Discovery BoxEzekiel 18:2 
Context18:2 “What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel,
“‘The fathers eat sour grapes
And the children’s teeth become numb?’ 1
Ezekiel 18:14
Context18:14 “But suppose he in turn has a son who notices all the sins his father commits, considers them, and does not follow his father’s example. 2
Ezekiel 20:4
Context20:4 “Are you willing to pronounce judgment? 3 Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers,
Ezekiel 20:18
Context20:18 “‘But I said to their children 4 in the wilderness, “Do not follow the practices of your fathers; do not observe their regulations, 5 nor defile yourselves with their idols.
Ezekiel 20:24
Context20:24 I did this 6 because they did not observe my regulations, they rejected my statutes, they desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on 7 their fathers’ idols.
Ezekiel 20:30
Context20:30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers 8 and engage in prostitution with detestable idols?
Ezekiel 20:42
Context20:42 Then you will know that I am the Lord when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land I swore 9 to give to your fathers.
Ezekiel 36:28
Context36:28 Then you will live in the land I gave to your fathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 10
1 tn This word only occurs here and in the parallel passage in Jer 31:29-30 in the Qal stem and in Eccl 10:10 in the Piel stem. In the latter passage it refers to the bluntness of an ax that has not been sharpened. Here the idea is of the “bluntness” of the teeth, not from having ground them down due to the bitter taste of sour grapes but to the fact that they have lost their “edge,” “bite,” or “sharpness” because they are numb from the sour taste. For this meaning for the word, see W. L. Holladay, Jeremiah (Hermeneia), 2:197.
2 tn Heb “and he sees and does not do likewise.”
3 tn Heb “will you judge.” Here the imperfect form of the verb is probably used with a desiderative nuance. Addressed to the prophet, “judge” means to warn of or pronounce God’s impending judgment.
4 tn Heb “sons,” reflecting the patriarchal idiom of the culture.
5 tn Or “standard of justice.” See Ezek 7:27.
6 tn The words “I did this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for stylistic reasons. Verses 23-24 are one long sentence in the Hebrew text. The translation divides this sentence into two for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Or “they worshiped” (NCV, TEV, CEV); Heb “their eyes were on” or “were after” (cf. v. 16).
8 tn Heb “in the way of your fathers.”
9 tn Heb “I lifted up my hand.”
10 sn This promise reflects the ancient covenantal ideal (see Exod 6:7).
