What does the Bible say about generation curses?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that God judges each person for his or her own sin, while sin can bring painful consequences that affect families and generations. Numbers 14:18 and Exodus 20:5 speak of the Lord visiting iniquity upon later generations, especially where children continue in their fathers' hatred and rebellion. Yet Ezekiel 18:20 and Deuteronomy 24:16 plainly reject the idea that children bear moral guilt for their parents' sins. In Christ, believers are not bound by inherited condemnation or a curse, for he bore the curse of sin and grants forgiveness and new life. Christians should repent of their own sins, seek God’s mercy, and trust his covenant faithfulness.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Numbers 14:18
Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.
- Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
- Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
- Deuteronomy 24:16
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.
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