Ezekiel 17 & 18 - Individual responsibility; each man pays for his own sin. 2019

Ezek 18:2
"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel saying, 'The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children's teeth are set on edge'?

This proverb was used commonly in Israel.

Jer 31:29 “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

It is based upon a false interpretation of a passage in Exodus 20:5.

Exodus 20:5 "you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me..."

This does not mean that the people will suffer the guilt of the sins of their fathers. It simply means that the consequences of our sins can pass over to our children. But Elohim judges the individual. He does not judge the son because of his fathers sins.

Ezek 18:3
"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.

Elohim is speaking of individual responsibility. Each man pays for his own sin.

Chapter 17 is dated about 588 BC. This is about two years before the destruction of Jerusalem. Because the people would not listen to Ezekiel, Elohim had Ezekiel speak in a strange and different manner. He is now going to speak in a riddle.

Chapter 18 will bring out the fact that Elohim deals with the sin of each and every person individually. The Israelites had the idea that they were being punished because their parents were bad people. Elohim is going to clear that up for them and for us in this chapter.