Deuteronomy 27 23

Deuteronomy 27:23 kjv

Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:23 nkjv

'Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

Deuteronomy 27:23 niv

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

Deuteronomy 27:23 esv

"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27:23 nlt

'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27 verses

Deuteronomy 27 23 Meaning

Deuteronomy 27:23 pronounces a severe divine judgment, stating that "Cursed be he" upon any man who engages in sexual relations with his mother-in-law. This declaration signifies divine condemnation and separation from God's blessing for such an act, which is strictly forbidden by God's law. The immediate and collective response, "And all the people shall say, Amen," signifies the community's full understanding, agreement, and solemn affirmation of the justice and immutability of this prohibition, acknowledging the grave spiritual and societal consequences of violating this specific family boundary within the covenant.

Deuteronomy 27 23 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 27 outlines a solemn covenant renewal ceremony that Israel was to perform upon entering the Promised Land, involving the proclamation of blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal. Verses 15-26 detail a series of twelve specific curses, each pronounced by the Levites and ratified by the entire assembly with "Amen." These curses specifically target sins often committed in secret or against the vulnerable, demonstrating that God's omnipresence means He sees and judges actions even when unseen by human eyes. The historical context places this as part of Moses' farewell addresses to the generation poised to inherit Canaan. He reiterates and expands upon the Sinaitic covenant, emphasizing the moral boundaries critical for maintaining their identity as God's holy people amidst pagan cultures. The prohibition against sexual relations with one's mother-in-law, like the other curses in this chapter, underscores the sanctity of family structures and the moral purity necessary for God's covenant people.

Deuteronomy 27 23 Word analysis

• Cursed be he (אָרוּר / Arur):
  • Meaning: Accursed, consigned to divine disfavor, separated from God's blessings and protection. It denotes a state of being under divine judgment.
  • Significance: This is a direct pronouncement from God, not a mere human wish. It signifies severe spiritual consequence, marking the transgressor as an object of God's wrath and outside the covenant's protective scope. It is the antithesis of blessing, emphasizing a deep separation.
  • Biblical Connection: Recalls early divine curses in scripture (Gen 3:14, 17 on the serpent and ground; Gen 4:11 on Cain; Gen 9:25 on Canaan). In the New Testament, Gal 3:10-13 articulates that all under the law's works are "cursed," and Christ became "a curse for us" to deliver believers.
• that lieth (שֹׁכֵב / Shochev):
  • Meaning: Literally "one who lies down." In biblical Hebrew, this is a common and polite euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse.
  • Significance: The use of this specific term leaves no ambiguity about the nature of the forbidden act. It points to the direct physical violation of a holy boundary. Its polite phrasing doesn't diminish the gravity but reflects common cultural expression.
  • Biblical Connection: Found in passages detailing both lawful sexual union (e.g., Gen 19:32, of a daughter lying with her father) and unlawful relations (e.g., Gen 34:2, Dinah's defilement), signifying the sexual act itself.
• with his mother-in-law (עִם־חֹתַנְתּוֹ / im chotantto):
  • Meaning: Im means "with" or "beside"; chotantto specifically denotes "his mother-in-law" (his wife's mother).
  • Significance: This explicitly names the forbidden familial relationship. It underscores the profound sanctity of marriage and its extended bonds, demonstrating that incestuous acts, even with those not of direct blood relation, are abominable. Such an act deeply dishonors the familial unit, blurs generational lines, and represents a betrayal of trust. It ensures social order and moral purity within the foundational family structure, as per God's design.
  • Biblical Connection: Directly corresponds to the comprehensive list of forbidden sexual relations in Lev 18 and 20. Lev 18:17 specifically warns against uncovering the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, illustrating the principle behind this specific prohibition.
• And all the people (וְאָמַר כָּל־הָעָם / Ve'amar kol-ha'am):
  • Meaning: Ve'amar means "and shall say" (a singular verb emphasizing collective unity of voice); kol-ha'am translates to "all the people" or "the whole congregation."
  • Significance: This highlights the communal aspect of covenant responsibility. The entire Israelite assembly, young and old, was to vocally affirm their agreement to each curse. This public assent transformed the pronouncements into a shared commitment, solidifying their understanding of moral obligations and the consequences of violating them. It signifies that the people were willing participants in and upholders of God's Law.
  • Biblical Connection: Such communal affirmation of oaths and divine declarations is seen elsewhere in scripture (e.g., Num 5:22 in an oath, Neh 5:13 at Nehemiah's curse, Jer 11:5 for a covenant promise), stressing collective accountability and participation.
• shall say, Amen (אָמֵן / Amen):
  • Meaning: "So be it," "Truly," "Let it be so." It's an emphatic declaration of agreement, affirmation, or solemn commitment.
  • Significance: By vocalizing "Amen," the Israelites formally consented to the binding nature of the curse and its justice. It meant they acknowledged that such a transgression deserved divine judgment, and they submitted themselves to its authority. This active affirmation deeply ingrained the principles of the Law into the heart of the community, fostering reverence for God's holiness and His standards for a covenant nation.
  • Biblical Connection: A fundamental expression of agreement found throughout scripture in prayers (Ps 41:13), oaths (Num 5:22), and responses to blessings or curses (1 Kgs 1:36, Jer 11:5). Jesus' frequent use of "Amen, Amen" (Truly, truly) emphasized the truth and certainty of His teachings.

Deuteronomy 27 23 Bonus section

The carefully selected curses in Deuteronomy 27, including that of the mother-in-law, primarily target sins committed in secret, in contrast to capital offenses usually handled by public legal process. This distinction powerfully communicates that God's judgment extends beyond observable offenses to the hidden depths of human conduct and intent. The ceremony was a pivotal act of covenant renewal, demonstrating that adherence to God's moral framework was paramount for Israel's identity and blessing in the Promised Land. These curses also functioned as a distinct polemic against the immoral practices prevalent among the Canaanite inhabitants whom Israel was dispossessing, establishing a clear ethical boundary and affirming God's unique standard of holiness for His chosen people.

Deuteronomy 27 23 Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:23 stands as one of twelve distinct curses pronounced against various secret sins, underlining God's omniscience and unyielding justice even concerning acts concealed from human sight. The specified sin—sexual intercourse with a mother-in-law—represents an abominable violation of the divine order for family and marriage, echoing broader prohibitions against incest and sexual defilement found in Leviticus 18 and 20. Such a transgression deeply pollutes familial sanctity, distorts generational roles, and destabilizes the foundational social unit God ordained. God's Law meticulously outlines these boundaries to ensure purity, respect, and order within the family and wider community, differentiating Israel from the morally degraded nations around them.

The crucial command for "all the people" to collectively utter "Amen" after each curse emphasizes a profound level of communal accountability and personal commitment. This was more than a mere acknowledgement; it was a binding, solemn agreement by which the entire nation corporately affirmed the justice of God's judgments. By assenting to each curse, the Israelites publicly declared their understanding and acceptance that divine consequences would indeed fall upon any who committed these transgressions, thereby internalizing the Law and demonstrating their allegiance to God's righteous standards. This ceremony served as a powerful educational tool and a communal vow, imbuing them with the gravity of the covenant and the absolute necessity of personal and national holiness.