Deuteronomy 27:20

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“Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 19“Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father.” Then all the people will say amen. 21“Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 22“Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

Deuteronomy 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 22:30A man must never marry his father’s wife because this would disgrace his father.
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had 12 sons.
• Genesis 49:4You will no longer be first because you were out of control like a flood and you climbed into your father’s bed. Then you dishonored it. He climbed up on my couch.
• Leviticus 18:8Never have sexual intercourse with your stepmother. She is related to you through your father.
• Leviticus 20:11Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife has violated his father’s marriage. Both he and his father’s wife must be put to death. They deserve to die.
• 2 Samuel 16:22So a tent was put up on the roof for Absalom, and he slept with his father’s concubines in plain sight of Israel.
• 1 Chronicles 5:1These are the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (Although he was the firstborn, his rights as firstborn were given to his nephews, Joseph’s sons, because he dishonored his father’s bed. However, Joseph couldn’t be listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son.
• Ezekiel 22:10Men have sex with their father’s wives. They have sex with women when the women are having their periods and are unclean.
• Amos 2:7They stomp the heads of the poor into the dust. They push the humble out of the way. Father and son sleep with the same woman. They dishonor my holy name.
• 1 Corinthians 5:1Your own members are aware that there is sexual sin going on among them. This kind of sin is not even heard of among unbelievers—a man is actually married to 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

• Adultery
• Amen
• Curse
• Incest
• Instruction
• Law
• Responsive Religious Service
• Reward
• Sanitation
• Word of God
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Amen
• Gerizim
• Moses
• Plainly
• Reward
• Apostasy; Apostate
• Covenant, in the Old Testament
• Deuteronomy

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