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Is the Atonement Unjust?

No. Ezekiel 18:20 and Qur’an 6:164 say guilt is personal. The Son lays down his life himself. That is not a bystander seized by a court.

Updated 2026-10-13 · Christianity , Islam

Author Paul Ambrose · GitHub

Part of Common Arguments

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No. A court that punished an uninvolved bystander would be unjust. Ezekiel 18:20 and Qur’an 6:164 say guilt is personal. The Christian claim is different: the Son is the one sinned against, and he lays down his life of himself.

Key Points

Ezekiel 18:2 Ezekiel 18:2 · King James VersionWhat 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?Ezekiel 18:2 · King James VersionOpen source quotes the proverb that the fathers ate sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge. Ezekiel 18:20 Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionThe soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionOpen source (1) answers that proverb: the soul that sins shall die, and the son shall not bear the father’s iniquity.
Deuteronomy 24:16 Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionOpen source says fathers are not put to death for children, nor children for fathers. Each person is put to death for his own sin.
Qur’an 6:164 Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (9) says no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Qur’an 17:15 Qur’an 17:15 · Saheeh InternationalWhoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.Qur’an 17:15 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source, Qur’an 35:18 Qur’an 35:18 · Saheeh InternationalAnd no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.Qur’an 35:18 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source, and Qur’an 53:38 Qur’an 53:38 · Saheeh InternationalThat no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of anotherQur’an 53:38 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source repeat that formula.
Isaiah 53:6 Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionOpen source (3) says the Lord laid on the servant the iniquity of us all. Who Is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53?
2 Corinthians 5:21 2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionFor he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionOpen source says God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us. 1 Peter 2:24 1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionWho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionOpen source says he bore our sins in his own body on the tree.
John 10:18 John 10:18 · King James VersionNo man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.John 10:18 · King James VersionOpen source says no one takes his life from him; he lays it down of himself. Romans 3:26 Romans 3:26 · King James VersionTo declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Romans 3:26 · King James VersionOpen source says God is just, and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.
Qur’an 4:48 Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says God does not forgive association with him, and forgives what is less for whom he wills. Qur’an 39:53 Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says God forgives all sins. The two sentences sit in the same book.

The Soul That Sins

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Ezekiel 18:20 · King James Version

The chapter opens on a proverb the exiles were using. Ezekiel 18:2 Ezekiel 18:2 · King James VersionWhat 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?Ezekiel 18:2 · King James VersionOpen source: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” The people were saying the children were being punished for the parents’ generation. God’s answer is that he will judge each soul. The son does not inherit the father’s guilt as if the court had the wrong defendant. Deuteronomy 24:16 Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionOpen source is the same rule in Israel’s law: do not execute the father for the child, or the child for the father.

That is a real limit. A judge who grabs an uninvolved neighbor and punishes him for someone else’s crime is not just. Christians who skip Ezekiel 18 are not reading the verse the objection is using.

No Bearer of Burdens

Qur’an 6:164 Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source, Saheeh International:

Say, “Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.”

Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh International
Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

Qur’an 17:15 Qur’an 17:15 · Saheeh InternationalWhoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.Qur’an 17:15 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source repeats that no bearer of burdens will bear another’s burden, and that God does not punish until he has sent a messenger. Qur’an 35:18 Qur’an 35:18 · Saheeh InternationalAnd no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.Qur’an 35:18 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source adds that if a heavily laden soul calls another to carry some of its load, nothing of it will be carried, even by a close relative. Qur’an 53:38 Qur’an 53:38 · Saheeh InternationalThat no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of anotherQur’an 53:38 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source is the same line again. The Qur’an is rejecting a transfer in which one person is loaded with a guilt he did not take. The Gospel’s account is not that transfer.

He Lays It Down Himself

Isaiah 53:6 Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionOpen source: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The servant is not a random prisoner. The Lord lays the iniquity on him. Who Is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53? follows that chapter. 1 Peter 2:24 1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionWho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionOpen source reads it of Jesus: he himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree. 2 Corinthians 5:21 2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionFor he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionOpen source: God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

John 10:17–18 John 10:17–18 · King James Version^10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ^10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.John 10:17–18 · King James VersionOpen source has Jesus say the Father loves him because he lays down his life to take it again, and then: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” The cross is not a court seizing a bystander. It is the Son giving his life. Romans 5:8 Romans 5:8 · King James VersionBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 3:26 Romans 3:26 · King James VersionTo declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Romans 3:26 · King James VersionOpen source says God set him forth so that he might be just, and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. The justice is God’s, because the one who bears the sin is God the Son, the one against whom the sin was committed. Is Jesus God? What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?

Did Jesus Die on the Cross? is the prior question. Qur’an 4:157 Qur’an 4:157 · Saheeh InternationalAnd [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.Qur’an 4:157 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source denies the crucifixion. A death that did not happen cannot be an atonement. The Gospel says the death happened, and that he rose. The resurrection

What the Qur’an Says God Forgives

Qur’an 39:53 Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source tells the servants who have transgressed against themselves not to despair of God’s mercy: God forgives all sins. Qur’an 4:48 Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says God does not forgive association with him, but forgives what is less than that for whom he wills. Both lines are in the Qur’an. Forgiveness, on those pages, is God’s decision about a person’s own sin, not a substitute’s death.

Mark 3:29 Mark 3:29 · King James VersionBut he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:Mark 3:29 · King James VersionOpen source says whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness. What Is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? is that warning. It is not a list of ordinary sins left unpaid. The ordinary claim of the Gospel is Romans 5:8 Romans 5:8 · King James VersionBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8 · King James VersionOpen source: Christ died for sinners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Someone Else Pay for My Sins?

Ezekiel 18:20 Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionThe soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionOpen source and Qur’an 6:164 Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source say a son, a neighbor, or a close relative is not loaded with a guilt he did not take. John 10:18 John 10:18 · King James VersionNo man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.John 10:18 · King James VersionOpen source is not that scene. The Son lays down his own life. Isaiah 53:6 Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6 · King James VersionOpen source says the Lord laid our iniquity on him.

Does Ezekiel 18:20 Cancel Isaiah 53?

Ezekiel 18 answers the proverb of sour grapes. The generation in exile does not get to blame only its parents. Isaiah 53 is a servant who bears the iniquity of the straying people because the Lord lays it on him. Personal responsibility and a willing substitute are both in the Bible. Who Is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53?

What Sins Cannot Be Atoned For?

Mark 3:29 Mark 3:29 · King James VersionBut he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:Mark 3:29 · King James VersionOpen source names blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as never forgiven. Qur’an 4:48 Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.Qur’an 4:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says God does not forgive associating others with him, and may forgive what is less for whom he wills. Qur’an 39:53 Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."Qur’an 39:53 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says he forgives all sins. The Gospel’s offer to sinners is the death and resurrection of Christ. What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?

Keep Reading

References

Book of Ezekiel, 18:20; 18:2 Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionThe soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.Ezekiel 18:20 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Deuteronomy, 24:16 Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.Deuteronomy 24:16 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Book of Isaiah, 53:5–6 Isaiah 53:5–6 · King James Version^53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ^53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:5–6 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Second Letter to the Corinthians, 5:21 2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionFor he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.2 Corinthians 5:21 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
First Letter of Peter, 2:24 1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionWho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.1 Peter 2:24 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Gospel of John, 10:17–18 John 10:17–18 · King James Version^10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ^10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.John 10:17–18 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Letter to the Romans, 3:26; 5:8 Romans 3:26 · King James VersionTo declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Romans 3:26 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Gospel of Mark, 3:29 Mark 3:29 · King James VersionBut he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:Mark 3:29 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
Qur'an, 6:164; 17:15; 35:18; 53:38; 4:48; 39:53 Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."Qur’an 6:164 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source (Saheeh International, as published on Quran.com. Words in square brackets are part of that translation.)