Jump to: Topical • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, a curse is a pronouncement of judgment or misfortune upon individuals, groups, or even the land, often as a consequence of disobedience to God's commandments. Curses are depicted throughout the Bible as both divine judgments and human imprecations, reflecting the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God.Old Testament The concept of a curse is introduced early in the Scriptures. In Genesis 3:14-19, God pronounces curses as a result of the Fall. The serpent is cursed above all livestock, and the ground is cursed because of Adam's disobedience, resulting in toil and hardship for humanity. This foundational narrative establishes the curse as a direct consequence of sin. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings and curses are laid out as part of the covenant between God and Israel. Verses 15-68 detail the curses that would befall Israel if they failed to obey God's commandments, including disease, defeat, and exile. These curses serve as a warning and a call to covenant faithfulness. The account of Balaam in Numbers 22-24 illustrates the power and limitations of curses. Although Balak, the king of Moab, hires Balaam to curse Israel, God intervenes, and Balaam is compelled to bless Israel instead. This narrative underscores the sovereignty of God over human attempts to curse His people. New Testament In the New Testament, the concept of a curse is often associated with the law and redemption. Galatians 3:10-14 discusses the curse of the law, stating, "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.'" However, Christ redeems believers from the curse by becoming a curse for them, as it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree" (Galatians 3:13). Jesus' teachings also address the misuse of curses. In Matthew 5:44, He instructs His followers to bless those who curse them, promoting a spirit of forgiveness and love over retaliation. Theological Implications Curses in the Bible highlight the gravity of sin and the justice of God. They serve as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. However, the redemptive work of Christ offers liberation from the curse of the law, emphasizing grace and the possibility of restoration. Practical Considerations Believers are encouraged to avoid invoking curses and instead to seek reconciliation and blessing. The power of words is significant, and Christians are called to use their speech to edify and build up others, reflecting the love and grace of God in their interactions. Key Verses · Genesis 3:14-19: The introduction of the curse as a result of the Fall. · Deuteronomy 28:15-68: The covenantal curses for disobedience. · Galatians 3:10-14: Christ's redemption from the curse of the law. · Matthew 5:44: Jesus' teaching on blessing those who curse. The biblical understanding of curses is deeply intertwined with themes of sin, judgment, and redemption, offering a profound insight into the nature of God's relationship with humanity. Topical Bible Verses Genesis 3:17And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; Topicalbible.org Judges 5:23 Numbers 23:11 Genesis 4:11-16 Genesis 3:14 Numbers 22:6 Easton's Bible Dictionary Denounced by God against the serpent (Genesis 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Genesis 9:25; 49:7; Deuteronomy 27:15; Joshua 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 (Exodus 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Leviticus 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. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.2. (v. t.) To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment. 3. (v. i.) To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear. 4. (n.) An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction. 5. (v. t.) Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation. 6. (n.) The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia CURSEkurs ('alah (Numbers 5:21, 23, 17, etc.), me'erah (Proverbs 3:33 Malachi 2:2, etc.), klalah (Genesis 27:12, 13); katara (Galatians 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" (Deuteronomy 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 Zechariah 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 (1 Samuel 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 (Genesis 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 Deuteronomy 11:29; Deuteronomy 27:12 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 Proverbs 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). Greek 2672. kataraomai -- to curse ... to curse. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataraomai Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ar-ah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I curse Definition: I curse. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2672.htm - 7k 2671. katara -- a curse 2652. katanathema -- curse. 685. ara -- a prayer, curse 2653. katanathematizo -- curse. 2617a. katathematizo -- to curse vehemently 2616b. katathema -- a curse 2617. kataischuno -- to curse vehemently 332. anathematizo -- to declare anathema, devote to destruction 331. anathema -- that which is laid up, ie a votive offering Strong's Hebrew 779. arar -- to curse... 778, 779. arar. 780 . to curse. Transliteration: arar Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rar') Short Definition: cursed. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/779.htm - 6k 6895. qabab -- to utter a curse against, curse 3994. meerah -- a curse 8381. taalah -- a curse 7045. qelalah -- a curse 7621. shebuah -- an oath, curse 422. alah -- to swear, curse 5344b. naqab -- to curse 1288. barak -- to kneel, bless 7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling Library Whether it is Lawful to Curse Anyone? Whether it is Lawful to Curse an Irrational Creature? The Curse and the Blessing. The Blessing and the Curse. That Curse was a Prediction of the Things which the Jews Would Do. The Blessings, and Also the Curse, Pronounced by Noah were ... God's Curse on Sin. Faustus Abhors Moses for the Awful Curse He Has Pronounced Upon ... Christ Took Upon Himself the Curse Due to Us. The Curse Removed Thesaurus Curse (211 Occurrences)... No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Exodus 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14). ...CURSE. ... /c/curse.htm - 46k Bitterness (37 Occurrences) False (303 Occurrences) Cursing (53 Occurrences) Execration (9 Occurrences) Abiram (9 Occurrences) Accursed (26 Occurrences) Ones (687 Occurrences) Balak (42 Occurrences) Curses (55 Occurrences) Resources What is the curse of the law? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the curse of Jeconiah? | GotQuestions.org Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? | GotQuestions.org Curse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Curse (211 Occurrences)Matthew 5:44 Matthew 18:7 Matthew 23:13 Matthew 23:15 Matthew 23:16 Matthew 23:23 Matthew 23:25 Matthew 23:27 Matthew 23:29 Matthew 25:41 Matthew 26:24 Matthew 26:74 Mark 11:21 Mark 14:71 Luke 6:28 Luke 10:13 Luke 11:42 Luke 11:43 Luke 11:44 Luke 11:46 Luke 11:47 Luke 11:52 John 7:49 Acts 23:12 Acts 23:14 Acts 23:21 Romans 9:3 Romans 12:14 1 Corinthians 4:12 1 Corinthians 9:16 1 Corinthians 12:3 1 Corinthians 16:22 Galatians 1:8 Galatians 1:9 Galatians 3:10 Galatians 3:13 Hebrews 6:8 James 3:9 1 Peter 2:23 1 Peter 3:9 1 Peter 3:16 2 Peter 2:14 Jude 1:11 Revelation 8:12 Revelation 22:3 Genesis 8:21 Genesis 12:3 Genesis 27:12 Genesis 27:13 Genesis 27:29 Genesis 49:7 Exodus 22:28 Leviticus 19:14 Leviticus 20:9 Leviticus 24:11 Numbers 5:18 Numbers 5:19 Numbers 5:21 Numbers 5:22 Numbers 5:24 Numbers 5:27 Numbers 22:6 Numbers 22:11 Numbers 22:12 Numbers 22:17 Numbers 23:7 Numbers 23:8 Numbers 23:11 Numbers 23:13 Numbers 23:25 Numbers 23:27 Numbers 24:9 Numbers 24:10 Deuteronomy 3:6 Deuteronomy 7:26 Deuteronomy 11:26 Deuteronomy 11:28 Deuteronomy 11:29 Deuteronomy 12:2 Deuteronomy 13:15 Deuteronomy 20:17 Deuteronomy 21:23 Deuteronomy 23:4 Deuteronomy 23:5 Deuteronomy 27:13 Deuteronomy 28:17 Deuteronomy 28:18 Deuteronomy 28:20 Deuteronomy 29:19 Deuteronomy 29:20 Deuteronomy 29:27 Deuteronomy 30:1 Deuteronomy 30:19 Joshua 2:10 Joshua 6:17 Joshua 6:18 Joshua 6:21 Joshua 7:1 Joshua 8:34 Joshua 10:1 Subtopics Curse: Barak Commands Balaam to Curse Israel Curse: Curses of the Mosaic Law Curse: Denounced: Against Adam and Eve Curse: Denounced: Against Cain Curse: Denounced: Against Canaan, Noah's Son Curse: Denounced: Against Gehazi Curse: Denounced: Against Meroz Curse: Denounced: Against the Ground Curse: Denounced: Against the Serpent Related Terms Resting-places (27 Occurrences) |
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