Are we punished for the sins of others?

Some verses indicate that each man is responsible for his own sin, not that of others: Deuteronomy 24:16, II Kings 14:6, Jeremiah 31:29-30, and Ezekiel 18:20.

However, other verses indicate that some were punished for the sins of others: Genesis 9:21-25, Genesis 20:18, Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 28:18, I Samuel 3:12-13, II Samuel 12:14, II Samuel 21:6-9, I Kings 2:33, I Kings 11:11-12, I Kings 21:29, II Kings 5:27, Isaiah 14:21, Jeremiah 16:10-11, Jeremiah 29:32, Jeremiah 32:18, and Zephaniah 1:8, for example.

Response

These verses can be handled in two categories:

1. Children following in the sins of their fathers
2. Consequence is not responsibility

Children following in the sins of their fathers

Oftentimes, children continue in the sins of their fathers but then blame their fathers for their bad example.  While the fathers are responsible for their sin, the children are still responsible for their own sins as well.  Thus, using the excuse of a bad upbringing will not excuse one’s sin before God.

For instance, Canaan must have followed in his father’s evil footsteps (Genesis 9:21-25).  Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, II Samuel 21:6-9, I Kings 2:33, I Kings 11:11-12, I Kings 21:29, Isaiah 14:21, Jeremiah 16:10-11, Jeremiah 29:32, Jeremiah 32:18, and Zephaniah 1:8 are examples of this.  In I Samuel 3:12-13 Eli’s sons were definitely evil and deserved to die.  Jeremiah 16:10-12 states it well:

Consequence is not responsibility

Sometimes, innocent people suffer for the sins of others, but they are not held morally responsible for them.  For instance, the house of Abimelech suffered for the sins of their leader because of his sin, though they were not personally responsible.  Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 28:18, II Samuel 12:14, and II Kings 5:27 are examples.

So in summary, there is no contradiction.  Each person is morally responsible for his sin only.  Sometimes innocent people suffer for the sin of others (but are not morally responsible), and often children follow in the sins of their father and cannot use the excuse of a bad upbringing to clear them before God.