Deuteronomy 27 24

Deuteronomy 27:24 kjv

Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:24 nkjv

'Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

Deuteronomy 27:24 niv

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

Deuteronomy 27:24 esv

"'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27:24 nlt

'Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27 verses

Deuteronomy 27 24 Meaning

Deuteronomy 27:24 pronounces a divine curse upon any person who inflicts harm upon their neighbor in a clandestine manner. This verse is part of a series of curses read out by the Levites to the assembled Israelites on Mount Ebal, emphasizing that hidden transgressions against others will not escape God's judgment, even if they evade human justice. It highlights the importance of justice, the sacredness of human life, and the omniscient nature of God, who sees deeds committed in secrecy.

Deuteronomy 27 24 Context

Deuteronomy 27 is a pivotal chapter describing the covenant renewal ceremony after Israel enters the Promised Land. It mandates the setting up of large stones inscribed with the Law and pronounces blessings from Mount Gerizim and curses from Mount Ebal. The curses, specifically pronounced by the Levites with the people responding "Amen," are a series of conditional judgments against particular hidden or unprovable sins. Unlike public transgressions that might be dealt with by the community, these curses address actions that could be committed in secret or against vulnerable individuals, escaping human observation or justice. This includes actions like misleading the blind, removing a neighbor's landmark, perverting justice, and various forms of incest, culminating in a general curse for not upholding the law. Verse 24 falls within this section, emphasizing that actions that harm social bonds and trust, especially when concealed, are detestable to God.

Deuteronomy 27 24 Word analysis

• Cursed (אָרוּר - `arur`): This term signifies divine malediction, a state of separation from God's favor and blessing, leading to adverse consequences. It's a severe declaration, reflecting God's righteous judgment against grave sin. The concept contrasts with "blessed" (`baruk`), signifying God's favor and prosperity. Here, it denotes being alienated from the covenant's protective and sustaining power.
• Be he who strikes (מַכֵּה - `makkeh`): Derived from the verb `nakah`, meaning "to strike, smite, beat, wound, kill." It encompasses a range of physical actions from a blow to a mortal wound. The form `makkeh` is a participle, indicating a doer of this action. While often associated with physical violence, the intent to harm and the effect of harm are central. In the context of "secretly," it suggests an insidious, potentially premeditated attack designed to inflict damage. Some scholarly interpretations extend this beyond mere physical striking to any deliberate harm.
• His neighbor (רֵעֵהוּ - `re'ehu`): The Hebrew term `rea` typically refers to a close acquaintance, friend, or fellow Israelite, someone with whom one has regular interaction within the community. It's not necessarily a literal next-door neighbor but anyone within one's sphere of relationship or fellow humanity. This emphasizes the betrayal of trust and breakdown of community implied by the hidden attack. It underscores the social nature of the sin.
• Secretly (בַּסֵּתֶר - `basseter`): Formed from the root `satar` (to hide, conceal), this word means "in secret, secretly, in a hidden place." This adverb is crucial to the verse's meaning. It highlights the perfidious nature of the act. Committing harm secretly suggests a deliberate attempt to evade detection, accountability, and the consequences of the law. It reveals a profound disregard for God's omnipresence and justice, operating as if God does not see or care about hidden sins. Such an act erodes communal trust and can leave the victim without visible recourse.

Words-group analysis:

• Cursed be he who strikes: This phrase establishes a direct divine pronouncement of judgment. It’s not merely a human condemnation but a cosmic decree from God himself. The focus is on the agent of the hidden harm, singling out their personal responsibility for their action.
• strikes his neighbor: This combination highlights the specific nature of the transgression: direct, personal harm directed at someone within one's community. It touches upon the broader biblical principle of "loving your neighbor" (Lev 19:18) and the sacredness of interpersonal relationships established under God's covenant.
• strikes his neighbor secretly: This phrase encapsulates the particularly heinous nature of the sin. The addition of "secretly" implies malicious intent, cowardice, and an attempt to defy both human justice and divine oversight. It implies a deliberate cover-up, an act done "in the dark" to exploit and escape responsibility, fundamentally challenging the foundation of a righteous community that relies on trust and accountability. It stands in contrast to open conflict, where at least the actors are known.

Deuteronomy 27 24 Bonus section

The concept of God seeing and judging "secrets" is a recurrent theme throughout the Bible, signifying His absolute sovereignty and comprehensive knowledge beyond human perception. This verse specifically addresses not just physical violence, but the intent to harm and evade consequence through concealment, indicating a deep moral corruption. It subtly asserts YHWH's attributes as omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipresent (present everywhere), directly confronting any belief that human actions in the dark are exempt from divine judgment. This also acts as a powerful polemic against any societal structures or cultural norms that might implicitly condone or overlook such hidden harms. The response "Amen" from the people indicates their acceptance of these principles and the divine consequences associated with violating them, reinforcing their covenantal obligations to maintain integrity, even when unobserved.

Deuteronomy 27 24 Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:24 is a stern declaration emphasizing God's pervasive justice over all human conduct, particularly over those hidden acts of malevolence that evade earthly detection. The "striking" (nakah) is not limited to overt physical assault; it extends to any act designed to inflict deep harm upon a neighbor—be it reputation, well-being, or peace—when committed in a clandestine manner. This highlights the insidiousness of the sin, as it seeks to operate outside the purview of public accountability, undermining trust and security within the community. The divine curse underscores that God's justice penetrates all secrecy. Such an act of hidden harm against one's "neighbor" (anyone in the community) is a profound violation of the covenant's ethical standards, revealing a heart devoid of respect for both God and fellow man. It implies that genuine righteousness must be consistent, both publicly and privately.

Practical examples: Spreading malicious rumors behind someone's back (destroying reputation), silently undermining a person's standing or livelihood, committing a fraud that anonymously harms others, or any action designed to hurt another while maintaining a facade of innocence or unawareness.