What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:21? Cursed - The declaration comes straight from the covenant ceremony on Mount Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:11-26), where each sin named brings a solemn penalty. - Scripture consistently shows that when God says someone is “cursed,” it signals separation from His favor and the sure arrival of judgment (Deuteronomy 28:15; Galatians 3:10). - The word also reminds us that sin is never merely private; it invites consequences that only Christ can ultimately remove (Romans 5:12-18). is he - The verse singles out “he,” stressing personal accountability. No one may hide behind culture, family, or community standards (Ezekiel 18:20). - God’s law addresses the individual heart, and every person will “appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10). - The seriousness of the curse points us toward the urgent need for repentance and the cleansing that comes through the cross (1 John 1:7). who lies with any animal - Bestiality is explicitly forbidden elsewhere: “You must not have sexual relations with any animal and defile yourself with it” (Leviticus 18:23; see also Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15-16). - Such acts distort God’s design for sexuality, which is reserved for the one-flesh union of a man and a woman within marriage (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). - The sin drags the image-bearer of God below even the animal kingdom, demonstrating how far the human heart can stray when it rejects the Creator (Romans 1:24-27). - Because sexual sin uniquely affects both body and soul, Scripture urges us to “flee sexual immorality” rather than negotiate with it (1 Corinthians 6:18). And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ - The community’s “Amen” (literally “so be it”) shows corporate agreement that God’s standards are right and His judgments just (Nehemiah 8:6; 1 Chronicles 16:36). - By voicing the “Amen,” Israel accepted responsibility to uphold the command, to discipline violators, and to teach upcoming generations (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). - Our own “Amen” today affirms that God’s moral order is unchanged and that His grace, not moral compromise, is the answer for sinners (2 Corinthians 1:20; Titus 2:11-14). summary Deuteronomy 27:21 labels bestiality a curse, spotlighting the personal guilt of anyone who commits it and calling the whole covenant community to uphold God’s standard. The verse warns that sexual sin invites divine judgment, underscores individual accountability, and unites God’s people in affirming His righteous ways. At the same time, it drives us to Christ, the only One who can lift every curse and restore fallen hearts to purity and blessing. |
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