Deuteronomy 27:9-26

Curses From Mount Ebal

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God.

10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”

11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:

12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.

13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.

14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

24 “Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Deuteronomy 27:9-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 27

In this chapter the people of Israel are ordered to write the law on plastered stones, and set them on Mount Ebal, De 27:1-4; where they are bid to erect an altar, and offer sacrifices on it, De 27:5-8; and are charged by Moses and the priests to obey the Lord, and keep his commandments, De 27:9,10; and a direction is given to each tribes which should stand and bless, and which curse, and where, De 27:11-13; and the curses which the Levites should pronounce with a loud voice, and the people should say Amen to, are recited, De 27:14-25; and the whole is concluded with a curse on all who in general do not perform the whole law, De 27:26.

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 17:9
• 2. Deuteronomy 26:18
• 3. S Deuteronomy 11:29
• 4. S Genesis 30:18
• 5. Joshua 8:35
• 6. S Deuteronomy 11:29
• 7. S Exodus 20:4; Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16,23; Deuteronomy 5:8; Isaiah 44:9
• 8. 1 Kings 11:5,7; 2 Kings 23:13; Isaiah 44:19; Isaiah 66:3
• 9. Numbers 5:22; S 1 Corinthians 14:16
• 10. S Genesis 31:35; S Exodus 21:12; S Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 19:3; Leviticus 20:9
• 11. S Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28
• 12. S Leviticus 19:14
• 13. S Exodus 22:21; S Deuteronomy 24:19
• 14. S Exodus 23:2; S Deuteronomy 10:18
• 15. S Genesis 34:5; S Leviticus 18:7; Deuteronomy 22:30
• 16. S Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23
• 17. S Leviticus 18:9; Leviticus 20:17
• 18. S Leviticus 20:14
• 19. S Genesis 4:23; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:31
• 20. Exodus 21:12
• 21. Exodus 23:7-8; S Leviticus 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:17; Ezekiel 22:12
• 22. S Leviticus 26:14; Deuteronomy 28:15; Psalms 119:21; Jeremiah 11:3; Galatians 3:10*
• 23. Jeremiah 11:5