82 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Exodus, Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35), Source Book Keys, TELVOL1 EXODUS | 34:7 parents — EXOD1040 [Continued from [[EXOD32]] Exodus 2:6 pi... EXOD1040 [Continued from [[EXOD32]] Exodus 2:6 pity TELVOL1 87] How, then, is one to explain the verse," [God] visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children's children" [this verse]? First, even if God does this, the Torah forbids human beings from acting similarly: "Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children to death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own crime" Deuteronomy 24:16. Further, the Talmud explains that visiting "the iniquity of parents upon children" refers only to children who followed their parents' bad example Sanhedrin 27b. Therefore, if a young person of bad ancestry shows evidence of being a good person, we should give him the benefit of the doubt; God will not punish him or hold his parents' sins against him, and neither should we. Share Print Source KeyTELVOL1Verse34:7Keyword(s)parentsSource Page(s)109 Switch article EXODUS | 34:7 forgiving — EXOD1039 The Jewish tradition is confident that G... Previous Article EXODUS | 34:7 punishes — EXOD1041 There is, on the face of it, a fundament... Next Article