New Living Translation
Deuteronomy 27:20
20‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’ And all the people will reply, ‘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 anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ 19‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ 21‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ 22‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.’ And all the people will reply, ‘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 must not marry his father’s former wife, for this would violate his father.
- Genesis 35:22While he was living there, Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Jacob soon heard about it. These are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob:
- Genesis 49:4But you are as unruly as a flood, and you will be first no longer. For you went to bed with my wife; you defiled my marriage couch.
- Leviticus 18:8“Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.
- Leviticus 20:11“If a man violates his father by having sex with one of his father’s wives, both the man and the woman must be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.
- 2 Samuel 16:22So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.
- 1 Chronicles 5:1The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son.
- Ezekiel 22:10Men sleep with their fathers’ wives and force themselves on women who are menstruating.
- Amos 2:7They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way. Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy name.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries