(though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,
Parallel translations
- WEB or who does not do any of those things, but even has eaten at the mountain shrines, and defiled his neighbor’s wife,
- KJV And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
- BSB though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.
- ESV (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife,
- NKJV And does none of those duties, But has eaten on the mountains Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;
- NLT And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
This wicked son worships at idol shrines and defiles his neighbor's wife. He abandons his father's righteous example.
Overview
Doing none of his father's good deeds, the son embraces idolatry and adultery. His sins mirror the very things the righteous man avoided. The contrast underscores that personal choices, not ancestry, determine one's standing before God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ezek 18:6–7and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,
- 1 Kgs 13:22but came back, and have eaten bread and drank water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread, and drink no water”; your body will not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”
- Phil 4:9The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
- Rev 22:14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
- John 15:14You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
- Ezek 18:15who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor’s wife,
- 1 Jn 3:22and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
- 1 Kgs 13:8The man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place;
- Matt 7:21–27Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
- Jas 2:17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
- Luke 11:28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- John 13:17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 18:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.