Sirach 41:9

[Pius_XII]

Also known as Ecclestiasticus. I do not understand the following verses:
5
A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6
Their dominion is lost to sinners’ children, and reproach abides with their descendants.
7
Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.
8
Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.
9
If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse.

And then especcially verse 9, how can children held responsible for the sins of their parents? I’m sure there is a good explanation for this, but i can’t find good commentaries about this text.

 

[LilyM]

Also known as Ecclestiasticus. I do not understand the following verses:
5
A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.
6
Their dominion is lost to sinners’ children, and reproach abides with their descendants.
7
Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.
8
Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.
9
If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse.

And then especcially verse 9, how can children held responsible for the sins of their parents? I’m sure there is a good explanation for this, but i can’t find good commentaries about this text.

I don’t think it’s saying that they’re held responsible, but children DO most certainly suffer from the consequences of their parent’s evildoing.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

The Apple does not fall far from the Tree.

Basically, the children are held responsible because they followed the wicked ways of their parents while knowing the difference between right and wrong. Read Eze 18, it plainly says a son or child is responsible for their own sin.

 

[El_camino]

The whole Old Testament is filled with VERSES on how Christ held responsible children of sinners several generations later. Look at the commandments in Exodus 20, for instnace:

5"(F)You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a (G)jealous God, (H)**visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, **

6but showing lovingkindness to (I)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

But also it says that GOD is very merciful many generations later.

Blessings,

E.C.

 

[Nita]

The whole Old Testament is filled with VERSES on how Christ held responsible children of sinners several generations later. Look at the commandments in Exodus 20, for instnace:

5"(F)You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a (G)jealous God, (H)**visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, **

6but showing lovingkindness to (I)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

But also it says that GOD is very merciful many generations later.

Blessings,

E.C.

An example of how the punishment imposed on the parents also ends up being imposed on the children:

For their sins, Judah was allowed to be captured by the Babylonians and taken into exile. The sin was on the part of adults, but the children also end up in exile - and all those born afterwards, up to the time they return. The children are not sent into exile as a judgement of God against them; the judgement was against their parents.

Nita