Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 27:11-26

The Covenant Written, Worshiped, and Affirmed Under Curse

Deuteronomy 27 moves from the public inscription of the law in the land, to altar-centered covenant worship, to Israel's corporate identity as the LORD's people, and finally to the solemn communal affirmation of covenant curses against hidden and public rebellion.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 On that day Moses commanded the people:

12 “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

18 ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

20 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

22 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

23 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

26 ‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

On that הַה֖וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker commanded וַיְצַ֤ו H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

When you have crossed בְּעָבְרְכֶ֖ם H5674 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Jordan הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן H3383 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular these [tribes] אֵ֠לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural shall stand יַֽעַמְד֞וּ H5975 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition Mount הַ֣ר H2022 Noun - masculine singular construct Gerizim גְּרִזִ֔ים H1630 Noun - proper - feminine singular to bless לְבָרֵ֤ךְ H1288 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the people הָעָם֙ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן֙ H8095 Noun - proper - masculine singular Levi וְלֵוִ֣י H3878 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Judah וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Issachar וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר H3485 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Joseph וְיוֹסֵ֥ף H3130 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Benjamin וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ H1144 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

And these [tribes] וְאֵ֛לֶּה H428 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural shall stand יַֽעַמְד֥וּ H5975 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural on Mount בְּהַ֣ר H2022 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Ebal עֵיבָ֑ל H5858 Noun - proper - feminine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition deliver the curse הַקְּלָלָ֖ה H7045 Article | Noun - feminine singular Reuben רְאוּבֵן֙ H7205 Noun - proper - masculine singular Gad גָּ֣ד H1410 Noun - proper - masculine singular Asher וְאָשֵׁ֔ר H836 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Zebulun וּזְבוּלֻ֖ן H2074 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Dan דָּ֥ן H1835 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Naphtali וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃ H5321 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Then וְעָנ֣וּ H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural the Levites הַלְוִיִּ֗ם H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural shall proclaim וְאָֽמְר֛וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural in a loud רָֽם׃ס H7311 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular voice ק֥וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct Israelite אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Cursed is אָר֣וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular the man הָאִ֡ישׁ H376 Article | Noun - masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative makes יַעֲשֶׂה֩ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a carved idol פֶ֨סֶל H6459 Noun - masculine singular or molten image וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה H4541 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular an abomination תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת H8441 Noun - feminine singular construct to the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the work of מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct the hands יְדֵ֥י H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct of a craftsman חָרָ֖שׁ H2796 Noun - masculine singular and sets it up וְשָׂ֣ם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular in secret בַּסָּ֑תֶר H5643 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular And {let} all כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֛ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . וְאָמְר֖וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural say וְעָנ֧וּ H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 16

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who dishonors מַקְלֶ֥ה H7034 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular his father אָבִ֖יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or mother וְאִמּ֑וֹ H517 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 17

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who moves מַסִּ֖יג H5253 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular his neighbor’s רֵעֵ֑הוּ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular boundary stone גְּב֣וּל H1366 Noun - masculine singular construct And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 18

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who lets a blind man עִוֵּ֖ר H5787 Adjective - masculine singular wander מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה H7686 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular in the road בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 19

Original words

Cursed is אָר֗וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who withholds מַטֶּ֛ה H5186 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular justice מִשְׁפַּ֥ט H4941 Noun - masculine singular construct from the foreigner גֵּר־ H1616 Noun - masculine singular the fatherless יָת֖וֹם H3490 Noun - masculine singular or the widow וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה H490 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 20

Original words

Cursed is אָר֗וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who sleeps שֹׁכֵב֙ H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition his father’s אָבִ֔יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular wife אֵ֣שֶׁת H802 Noun - feminine singular construct for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction he has violated גִלָּ֖ה H1540 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular his father’s אָבִ֑יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular marriage bed כְּנַ֣ף H3671 Noun - feminine singular construct And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb

BSB notes

  • Or uncovered his father’s skirt
Verse 21

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who lies שֹׁכֵ֖ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct animal בְּהֵמָ֑ה H929 Noun - feminine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 22

Original words

Cursed is אָר֗וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who sleeps שֹׁכֵב֙ H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition his sister אֲחֹת֔וֹ H269 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular the daughter of בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct his father אָבִ֖יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or א֣וֹ H176 Conjunction the daughter of בַת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct his mother אִמּ֑וֹ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 23

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who sleeps שֹׁכֵ֖ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition his mother-in-law חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ H2859 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 24

Original words

Cursed is אָר֕וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who strikes down מַכֵּ֥ה H5221 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct his neighbor רֵעֵ֖הוּ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular in secret בַּסָּ֑תֶר H5643 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 25

Original words

Cursed is אָרוּר֙ H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who accepts לֹקֵ֣חַ H3947 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular a bribe שֹׁ֔חַד H7810 Noun - masculine singular to kill לְהַכּ֥וֹת H5221 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct an innocent נָקִ֑י H5355 Adjective - masculine singular person נֶ֖פֶשׁ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . דָּ֣ם H1818 Noun - masculine singular And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃ס H543 Adverb
Verse 26

Original words

Cursed is אָר֗וּר H779 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular he who אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative does not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle put יָקִ֛ים H6965 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the words דִּבְרֵ֥י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular law הַתּוֹרָֽה־ H8451 Article | Noun - feminine singular into practice לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אוֹתָ֑ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural And {let} all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular say וְאָמַ֥ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Amen אָמֵֽן׃פ H543 Adverb

BSB notes

  • LXX Cursed is every man who does not continue in all the words of this law; cited in Galatians 3:10

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.