Ezekiel 18:14

14 "But now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father committed, thinks about them, and behaves differently.

Ezekiel 18:14 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 18:14

Now, lo, [if] he beget a son
That is, the wicked man before mentioned; if he begets a son who proves a good man, which sometimes is the case, as Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, and Josiah the son of Amon: that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done;
not every particular action, but the principal of them; however, the several sorts and kinds of sin he was addicted to, and which were done publicly enough, and obvious to view; and yet does not imitate them, as children are apt to do: and considereth:
the evil nature and tendency of them; how abominable to God; how contrary to his law; how scandalous and reproachful in themselves, and how pernicious and destructive in their effects and consequences. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, read, "and feareth": and doeth not such like;
he fears God; and because the fear of God is before his eyes, and on his heart, which was wanting in his father, therefore he cannot do the things he did; the fear of offending him, the fear of his goodness, and of his judgments, both have an influence to restrain from sin.

Ezekiel 18:14 In-Context

12 wrongs the poor and needy, takes by robbery, doesn't restore pledged property, raises his eyes toward the idols, engages in disgusting practices,

13 demands and accepts interest. Should he live? He will not live, because he has engaged in all these disgusting practices - he must be put to death; his blood is on him.

14 "But now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father committed, thinks about them, and behaves differently.

15 He doesn't eat on the mountains, raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Isra'el, defile his neighbor's wife,

16 wrong others, keep pledged property or take by robbery, but gives his food to the hungry and clothing to those in need of it;