The Meaning of Ezekiel 18:2 Explained

Ezekiel 18:2

KJV: What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

YLT: What -- to you, ye -- using this simile Concerning the ground of Israel, saying: Fathers do eat unripe fruit, And the sons' teeth are blunted?

Darby: What mean ye, ye who use this proverb of the land of Israel, saying, The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

ASV: What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What mean ye, that ye use  this proverb  concerning the land  of Israel,  saying,  The fathers  have eaten  sour grapes,  and the children's  teeth  are set on edge? 

What does Ezekiel 18:2 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 18

1  God defends his justice
31  and exhorts to repentance

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 18:2 mean?

what do you mean you when use - proverb this concerning the land of Israel saying the fathers have eaten sour grapes and teeth of the sons are set on edge
מַה־ לָּכֶ֗ם אַתֶּם֙ מֹֽשְׁלִים֙ אֶת־ הַמָּשָׁ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־ אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבוֹת֙ יֹ֣אכְלוּ בֹ֔סֶר וְשִׁנֵּ֥י הַבָּנִ֖ים ؟ תִּקְהֶֽינָה

לָּכֶ֗ם  do  you  mean 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מֹֽשְׁלִים֙  when  use 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מָשַׁל 
Sense: to represent, liken, be like.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמָּשָׁ֣ל  proverb 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָשָׁל  
Sense: proverb, parable.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
עַל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אַדְמַ֥ת  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אָבוֹת֙  the  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
יֹ֣אכְלוּ  have  eaten 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
בֹ֔סֶר  sour  grapes 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּסֶר  
Sense: unripe grapes, sour grapes.
וְשִׁנֵּ֥י  and  teeth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, cdc
Root: שֵׁן  
Sense: tooth, ivory.
הַבָּנִ֖ים  of  the  sons 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
؟ תִּקְהֶֽינָה  are  set  on  edge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: קָהָה  
Sense: to be blunt, be dull.