Curse

Curse - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Denounced by God against the serpent (Gen. 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Gen. 9:25; 49:7; Deut. 27:15; Josh. 6:26). Such curses are not the consequence of passion or revenge, they are predictions.

No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Ex. 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Lev. 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Lev. 24:10-16). The words "curse God and die" (R.V., "renounce God and die"), used by Job's wife (Job 2:9), have been variously interpreted. Perhaps they simply mean that as nothing but death was expected, God would by this cursing at once interpose and destroy Job, and so put an end to his sufferings.

Curse - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CURSE, v.t. pret. and pp. cursed or curst.

1. To utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate.

Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people. Exo 22.

Bless and curse not. Rom 12.

Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Num 22.

2. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, harass or torment with great calamities.

On impious realms and barbarous kings impose thy plagues, and curse em with such sons as those.

3. To devote to evil.

CURSE, v.i. To utter imprecations; to affirm or deny with imprecations of divine vengeance.

Then began he to curse and to swear. Mat 26.

CURSE, n.

1. Malediction; the expression of a wish of evil to another.

Shimei--who cured me with a grievous curse. 1 Ki 2.

2. Imprecation of evil.

They entered into a curse, and into an oath. Neh 10.

3. Affliction; torment; great vexation.

I will make this city a curse to all nations. Jer 26.

4. Condemnation; sentence of divine vengeance on sinners.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. Gal 3.

5. Denunciation of evil.

The priest shall write all these curses in a book. Num 5.

Cursed - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CURSED, pp.

1. Execrated; afflicted; vexed; tormented; blasted by a curse.

2. Devoted to destruction.

Thou art cursed from the earth. Gen 4.

3. a. Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.

4. a. Vexatious; as a cursed quarrel; cursed thorns.

Cursing - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CURSING, ppr. Execrating; imprecating evil on; denouncing evil; dooming to evil, misery, or vexation.

CURSING, n. Execration; the uttering of a curse; a dooming to vexation or misery.

kurs ('alah (Nu 5:21,23,17, etc.), me'erah (Pr 3:33; Mal 2:2, etc.), klalah (Ge 27:12,13); katara (Ga 3:10,13)): This word as noun and verb renders different Hebrew words, some of them being more or less synonymous, differing only in degree of strength. It is often used in contrast with "bless" or "blessing" (De 11:29). When a curse is pronounced against any person, we are not to understand this as a mere wish, however violent, that disaster should overtake the person in question, any more than we are to understand that a corresponding "blessing" conveys simply a wish that prosperity should be the lot of the person on whom the blessing is invoked. A curse was considered to possess an inherent power of carrying itself into effect. Prayer has been defined as a wish referred to God. Curses (or blessings) were imprecations referred to supernatural beings in whose existence and power to do good or inflict harm primitive man believed. The use of magic and spells of all kinds is based on the belief that it is possible to enlist the support of the superhuman beings with whom the universe abounds, and to persuade them to carry out the suppliant's wishes. It has been suggested that spells were written on pieces of parchment and cast to the winds in the belief that they would find their way to their proper destination--that some demoniac being would act as postman and deliver them at the proper address. In Zec 5:1-3 the "flying roll," with curses inscribed on it "goeth forth over the face of the whole land." It would find its way into the house of every thief and perjurer. But it was not always possible to commit curses to writing, it was enough to utter them aloud. Generally the name of some deity would be coupled with such imprecations, as Goliath cursed David by his gods (1Sa 17:43). Such curses once uttered possessed the power of self- realization. It was customary for heads of families in their declining years to bless their children, such a blessing being, not simply a paternal wish that their children should prosper in life, but a potent factor in determining their welfare (Ge 9:25). in this case Jacob seeks his father's blessing, which was more than his father's good wishes for his future career. Such blessings and curses were independent of moraI considerations. Before moral distinctions played any part in molding theological conceptions it was not necessary, before a spell could be effectual, that the individual against whom the spell was pronounced should be deserving, on moral grounds, of the fate which was invoked on him. It was sufficient that he should be the foe of the author of the curse. We may assume that such curses signalized the commencement of a battle. But in process of time such indiscriminate imprecations would not satisfy enlightened moral judgment. In the dramatic situation depicted in De 11:29; 27:12 f the curse was placed on Mt. Ebal and the blessing. on Mr. Gerizim. But the curse was the penalty for disobedience, as the blessing was the reward for obedience. The Book of Pr 26:2 summarily dismisses the traditional belief--"the curse that is causeless alighteth not." "In the discourses of Jesus we find blessings and curses. They are however simply authoritative declarations of the eternal connection between right doing and happiness, wrong doing and misery" (Cheyne).

Whereas curses by ordinary persons were considered more or less efficacious--some god being always only too glad to speed them on their way to their destination--yet special persons--"holy" persons--in virtue of their special relation to Divine beings possessed special powers of pronouncing effectual curses on account of their powers of enlisting supernatural aid. Balaam, according to the narrative in Nu 22 f, was an expert in the article Balak was convinced that Balaam's curse would bring about the defeat of the Israelites (see Gray, "Numbers," ICC).

The term--and the thing signified--plays an important part in Paul's interpretation of the cross. In the light of the law all men are guilty. There is no acquittal through appeal to a law that commands and never forgives--prohibits and never relents. The violator of the law is under a curse. His doom has been pronounced. Escape is impossible. But on the cross Jesus Christ endured the curse--for "cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Ga 3:10,13)--and a curse that has overtaken its victim is a spent force.

See PUNISHMENTS.

Jesus commands His disciples, "Bless them that curse you" (Lu 6:28; compare Ro 12:14). He Himself cursed the fruitless fig tree (Mr 11:21)--a symbol of the doom of a fruitless people.

Curse as the rendering of cherem, implies a totally different, idea.

See ACCURSED.

T. Lewis

Definition

The term “curse” means to cause negative things to happen to the person or thing that is being cursed.

• A curse can be a statement that harm will happen to someone or something.
• To curse someone can also be an expression of desire that bad things will happen to them.
• It can also refer to the punishment or other negative things that someone causes to happen to someone.

Translation Suggestions

• This term could be translated as “cause bad things to happen to” or “declare that something bad will happen to” or “swear to cause evil things to happen to.”
• In the context of God sending curses on his disobedient people, it could be translated as “punish by allowing bad things to happen.”
• The term “cursed” when used to describe people could be translated as “(this person) will experience much trouble.”
• The phrase “cursed be” could be translated as “May (this person) experience great difficulties.”
• The phrase, “Cursed is the ground” could be translated as “The soil will not be very fertile.”
• However, if the target language has the phrase “cursed be” and it has the same meaning, then it is good to keep the same phrase.

(See also: bless)

Bible References

• 1 Samuel 14:24-26
• 2 Peter 2:12-14
• Galatians 3:10
• Galatians 3:14
• Genesis 3:14
• Genesis 3:17
• James 3:10
• Numbers 22:6
• Psalms 109:28

Examples from the Bible stories

• __2:9 God said to the snake, “You are cursed__!”
• __2:11 “Now the ground is cursed__, and you will need to work hard to grow food.”
• __4:4 “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse__ you.”
• __39:7 Then Peter vowed, saying, “May God curse__ me if I know this man!”
• __50:16 Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin into this world, God cursed__ it and decided to destroy it.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0422, H0423, H0779, H1288, H2763, H2764, H3994, H5344, H6895, H7043, H7045, H7621, H8381, G03310, G03320, G06850, G19440, G25510, G26520, G26530, G26710, G26720, G60350