Deuteronomy 27:21 kjv
Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:21 nkjv
'Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
Deuteronomy 27:21 niv
"Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
Deuteronomy 27:21 esv
"'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Deuteronomy 27:21 nlt
'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'
Deuteronomy 27 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:24-27 | And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures... Male and female He created them." | God's creation order: distinct species, human male/female. |
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | God's design for human sexual union within marriage. |
| Ex 22:19 | "Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death." | Direct prohibition with death penalty. |
| Lev 18:23 | "You shall not lie with any animal to make yourself unclean with it... for it is a perversion." | Labels bestiality as a "perversion" (abomination). |
| Lev 20:15-16 | "If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal... if a woman approaches any animal..." | Reiteration of prohibition and capital punishment. |
| Lev 18:24-28 | "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations whom I am driving out before you have defiled themselves..." | Such acts defile the land and its inhabitants. |
| Deut 12:29-31 | "do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?’... for every abominable thing that the Lord hates..." | Warning against imitating pagan idolatry and practices. |
| Rom 1:26-27 | For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions... for their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature... men committed shameless acts with men. | Human depravity leading to unnatural and shameful acts. |
| Judg 19:22-26 | account of the Gibeah outrage involving extreme sexual perversion | Example of widespread moral depravity among people. |
| Prov 6:32 | He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. | Sinful sexual acts are destructive. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled... | Upholding purity in sexual relations. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? ...nor effeminate, nor sodomites, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. | Consequences of sexual immorality. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable... and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. | Eternal consequence for those practicing abominable things. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. | God's call to holiness for His people. |
| Deut 27:15-26 | The series of curses where the people affirm with "Amen". | Illustrates the pattern of communal "Amen". |
| 1 Chr 16:36 | "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, 'Amen!'" | Affirmation of blessing and praise. |
| Neh 8:6 | And Ezra blessed the Lord... And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" lifting up their hands. | People's vocal agreement to God's word. |
| Ps 106:48 | "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!'" | Liturgical "Amen" in communal worship. |
| Jer 28:6 | And the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make your words that you have prophesied come true..." | Personal affirmation of truth and hope. |
| 1 Cor 14:16 | Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not understand what you are saying? | Corporate understanding and agreement in worship. |
| Rev 5:14 | And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. | Heavenly chorus of affirmation. |
| Rev 19:4 | And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God... saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!" | Heavenly praise with an "Amen" of assent. |
Deuteronomy 27 verses
Deuteronomy 27 21 Meaning
This verse declares a divine curse upon any person who engages in sexual intercourse with an animal, categorizing such an act as profoundly abominable. The communal response of "Amen" signifies the entire Israelite congregation's emphatic agreement with and solemn ratification of this severe judgment, indicating their understanding and acceptance of the justice and necessity of the curse.
Deuteronomy 27 21 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 27 describes a solemn ceremony to be enacted once the Israelites entered the Promised Land. This covenant renewal event involved dividing the tribes between Mount Gerizim (for blessings) and Mount Ebal (for curses). Priests would read aloud specific curses, and the entire assembly of Israel would respond "Amen" after each declaration, publicly assenting to God's laws and the consequences for violating them. This chapter lists twelve specific curses, often relating to sins committed secretly or acts that defiled the land and violated fundamental moral order.
Verse 21 falls within a section of curses (verses 15-26) concerning various forms of moral and ritual impurity, including idolatry (v. 15), dishonoring parents (v. 16), injustices against vulnerable individuals (vv. 17-19), and several prohibitions related to sexual deviancy (vv. 20-23). This specific curse addresses bestiality, an act that deeply violates God's established order for creation and human sexuality, setting the Israelites apart from the defiling practices of the Canaanite nations they were about to displace. The public "Amen" serves as a corporate pledge of obedience and acknowledgment of divine justice.
Deuteronomy 27 21 Word analysis
- Cursed (אָרוּר - arur): This term signifies a state of being cut off from God's blessing, a declaration of divine judgment and disapproval, often resulting in suffering or detriment. It is an active pronouncement of condemnation, not merely an unfortunate event.
- be he that lieth (שָׁכַב - shakhav): Literally "lie down," but often used as a euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse in biblical Hebrew. It implies an intentional and active participation in the act.
- with any manner of beast (בְּהֵמָה - behemah): Refers specifically to domestic land animals, typically cattle, sheep, or goats, but broadly encompasses any quadrupeds. The phrase "any manner" emphasizes the absolute and universal nature of the prohibition, leaving no room for ambiguity or exception. This act is an inversion of God's created order where humans are distinct from animals.
- And all the people (כָּל־הָעָם - kol-ha'am): This phrase highlights the collective responsibility and unanimous agreement of the entire congregation of Israel. It was a communal act of assent.
- shall say, Amen (אָמֵן - amen): Derived from a root meaning "to be firm, trustworthy, or sure." When spoken in response, "Amen" serves as a solemn declaration of agreement, affirmation, and ratification. It means "so be it," "it is true," or "may it happen." In this context, it's more than simple agreement; it's a corporate oath, a commitment to upholding the validity and justice of the curse, acknowledging the gravity of the sin, and committing to communal accountability.
Words-group analysis
- "Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast": This phrase establishes the severe divine consequence for bestiality. It identifies the act as a grave transgression against God's established order of creation and human sexuality, rendering the perpetrator subject to divine wrath and excommunication from the community of God's blessing.
- "And all the people shall say, Amen": This second part emphasizes the corporate understanding, endorsement, and internalization of the divine law and its corresponding curse. It signifies Israel's shared covenant responsibility to recognize, condemn, and enforce God's moral standards. The collective "Amen" transforms the curse from a mere declaration into a binding communal pledge to uphold purity and righteousness within the nation.
Deuteronomy 27 21 Bonus section
The profound abhorrence of bestiality, reiterated through multiple laws and a communal curse, underscores the Bible's consistent emphasis on the sanctity of human sexuality and the distinct boundaries God set within creation. This law served not only as a moral standard but also as a distinct mark of Israel's separation from pagan fertility cults prevalent in the ancient Near East, which sometimes incorporated such aberrant practices as part of their idolatrous rituals. Violating this law was not merely a physical act but a spiritual perversion that corrupted the individual and had the potential to defile the entire land, illustrating the interconnectedness between moral behavior and the well-being of the covenant community and the land promised to them. It reflects God's ordered universe and humanity's stewardship within it, where breaking these foundational truths has severe consequences.
Deuteronomy 27 21 Commentary
Deuteronomy 27:21 addresses bestiality, explicitly declaring it an act worthy of a divine curse, which implies profound spiritual alienation and severe consequence. This prohibition, consistent with earlier Mosaic laws (Ex 22:19, Lev 18:23, 20:15-16), highlights the profound defilement and perversion inherent in such acts. Bestiality fundamentally violates God's created order, which distinguishes humans, made in God's image, from animals and defines proper sexual relationships solely between a man and a woman within the confines of marriage (Gen 1:27, 2:24). It blurs the God-ordained boundaries of creation and is deemed an "abomination," meaning it is morally repugnant and deeply offensive to God. The communal "Amen" by the people of Israel demonstrates their collective understanding of the gravity of this sin, their shared commitment to the covenant, and their willingness to participate in enforcing the purity and holiness demanded by God for His nation, setting them apart from the depraved practices of surrounding pagan cultures. This "Amen" acted as both a vow to live by these laws and an acceptance of the stated consequences.