Amplified Bible
Deuteronomy 27:20
20‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his father’s [former] wife, because he has violated what belongs to his father.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deuteronomy 27:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- New International Version (NIV)“Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Context of Deuteronomy 27:20
18‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 19‘Cursed is he who distorts (perverts) the justice due to a stranger, an orphan, and a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his father’s [former] wife, because he has violated what belongs to his father.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 21‘Cursed is he who is intimate with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 22‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his [half] sister, whether his father’s or his mother’s daughter.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Read all of Deuteronomy 27Deuteronomy 27:20 word by word
אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Cursedאָרַר'ârar · to curseH779
- he that liethשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: have sexH7901
- with his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- because he uncoverethגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
- skirtכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
- And all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- shall sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Amenאָמֵן'âmên · amenH543
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 27:20
- Deuteronomy 22:30“A man shall not take his father’s [former] wife, so that he will not expose his father’s wife.
- Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that land, Reuben [his eldest son] went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons—
- Genesis 49:4But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall not excel or have the preeminence [of the firstborn], Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah]; You defiled it—he went up to my couch.
- Leviticus 18:8You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.
- Leviticus 20:11The man who lies [intimately] with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall most certainly be put to death; their blood is on them.
- 2 Samuel 16:22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof [of the king’s palace], and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 5:1Now [we come to] the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—for Reuben was the eldest, but because he defiled his father’s bed [with Bilhah his father’s concubine], his birthright was given to [Manasseh and Ephraim] the sons of Joseph [the favorite] son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.
- Ezekiel 22:10In you men have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness [the nakedness of mother or stepmother]; in you they have violated women who are [set apart as ceremonially] unclean during their menstrual impurity [or after childbirth].
- Amos 2:7These who pant after (long to see) the dust of the earth on the head of the helpless [as sign of their grief and distress] Also turn aside the way of the humble; And a man and his father will go to the same girl So that My holy name is profaned.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someone has [an intimate relationship with] his father’s wife.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 27:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11-26Verses 11-26 Compare Joshua 8:32-35. The solemnity was apparently designed only for the single occasion on which it actually took place. Deuteronomy 27:12, Deuteronomy 27:13 The tribes appointed to stand on Gerizim to bless the people all sprang from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. All the four tribes which sprang from the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah are located on Ebal. But in order, as it would seem, to effect an equal division, two tribes are…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-26Verses 11-26 The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Ga 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20violated his father's marriage bed: See 22:30.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 27:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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