Deuteronomy 27:15-25

15 Cursed is the man that maketh a graven image and molten, abomination of the Lord, the work of the hands of craftsmen, and shall set it in a privy place; and all the people shall answer, and say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who maketh a carved or a cast idol, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of craftsmen, and then shall set it up in a secret place; and all the people shall answer, and say, Amen!)
16 He is cursed that honoureth not, or despiseth, his father and mother; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who honoureth not his father or his mother; and all the people shall say, Amen!)
17 Cursed is he that over-beareth, or undoeth, the terms of his neighbour; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who turneth over, or moveth, his neighbour's boundary stones; and all the people shall say, Amen!)
18 Cursed is he that maketh a blind man to err in the way; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who leadeth a blind man astray; and all the people shall say, Amen!)
19 He is cursed that perverteth the doom of a comeling, of a fatherless, either motherless child, and of a widow; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who withholdeth justice, or their rights, from the newcomer, the fatherless or the motherless child, and the widow; and all the people shall say, Amen!)
20 Cursed is (he) that sleepeth with his father's wife, and showeth the private(s) of his bed; and all the people shall say, Amen!
21 Cursed is he that sleepeth with any beast; and all the people shall say, Amen!
22 Cursed is he that sleepeth with his sister, the daughter of his father, either of his mother; and all the people shall say, Amen!
23 Cursed is he that sleepeth with his wife's mother; and all the people shall say, Amen!
24 Cursed is he that slayeth privily his neighbour; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who secretly killeth his neighbour; and all the people shall say, Amen!) Cursed is he that sleepeth with his neighbour's wife; and all the people shall say, Amen!
25 Cursed is he that taketh gifts, that he smite the life of innocent blood; and all the people shall say, Amen! (Cursed is anyone who taketh money, or a reward, to kill an innocent person; and all the people shall say, Amen!)

Deuteronomy 27:15-25 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.