The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Parents should not be executed for crimes their children commit, and children should not be executed for crimes their parents commit. Each person should only be put to death for their own sin.
This verse establishes that each person is only responsible for their own wrongdoing, not their family members' crimes.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient Israelite society, as Moses delivered God's laws in the Book of Deuteronomy, this verse was part of instructions given to the people as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It addressed the need for fair justice by rejecting the common practice in surrounding cultures, where entire families or tribes were often punished for one person's crime. This principle reinforced individual accountability under God's covenant with Israel.
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