Fathers, sin of the

Children may suffer on account of the sins committed by their forebears, just as they may also be blessed for their sake. Nevertheless, Scripture teaches that each individual must take responsibility for his or her own sin.

Children suffer the ill-effects of their fathers' sins

Exodus 34:6–7 See also Exodus 20:4–6 parallel Deuteronomy 5:8–10; Leviticus 26:39; Numbers 14:18, Numbers 14:31–33; Joshua 7:24–25; 1 Kings 16:34; Joshua 6:26; Job 21:19; Isaiah 14:21; Jeremiah 32:18

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

The exilic prophets emphasised individual responsibility for sin

Ezekiel 18:20 See also Jeremiah 31:29–30; Ezekiel 18:1–20

The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

Children share in the blessing of their fathers

Genesis 17:4–7, Genesis 26:24; Deuteronomy 7:9 See also Genesis 6:17–18, Genesis 15:18–19; Exodus 2:23–25, Exodus 20:4–6 parallel Deuteronomy 5:8–10; Numbers 25:10–13; 2 Samuel 7:11–16; 1 Kings 11:12–13, 1 Kings 11:31–34; Luke 1:50; Romans 11:28–29

“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.