Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. New Living Translation “Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. English Standard Version “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death. Berean Standard Bible Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death. King James Bible And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. New King James Version “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. New American Standard Bible “And one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death. NASB 1995 “He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. NASB 1977 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Legacy Standard Bible “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Amplified Bible “Whoever curses his father or his mother or treats them contemptuously must be put to death. Christian Standard Bible “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death. Holman Christian Standard Bible Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.” American Standard Version And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Contemporary English Version Death is the punishment for cursing your father or mother. English Revised Version And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death. Good News Translation "Whoever curses his father or his mother is to be put to death. International Standard Version "Whoever curses his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death. NET Bible "Whoever treats his father or his mother disgracefully must surely be put to death. New Heart English Bible "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Webster's Bible Translation And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death. World English Bible “Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he who is reviling his father or his mother is certainly put to death. Young's Literal Translation 'And he who is reviling his father or his mother is certainly put to death. Smith's Literal Translation And he making light of his father and his mother, dying, he shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that curseth his father, or mother, shall die the death. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever speaks evil of his father or mother shall die a death. New American Bible Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death. New Revised Standard Version Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He who will revile his father or his mother surely shall be killed. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Brenton Septuagint Translation He that reviles his father or his mother shall surely die. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Personal Injury Laws…16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. 17Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death. 18If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,… Cross References Leviticus 20:9 If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, / his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, / and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” ... Matthew 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ Mark 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness. Proverbs 30:17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it. Matthew 19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’” Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” Romans 1:30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Matthew 5:21-22 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 1 Timothy 1:9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, Treasury of Scripture And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth or veliteth Leviticus 20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. Deuteronomy 27:16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Proverbs 20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Jump to Previous Curses Curseth Cursing Death Mother Reviling SurelyJump to Next Curses Curseth Cursing Death Mother Reviling SurelyExodus 21 1. Laws for men servants5. For the servant whose ear is bored 7. For women servants 12. For manslaughter 16. For kidnappers 17. For cursers of parents 18. For smiters 22. For a hurt by chance 28. For an ox that gores 33. For him who is an occasion of harm Anyone who curses his father or mother This phrase emphasizes the importance of honoring one's parents, a commandment deeply rooted in the cultural and religious fabric of ancient Israel. The family unit was central to societal stability, and respect for parents was seen as foundational to maintaining order. This commandment is an extension of the fifth commandment found in Exodus 20:12, which calls for honoring one's father and mother. In the ancient Near Eastern context, cursing one's parents was considered a severe violation of social norms and divine law, reflecting a rebellious heart against God's established order. must surely be put to death Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai, including the commandments found in Exodus 21. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, who were given the Law to guide their conduct and relationship with God and each other. 3. Mount Sinai The place where God delivered the Law to Moses, including the civil and moral laws for the Israelite community. 4. God The divine lawgiver who established the covenant with Israel and provided the commandments to maintain order and holiness among His people. Teaching Points The Sanctity of Family RelationshipsThe commandment underscores the importance of family and the respect due to parents as foundational to societal stability and personal holiness. The Seriousness of Words Words have power, and cursing one's parents is seen as a grave offense. This teaches us to be mindful of our speech and the respect we owe to those in authority. The Role of the Law The harsh penalty reflects the Law's role in maintaining order and holiness among God's people. It points to the need for a heart transformation, which is fulfilled in Christ. Respect and Authority This commandment teaches the broader principle of respecting authority, which is applicable in various aspects of life, including workplaces, churches, and governments. The Need for Grace While the Law shows the standard of holiness, it also reveals humanity's need for grace and redemption through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Law on our behalf. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 21:17?2. How does Exodus 21:17 emphasize the importance of honoring parents in society? 3. What consequences are outlined in Exodus 21:17 for cursing one's parents? 4. How does Exodus 21:17 connect with the Fifth Commandment in Exodus 20:12? 5. How can we teach children to respect parents, based on Exodus 21:17? 6. What modern actions might equate to "cursing" parents, according to Exodus 21:17? 7. Why does Exodus 21:17 prescribe death for cursing parents? 8. How does Exodus 21:17 align with the concept of forgiveness? 9. What historical context explains the severity of Exodus 21:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 21? 11. Why does the Old Testament prescribe capital punishment for minor offenses? 12. What does the Bible say about stoning rebellious children? 13. What does the Bible say about respecting parents? 14. Deuteronomy 21:18-21: Does the mandate to stone a rebellious son conflict with the commandment against murder (Exodus 20:13)? What Does Exodus 21:17 Mean Anyone who curses• The word “curses” points to a willful, verbal assault—an intentional rejection rather than a careless slip. • Scripture views such speech as a direct offense against God-given authority (Leviticus 20:9, “Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or mother, and his blood is upon him,”). • Jesus confirms the gravity of this sin when He rebukes the Pharisees for nullifying parental honor: “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death’” (Matthew 15:4). • Proverbs underlines the same warning: “Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness” (Proverbs 20:20). • God takes words seriously because they reveal the heart (Matthew 12:34-37). his father or mother • Parents are the first human authority children meet; despising them trains the heart to despise every other authority—including God’s. • The fifth commandment gives the positive side: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). • Paul echoes this link between honor and blessing: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:1-3). • By singling out both father and mother, Scripture affirms the dignity and authority of each parent. must surely • The double emphasis (“must surely”) signals absolute certainty; no loopholes, no leniency. • This pattern appears whenever God stresses an unbreakable decree (Genesis 2:17, “You must not eat of the tree…for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die,”). • Hebrews reminds us that “every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment” under the Law (Hebrews 2:2). • The wording underscores God’s unchanging standard of holiness and justice. be put to death • Capital punishment in Israel marked certain sins as community-destroying; blatant rebellion against parents threatened the covenant fabric (Deuteronomy 21:18-21, where a persistently rebellious son could be stoned). • The penalty shows sin’s cost; “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), a truth later carried to the cross. • While Christ bore the curse for us (“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,” Galatians 3:13), the principle still stands: unchecked contempt for authority leads to death—spiritual if not civil. • Modern believers no longer enforce Mosaic civil penalties, yet we uphold the moral weight: honoring parents remains a non-negotiable command (Colossians 3:20). summary Exodus 21:17 treats verbal contempt for parents as a capital offense because it strikes at God’s established order and reflects a heart in open rebellion against Him. The verse magnifies the seriousness of sin, highlights the blessing tied to honoring parents, and ultimately directs us to Christ, who took the death our rebellion deserved and empowers us to live in obedient honor today. Verse 17. - He that curseth his father, etc. Blasphemy against God, and imprecations upon parents, were the only two sins of the tongue which the law expressly required to be punished with death (Leviticus 24:16). In later times analogy was held to require that "cursing the ruler of the people" (Exodus 22:28) should be visited with the same penalty (2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 2:8, 9, 46). The severity of the sentence indicates that in God' s sight such sins are of the deepest dye.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whoever cursesוּמְקַלֵּ֥ל (ū·mə·qal·lêl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling his father אָבִ֛יו (’ā·ḇîw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1: Father or mother וְאִמּ֖וֹ (wə·’im·mōw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 517: A mother, ) must surely מ֥וֹת (mō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 4191: To die, to kill be put to death. יוּמָֽת׃ (yū·māṯ) Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Links Exodus 21:17 NIVExodus 21:17 NLT Exodus 21:17 ESV Exodus 21:17 NASB Exodus 21:17 KJV Exodus 21:17 BibleApps.com Exodus 21:17 Biblia Paralela Exodus 21:17 Chinese Bible Exodus 21:17 French Bible Exodus 21:17 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 21:17 Anyone who curses his father or his (Exo. Ex) |