Deuteronomy 27:22 kjv
Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:22 nkjv
'Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
Deuteronomy 27:22 niv
"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!"
Deuteronomy 27:22 esv
"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Deuteronomy 27:22 nlt
'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'
Deuteronomy 27 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 18:9 | ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister...’ | Prohibits sexual relations with sister |
| Lev 18:11 | ‘the nakedness of your father’s daughter...’ | Specifies paternal half-sister |
| Lev 20:17 | ‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness...’ | Incest: a disgraceful act with consequence |
| Gen 2:24 | ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife...’ | Defines marital union exclusivity |
| 1 Cor 5:1 | ‘It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.’ | Severity of sexual sin, even father's wife |
| Matt 19:5-6 | Jesus reiterates Gen 2:24 on one flesh unity. | God's design for marriage |
| Deut 27:15-26 | The series of curses at Mount Ebal, affirmed by 'Amen'. | Context of all 12 covenant curses |
| Gal 3:10 | ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law...’ | All who are under Law's curse |
| Gal 3:13 | ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...’ | Redemption from law's curse |
| Deut 28:15-68 | Comprehensive list of curses for disobedience to the Law. | Consequences of general disobedience |
| Ezek 22:11 | ‘One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father’s daughter.’ | Incest cited as an abomination |
| Rom 7:6 | ‘But now we are released from the law, having died to what held us captive...’ | Believers freed from the law |
| Heb 7:18 | ‘For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness’ | Law's limitation without Christ |
| Ex 20:14 | ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ | Broader command against sexual sin |
| Heb 13:4 | ‘Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.’ | Purity in marriage; judgment for sin |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | ‘but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct’ | Call to holiness for God's people |
| 1 Thes 4:3-5 | ‘For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality’ | God's will for sexual purity |
| Num 5:22 | The priest makes the woman swear, and she shall say, 'Amen, Amen.' | Affirmation of agreement |
| Neh 8:6 | ‘And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands.’ | Public corporate affirmation |
| Rev 3:14 | ‘And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The Words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness...”’ | Christ as "The Amen" |
Deuteronomy 27 verses
Deuteronomy 27 22 Meaning
Deuteronomy 27:22 proclaims a divine curse upon any man who engages in sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is his half-sister from his father's side or his half-sister from his mother's side, or his full sister. This verse reinforces the severity of incest within God's covenant law, deeming such an act an abomination. The collective affirmation of "Amen" by all the people signifies their solemn agreement to and responsibility under this specific decree and its accompanying judgment.
Deuteronomy 27 22 Context
Deuteronomy 27 forms a pivotal part of Moses' farewell addresses to Israel before they enter the promised land. Specifically, verses 11-26 describe a solemn covenant ceremony to be performed on Mount Gerizim (blessings) and Mount Ebal (curses). Six tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, and six on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The Levites would proclaim each curse, and all the people would respond "Amen." These curses primarily address hidden sins, acts committed in secret that evade human justice but violate God's law. They underscore God's concern for internal moral purity, not just outward conformity. This particular curse (Deut 27:22) deals with illicit sexual relations within the immediate family, highlighting the foundational importance of maintaining proper family boundaries and purity as distinguishing features of God's holy people in contrast to the morally depraved practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations.
Deuteronomy 27 22 Word analysis
- Cursed be he (אָרוּר הוּא - Arur hu):
Aruris a strong word meaning "cursed," "under a curse," or "devoted to destruction." It implies divine condemnation, alienation from God's blessing, and often brings about a state of desolation or judgment. It contrasts with "blessed" (בָּרוּךְ - barukh) and indicates being cut off from favor and protection. In this context, it signals the severest consequences for breaking the covenant. - who lies with (שֹׁכֵב עִם - shochev im): This is a common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse. It highlights the act of intimate physical union.
- his sister (אֲחֹתוֹ - achoto): Refers to a female sibling. The clarity that follows (father's daughter or mother's daughter) leaves no ambiguity regarding the relationship.
- whether his father's daughter or his mother's daughter: This phrase explicitly defines "sister" to include full sisters (sharing both parents) and half-sisters (sharing one parent). This eliminates any loophole or misunderstanding about which siblings are included in the prohibition, covering all biological sister relationships within the immediate family structure. The precision underlines the strictness and breadth of the prohibition against incest.
- And all the people shall say, 'Amen.': The unified "Amen" (אָמֵן - amen), meaning "so be it," "truly," or "let it be affirmed," is not merely an agreement but a solemn commitment and acceptance of responsibility for the curse. By saying "Amen," the people bind themselves to uphold the covenant, recognizing the justice and necessity of the curse for such a transgression. It also serves as a public declaration that they understand and accept the terms and consequences.
Deuteronomy 27 22 Bonus section
The prominence of incest prohibitions in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 18) indicates its vital importance for the distinct identity of Israel. Surrounding pagan cultures often practiced incest, sometimes even as part of fertility cults or royal lines (like Egyptian pharaohs). By strictly forbidding such acts, God demarcated Israel as a people set apart, called to a higher standard of sexual ethics. The repetition of "Amen" by the people transformed a potential private sin into a matter of public accountability and corporate solemnity. It highlights that maintaining societal purity often depends on each individual's commitment to upholding God's standard in areas that might otherwise remain unseen.
Deuteronomy 27 22 Commentary
Deuteronomy 27:22 presents a clear and severe prohibition against incest, specifically focusing on sexual relations between siblings. This command is not arbitrary but rooted in God's divine order for creation, which defines the boundaries of family and sexuality for human flourishing and holiness. The act is deemed worthy of a curse, indicating its profound offensive nature to God's standards and its destructive impact on the family unit and societal purity. The precision of "father's daughter or mother's daughter" leaves no room for cultural interpretation or loophole, affirming the universal sacredness of these familial ties in Israel. The collective "Amen" demonstrates the communal responsibility to uphold God's laws, reflecting a societal commitment to moral purity that transcends individual temptation and ensures the nation's distinctness as God's covenant people. This specific curse, part of the "hidden sins," shows God's concern not only for external legal conformity but for the deep internal morality of the individual and the nation. Practically, this verse teaches that true holiness begins within the family and within private life, laying the foundation for a righteous community that reflects God's character.