Deuteronomy 27 25

Deuteronomy 27:25 kjv

Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:25 nkjv

'Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.' "And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

Deuteronomy 27:25 niv

"Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Deuteronomy 27:25 esv

"'Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27:25 nlt

'Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'

Deuteronomy 27 verses

Deuteronomy 27 25 Meaning

Deuteronomy 27:25 pronounces a divine curse upon any individual who accepts a bribe or illicit payment with the purpose of unjustly taking the life of an innocent person. This verse underscores God's severe condemnation of both the act of murder and the pervasive corruption that leads to such a heinous perversion of justice and the shedding of blameless blood.

Deuteronomy 27 25 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 27 describes a solemn covenant renewal ceremony. Upon entering the promised land, the Israelites were commanded to set up large stones covered with plastered inscriptions of the Law on Mount Ebal, and then for six tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings and six on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. This ritual underscores the binding nature of the covenant with Yahweh.

Verse 27:25 is one of twelve curses declared by the Levites, to which all the people were to respond with a resounding "Amen." These specific curses address various transgressions, many of which involve actions that might be done in secret or defy justice and moral integrity within the community, often affecting the vulnerable or undermining the social fabric. This particular curse highlights the extreme moral degradation of manipulating the justice system through bribery to achieve the ultimate act of injustice: taking an innocent life. It follows other curses against undermining neighborly property, leading the blind astray, perverting justice for vulnerable groups, and engaging in incest, thereby emphasizing a divine expectation for social order, righteousness, and the sanctity of human life. This section serves as a powerful reminder to the Israelites of the ethical and moral foundation of their existence as God's covenant people.

Deuteronomy 27 25 Word analysis

• Cursed (אָרוּר, 'arur): This is a strong, divine declaration of condemnation and separation from God's favor and blessing. It indicates a state of being subject to divine judgment and its severe, adverse consequences. In covenant contexts, it implies exclusion from the benefits and protections of God's covenant.
• be anyone who (אִישׁ, 'ish): Literally "man" or "male person." This word is used generically and inclusively here, meaning "any person," emphasizing that the curse applies to anyone, regardless of their status or identity, who commits this egregious offense.
• takes a bribe (לָקַח שֹׁחַד, laqach shochad):
  • laqach: To take, receive, acquire, accept. It signifies an active, deliberate acceptance.
  • shochad: A gift, present, but critically, it means a bribe—an illicit payment intended to corrupt or influence a decision, particularly in a legal or official context. This phrase points to the venality and moral bankruptcy involved, highlighting that justice is subverted for monetary gain.
• to kill (לְהַכּוֹת, le'hakkot): From the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "smite," or "slay." The infinitive "to kill" indicates the specific purpose or intent behind taking the bribe—it is a mercenary act directly leading to a fatal outcome. It implies an intentional and violent act.
• an innocent person (דָּם נָקִי, dam naqi):
  • dam: Blood. In Hebrew thought, blood represents life, the very essence of a person (Gen 9:4; Lev 17:11). The shedding of blood, therefore, is a profound act against life itself.
  • naqi: Clean, innocent, clear, guiltless, unpunished. It emphasizes the blamelessness of the victim, meaning they have committed no crime worthy of death, especially concerning the reason for which they are being killed.
  • The combined phrase "innocent blood" is particularly powerful in Scripture, representing a life unjustly taken that "cries out" from the ground for justice (Gen 4:10). It magnifies the grievousness of the crime, signifying a profound offense not only against the victim and human justice but directly against God who is the giver of life. It implies that the one killed is absolutely without fault in the specific accusation for which they are sentenced to death.

Deuteronomy 27 25 Bonus section

This specific curse, like others in Deuteronomy 27, served not just as a prohibition but as a moral standard that required communal vigilance. The public declaration and communal "Amen" transformed it from a mere legal injunction into a collectively affirmed covenant obligation, where every individual assented to the principle of divine judgment against such an act. This reflects God's desire for His people to live in a society characterized by truth and justice, where the lives of its members are protected and valued, rather than exploited for profit or power. The profound emphasis on "innocent blood" underscores God's deep concern for the just handling of life and death, reflecting His character as the righteous Judge who defends the oppressed and will hold accountable those who shed blameless life.

Deuteronomy 27 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:25 delivers a profound divine judgment against the abhorrent act of corrupting justice to take a blameless life. This verse goes beyond merely prohibiting murder; it targets the specific, insidious method by which such a grave sin can occur—through bribery and the perversion of what should be a just system. It reveals God's unyielding hatred for greed and corruption when it leads to the ultimate act of injustice, the shedding of innocent blood. The severity of the "curse" signifies that this act is a direct assault on the divine order, human dignity, and the sanctity of life established by God Himself. For the Israelites, this solemn declaration underscored their covenantal obligation to maintain an honest judicial system, protect the vulnerable, and cherish human life as sacred. This principle resonates deeply throughout Scripture, condemning those who prioritize personal gain over righteousness and the well-being of their neighbor. It challenges believers today to uphold integrity, resist all forms of corruption, and defend the sanctity of every human life, especially the innocent and defenseless.