Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things. New Living Translation oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, English Standard Version oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, Berean Standard Bible He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. Berean Literal Bible he has oppressed the poor and needy; by violence he has plundered; the pledge he does not return, and to the idols he has lifted up his eyes; an abomination he has done, King James Bible Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, New King James Version If he has oppressed the poor and needy, Robbed by violence, Not restored the pledge, Lifted his eyes to the idols, Or committed abomination; New American Standard Bible oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols and commits abomination, NASB 1995 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination, NASB 1977 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols, and commits abomination, Legacy Standard Bible he mistreats the afflicted and needy, commits robbery, does not return a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and does abominations; Amplified Bible oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore [to the debtor] his pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols, and commits repulsive acts, Berean Annotated Bible He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. Christian Standard Bible and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he looks to the idols, commits detestable acts, Holman Christian Standard Bible and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he raises his eyes to the idols, commits detestable acts, American Standard Version hath wronged the poor and needy, hath taken by robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Contemporary English Version cheats the poor, and robs people. He keeps what is given to him as security for a loan. He worships idols, does disgusting things, English Revised Version hath wronged the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, GOD'S WORD® Translation He oppresses the poor and needy. He robs. He doesn't return the security for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does disgusting things. Good News Translation He cheats the poor, he robs, he keeps what a borrower gives him as security. He goes to pagan shrines, worships disgusting idols, International Standard Version oppresses the afflicted and the poor, robs others, doesn't return security for a debt, looks to idols, does detestable things, NET Bible oppresses the poor and the needy, commits robbery, does not give back what was given in pledge, prays to idols, performs abominable acts, New Heart English Bible has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, Webster's Bible Translation Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath stripped by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. World English Bible has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe has oppressed the afflicted and needy, "" He has taken away plunder violently, "" He does not return a pledge, "" And he has lifted up his eyes to the idols, "" He has done abomination! Berean Literal Bible he has oppressed the poor and needy; by violence he has plundered; the pledge he does not return, and to the idols he has lifted up his eyes; an abomination he has done, Young's Literal Translation The afflicted and needy he hath oppressed, Plunder he hath taken violently away, A pledge he doth not return, And unto the idols he hath lifted up his eyes, Abomination he hath done! Smith's Literal Translation Oppressing the poor and needy, stripping off plunder, he will not turn back the pledge, and he lifted up his eyes to the blocks, doing abomination, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat grieveth the needy and the poor, that taketh away by violence, that restoreth not the pledge, and that lifteth up his eyes to idols, that committeth abomination: Catholic Public Domain Version who grieves the needy and the poor, who seizes with violence, who does not restore the collateral, and who lifts up his eyes to idols, committing abomination, New American Bible oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things, New Revised Standard Version oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOppresses the poor and needy, extorts from his neighbor, restores not the pledge to its owner, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Or he will cheat the poor or the afflicted or will oppress his neighbor or he will not return a security payment to its owners or lifts his eyes to idols or he will commit an abomination OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917hath wronged the poor and needy, hath taken by robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Brenton Septuagint Translation and has oppressed the poor and needy, and has committed robbery, and not restored a pledge, and has set his eyes upon idols, has wrought iniquities, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Proverb about Israel…11though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife. 12He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. 13He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.… Cross References He oppresses the poor and needy; Proverbs 22:22-23 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, / for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. Exodus 22:25-27 If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest. / If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, / because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. Deuteronomy 24:10-13 When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. / You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. / If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; … Leviticus 6:1-5 And the LORD said to Moses, / “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor / or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— … He lifts his eyes to idols; Ezekiel 6:9 Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations. Ezekiel 20:7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ Leviticus 19:4 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God. he commits abominations. Leviticus 18:24-30 Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. / Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. / But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you. … Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you. Deuteronomy 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. Deuteronomy 24:16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. Jeremiah 31:29-30 “In those days, it will no longer be said: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge.’ / Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge. 2 Kings 14:6 Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.” Proverbs 28:24 He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys. Treasury of Scripture Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, oppressed Ezekiel 18:7,16 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; … Hosea 12:7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. Amos 4:1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. hath committed Ezekiel 18:6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, Ezekiel 8:6,17 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations… Leviticus 18:22,26-30 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination… Jump to Previous Abomination Afflicted Commits Committed Debt Detestable Exercised Eyes Force Idols Images Lifted Need Needy Oppressed Oppresses Pledge Plunder Poor Property Restore Restored Robbery Spoiled Stripped Violence Worship Wrong WrongedJump to Next Abomination Afflicted Commits Committed Debt Detestable Exercised Eyes Force Idols Images Lifted Need Needy Oppressed Oppresses Pledge Plunder Poor Property Restore Restored Robbery Spoiled Stripped Violence Worship Wrong WrongedEzekiel 18 1. God defends his justice31. and exhorts to repentance He oppresses the poor and needy; This phrase highlights a violation of the Mosaic Law, which emphasized justice and care for the marginalized (Exodus 22:21-27, Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Oppression of the poor was a common sin condemned by the prophets (Isaiah 3:14-15, Amos 4:1). In ancient Israel, the poor and needy were often landless, relying on the community's generosity. This behavior reflects a heart hardened against God's commands for compassion and justice. he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel conveyed God's messages to the Israelites, emphasizing personal responsibility and repentance. 2. Israelites The audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who were in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry. 3. Babylonian Exile The period when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies. 4. Idolatry A recurring sin among the Israelites, involving the worship of idols, which Ezekiel frequently condemned. 5. Social Injustice The oppression of the poor and needy, a significant issue addressed by Ezekiel, highlighting the moral decay of the society. Teaching Points Personal ResponsibilityEach individual is accountable for their actions. Ezekiel emphasizes that one cannot blame their circumstances or ancestors for their sins. Social Justice God calls His people to care for the poor and needy. Oppression and robbery are direct violations of His commands. Idolatry and Abominations Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must examine our hearts for modern-day idols. Restoration and Repentance Failing to restore a pledge symbolizes a lack of integrity. True repentance involves making amends and restoring what is owed. Holiness and Obedience God desires holiness and obedience from His people. Abominations are actions that are detestable to God and must be avoided. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 18:12?2. How does Ezekiel 18:12 highlight personal responsibility for one's own sins? 3. What actions in Ezekiel 18:12 are considered sinful and why? 4. How does Ezekiel 18:12 connect with the concept of generational sin in Exodus 20:5? 5. How can believers apply the lessons of Ezekiel 18:12 in daily life? 6. What does Ezekiel 18:12 teach about God's justice and individual accountability? 7. How does Ezekiel 18:12 challenge the concept of inherited sin or guilt? 8. What historical context influenced the message of Ezekiel 18:12? 9. How does Ezekiel 18:12 align with the theme of individual responsibility in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 18? 11. How does the severe condemnation of these idolatries in Ezekiel 8 align or conflict with other biblical accounts of tolerating foreign gods? 12. How credible is the depiction of widespread child sacrifice in Ezekiel 16:20-21, given limited archaeological evidence for such practices in Jerusalem? 13. In 2 Samuel 12:7-14, why would a just God inflict punishment on an innocent child for David's sin, seemingly contradicting Ezekiel 18:20? 14. How do we reconcile the setting up of a carved image in Judges 18:31 with the strict prohibition against idolatry found elsewhere in the Old Testament? What Does Ezekiel 18:12 Mean He oppresses the poor and needyTo “oppress” is to leverage power against those who can’t easily defend themselves. Scripture consistently condemns this. • Proverbs 14:31 reminds us, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker.” • Isaiah 3:14–15 pictures God summoning leaders to court for “crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor.” • James 5:4 warns that withheld wages “cry out against” the oppressor. Ezekiel’s charge exposes a heart hardened against both God and neighbor. When we see injustice, we are called to act—protecting, providing, and advocating—because indifference aligns us with the oppressor, not with the Lord who “executes justice for the oppressed” (Psalm 146:7). He commits robbery and does not restore a pledge Robbery violates the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15). Refusing to return a pledged item deepens the wrong: in Israel, the poor often handed over a cloak or tool as collateral; keeping it overnight could endanger their well-being (Exodus 22:26–27; Deuteronomy 24:12–13). • Leviticus 6:4–5 makes restitution mandatory: the thief must “return what he has stolen” and add a fifth. • Zacchaeus models true repentance by restoring fourfold (Luke 19:8). By linking theft with failure to restore, Ezekiel shows that sin is not erased by mere confession; it demands tangible, corrective action toward those harmed. He lifts his eyes to idols “Lifting the eyes” is an intentional, worshipful gaze. God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Idolatry is spiritual adultery, trading the living God for lifeless substitutes (Isaiah 44:9–20). • Ezekiel later explains that the exiles “defiled themselves with their idols” (Ezekiel 20:24). • 1 John 5:21 still pleads, “Keep yourselves from idols.” Idolatry always begins in the heart and always spills into life—shaping values, priorities, and treatment of others. When God is displaced, oppression and theft soon follow. He commits abominations “Abominations” covers the full range of practices God detests—sexually immoral acts (Leviticus 18:26-30), violence, deceit, and bloodshed (Proverbs 6:16-19). • Ezekiel previously labeled Jerusalem’s sin “abominations” that filled the land with violence (Ezekiel 8:17). • Revelation 21:8 warns that those who cling to such deeds “will have their place in the lake that burns with fire.” Sin is not random; it is relational rebellion. To call actions “abominations” is to underscore that they offend a holy God and rupture covenant fellowship. summary Ezekiel 18:12 sketches a person wholly out of line with God’s righteous standards: abusing the vulnerable, enriching himself dishonestly, refusing restitution, bowing to false gods, and embracing practices God despises. Each phrase exposes a heart that rejects both love of neighbor and allegiance to the Lord. In contrast, those who belong to God champion justice for the poor, make wrongs right, worship Him alone, and cultivate purity. The verse is a sober mirror—inviting us to renounce hidden idols and active injustices, and to walk in the life-giving integrity that honors the God who judges impartially and saves graciously. Verse 12. - The word abomination probably covers the specific sin named in ver. 6, but not here.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He oppressesהוֹנָ֔ה (hō·w·nāh) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3238: To rage, be violent, to suppress, to maltreat the poor עָנִ֤י (‘ā·nî) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble and needy, וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ (wə·’eḇ·yō·wn) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor he commits robbery גְּזֵל֣וֹת (gə·zê·lō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 1500: Robbery, plunder and does not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no restore יָשִׁ֑יב (yā·šîḇ) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again a pledge. חֲבֹ֖ל (ḥă·ḇōl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2258: A pledge He lifts נָשָׂ֣א (nā·śā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take his eyes עֵינָ֔יו (‘ê·nāw) Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain to וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to idols; הַגִּלּוּלִים֙ (hag·gil·lū·lîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1544: A log, an idol he commits עָשָֽׂה׃ (‘ā·śāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make abominations. תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה (tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol Links Ezekiel 18:12 NIVEzekiel 18:12 NLT Ezekiel 18:12 ESV Ezekiel 18:12 NASB Ezekiel 18:12 KJV Ezekiel 18:12 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 18:12 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 18:12 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 18:12 French Bible Ezekiel 18:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 18:12 Has wronged the poor and needy has (Ezek. 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