What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:20? “Cursed is he…” The declaration opens with a sober word—“Cursed.” Scripture presents blessing and curse as real, covenant-based outcomes (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 28:15-68). To be cursed is to stand under God’s judicial displeasure. Galatians 3:10 echoes the gravity: “All who rely on works of the Law are under a curse.” In other words: • This isn’t a social taboo alone; it is divine judgment. • The curse is personal—“he,” not an undefined crowd—underscoring individual responsibility. “…who sleeps with his father’s wife” Moses specifies the sin: incestuous adultery. Leviticus 18:8 and 20:11 pronounce the same prohibition and penalty, and 1 Corinthians 5:1 recalls the shock when the Corinthian church tolerated such a sin. The phrase reminds us: • God’s design for sexuality is covenant-bound and clearly defined (Genesis 2:24). • Violating family boundaries fractures both family and community stability; compare Reuben with Bilhah in Genesis 35:22 and Absalom’s public sin in 2 Samuel 16:21-22. “for he has violated his father’s marriage bed” The reason for the curse is spelled out: it “violated” (literally “uncovered”) the father’s sacred union. Hebrews 13:4 reaffirms, “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” Consider: • Marriage is a covenant sign; tampering with it attacks a God-ordained picture of faithfulness (Malachi 2:14). • Such a violation dishonors both father and mother, breaking the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), and desecrates a symbol of Christ’s relationship with His church (Ephesians 5:31-32). “And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’” The gathered nation responds with “Amen”—“so be it.” Deuteronomy 27:15-26 repeats this pattern, and Nehemiah 8:6 shows the same communal affirmation. “Amen” signals: • Agreement with God’s verdict—no relativizing, no excuses. • Communal accountability: the entire covenant community pledges to uphold righteousness (Matthew 18:15-17). • Corporate worship: 1 Chronicles 16:36 and Revelation 22:20 end in “Amen,” showing continuity from Sinai to the New Jerusalem. summary Deuteronomy 27:20 warns that sexual sin within the family invites God’s curse because it desecrates the sanctity of marriage and the stability of the covenant community. The verse calls each believer to honor God-given boundaries, uphold the purity of the marriage bed, and voice wholehearted agreement with God’s standards, knowing that true blessing flows from obedience. |
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