive nature. In ancient Israel, the Law given through Moses prohibited Israelites from charging interest to their fellow countrymen (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:36-37). This prohibition was rooted in the community's covenant relationship with God, emphasizing justice, mercy, and care for one another. The phrase highlights a violation of these principles, suggesting a heart that prioritizes personal gain over communal well-being.

Will he live? He will not!
This rhetorical question and emphatic answer underscore the seriousness of the sin. The Hebrew word for "live," "חָיָה" (chayah), often implies not just physical life but a life in right standing with God. The negative response, "He will not," serves as a divine judgment, indicating that such actions sever one's relationship with God, leading to spiritual and, ultimately, physical death. This reflects the biblical principle that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), emphasizing the need for repentance and alignment with God's statutes.

Since he has committed all these abominations
The term "abominations," from the Hebrew "תּוֹעֵבָה" (to'evah), refers to actions that are detestable or repulsive to God. In the biblical context, abominations often include idolatry, injustice, and moral corruption. This phrase suggests a pattern of behavior that is not isolated but habitual, reflecting a heart turned away from God. The use of "all these" indicates a comprehensive rejection of God's laws, highlighting the gravity of the individual's rebellion.

he will surely die
The certainty of the phrase "he will surely die" is emphasized in the Hebrew construction, which uses the infinitive absolute form to stress the inevitability of the outcome. This reflects the biblical principle of divine justice, where persistent sin without repentance leads to death. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of living in opposition to God's commands, urging the reader to consider the seriousness of their actions and the state of their heart before God.

his blood will be on his own head
This phrase is a Hebrew idiom indicating personal responsibility for one's actions. The imagery of "blood" signifies guilt and the consequences of sin. In ancient Israel, this expression was used in legal contexts to denote that an individual bears the full weight of their wrongdoing (2 Samuel 1:16). It underscores the biblical teaching that each person is accountable to God for their actions (Romans 14:12). This serves as a call to personal responsibility and the importance of living a life that aligns with God's righteous standards.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Hath done all these abominations.--This expression is collective, while that in Ezekiel 18:10 is partitive. This is not because he who commits one sin is considered as having committed all, but because he who willingly commits any sin thereby puts himself into the class of sinners, of those who do not wish or intend to abide by the Divine will, but choose rather to do their own. Such a man places himself among the enemies of God. (Comp. James 2:10.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - One holes the special emphasis, first of the question, and then of the direct negative, as though that, in the judgment alike of God and man, was the only answer that could be given to it in the very words of the Law (Leviticus 20:9, 11, 13).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He engages
נָתַ֛ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

in usury
בַּנֶּ֧שֶׁךְ (ban·ne·šeḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5392: Interest on a, debt

and takes
לָקַ֖ח (lā·qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

excess interest.’
וְתַרְבִּ֥ית (wə·ṯar·bîṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8636: Multiplication, percentage, bonus in addition to principal

Will [this son] live?
וָחָ֑י (wā·ḥāy)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive

He will not!
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

Since he has committed
עָשָׂ֔ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

these
הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

abominations,
הַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹת (hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

he will surely die;
מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

his blood
דָּמָ֖יו (dā·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

will be
יִהְיֶֽה׃ (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on his own head.
בּ֥וֹ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 18:13 Has given forth on interest and has (Ezek. Eze Ezk)