Deuteronomy 27:14-26
New English Translation
The Covenant Curses
14 “The Levites will call out to every Israelite[a] with a loud voice: 15 ‘Cursed is the one[b] who makes a carved or metal image—something abhorrent[c] to the Lord, the work of the craftsman[d]—and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’[e] 16 ‘Cursed[f] is the one who disrespects[g] his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 18 ‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 20 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed with[h] his father’s former wife,[i] for he dishonors his father.’[j] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 21 ‘Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.’[k] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 22 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed[l] with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 23 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed[m] with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 24 ‘Cursed is the one who kills[n] his neighbor in private.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 25 ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 26 ‘Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Deuteronomy 27:14 tn Heb “Israelite man.”
- Deuteronomy 27:15 tn Heb “man,” but in a generic sense here.
- Deuteronomy 27:15 tn The Hebrew term translated here “abhorrent” (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah) speaks of attitudes and/or behaviors so vile as to be reprehensible to a holy God. See note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.
- Deuteronomy 27:15 tn Heb “craftsman’s hands.”
- Deuteronomy 27:15 tn Or “So be it!” The term is an affirmation expressing agreement with the words of the Levites.
- Deuteronomy 27:16 tn The Levites speak again at this point; throughout this pericope the Levites pronounce the curse and the people respond with “Amen.”
- Deuteronomy 27:16 tn The Hebrew term קָלָה (qalah) means to treat with disdain or lack of due respect (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV “dishonors”; NLT “despises”). It is the opposite of כָּבֵד (kaved, “to be heavy,” that is, to treat with reverence and proper deference). To treat a parent lightly is to dishonor him or her and thus violate the fifth commandment (Deut 5:16; cf. Exod 21:17).
- Deuteronomy 27:20 tn Heb “lies down with.” The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) “to lie down” can be a euphemism for going to bed for sexual relations (cf. NASB, NRSV “who lies with”; NIV “who sleeps with”; NLT “who has sexual intercourse with”).
- Deuteronomy 27:20 tn See note at Deut 22:30.
- Deuteronomy 27:20 tn Heb “he uncovers his father’s skirt” (NASB similar). See note at Deut 22:30.
- Deuteronomy 27:21 tn Heb “lies down with any animal.” The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) “to lie down” can be a euphemism for going to bed for sexual relations, the perversion in this case being bestiality.
- Deuteronomy 27:22 tn Heb “lies down with.” See note at v. 20.
- Deuteronomy 27:23 tn Heb “lies down with.” See note at v. 20.
- Deuteronomy 27:24 tn Or “strikes down” (so NRSV).
Deuteronomy 27:14-26
Christian Standard Bible
14 The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:
15 ‘The person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the Lord, the work of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret is cursed.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen!’
16 ‘The one who dishonors his father or mother is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
17 ‘The one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
18 ‘The one who leads a blind person astray on the road is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
19 ‘The one who denies justice to a resident alien, a fatherless child, or a widow is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
20 ‘The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’[a]
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
21 ‘The one who has sexual intercourse with any animal is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
22 ‘The one who sleeps with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
23 ‘The one who sleeps with his mother-in-law is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
24 ‘The one who secretly kills his neighbor is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
25 ‘The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
26 ‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
Footnotes
- 27:20 Lit has uncovered the edge of his father’s garment; Ru 3:9; Ezk 16:8
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