The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying. What mean ye, that
ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The
fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on
edge. As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any
more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as
the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the
soul that sinneth, it shall die (verses 1-4).
The same proverb, "the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the
children's teeth are set on edge" is also mentioned by the Prophet
Jeremiah. "In those days they shall say no more, the fathers have eaten a
sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge" (Jer. xxxi:29). And Jeremiah
adds in a brief sentence what is more fully given through Ezekiel: "But
every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour
grape, his teeth shall be set on edge." What they meant by this proverb
is that their forefathers had committed sin and now they were bearing
the results of their iniquities, while they, the children, were
innocent. "Our fathers have sinned and are not; and we have borne their
iniquities" (Lam. v:7). This was a false and unjust accusation. No doubt
they rested their proverb upon Exodus xx:5 and xxxiv:7. But doing this
they denied their own guilt and refused to repent and be converted. And
now the Lord answers the proverb to show its injustice so that it should
no more be used in Israel: "Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of
the father, so also the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sinneth
it shall die." He will judge the individual, father or son, according to
conduct. All belong to Him, which means, He is the Creator of all and He
will deal with each individually. If the sins of the fathers come upon
the children, it is because the children follow the wickedness of the
fathers. "Every man shall be put to death for his own sin" (Deut.
xxiv:16). The person that sins shall die for his own sins. "The soul
that sinneth it shall die."