Ezekiel 18:12

12 He mistreats the poor and needy. He steals and refuses to return what was promised for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does things which I hate.

Ezekiel 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 18:12

Hath oppressed the poor and needy
Who are weak, and have none to help them, and stand by them, and so are oppressed by such a man. This serves to explain the clause, in ( Ezekiel 18:7 ) ; hath spoiled by violence;
his neighbour's goods; taken them away from him by force: hath not restored the pledge;
to the borrower before sunset, but kept it for his own use; taking the advantage of the poverty of him that borrowed of him: and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols;
whether of the Gentiles, or of the house of Israel: hath committed abomination;
either idolatry, the sin just before mentioned, which was an abomination to the Lord; or else approaching to a menstruous woman, since this follows the other in ( Ezekiel 18:6 ) ; and is not mentioned, unless it is designed here; and so Kimchi interprets it; but Jarchi understands it of the abominable and detestable sin of sodomy: it may regard any and every sin that is abominable in the sight of God.

Ezekiel 18:12 In-Context

10 "But suppose this person has a wild son who murders people and who does any of these other things.

11 (But the father himself has not done any of these things.) This son eats at the mountain places of worship. He has sexual relations with his neighbor's wife.

12 He mistreats the poor and needy. He steals and refuses to return what was promised for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does things which I hate.

13 He lends money for too much interest and profit. Will this son live? No, he will not live! He has done all these hateful things, so he will surely be put to death. He will be responsible for his own death.

14 "Now suppose this son has a son who has seen all his father's sins, but after seeing them does not do those things.