Topical Bible: Cursers

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, "cursers" refers to individuals who invoke harm or misfortune upon others through spoken words. The act of cursing is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, often highlighting the moral and spiritual implications of such behavior.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides several instances and laws concerning cursing. In the Mosaic Law, cursing one's parents is explicitly condemned and carries severe consequences. Exodus 21:17 states, "Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death." This underscores the gravity of dishonoring one's parents through cursing, reflecting the high value placed on family and respect within the community.

Leviticus 19:14 also addresses cursing in a broader social context: "You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you are to fear your God. I am the LORD." This commandment emphasizes compassion and respect for all individuals, particularly the vulnerable, and highlights the moral responsibility to speak and act with integrity.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Proverbs, frequently contrasts the speech of the righteous with that of the wicked. Proverbs 20:20 warns, "Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness." This metaphorical language suggests that cursing leads to spiritual and moral darkness, severing the individual from the light of wisdom and righteousness.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ expands on the understanding of cursing and its implications. In the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches about the importance of reconciliation and the dangers of harboring anger and resentment. Matthew 5:22 states, "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." Here, Jesus equates verbal insults and curses with serious moral failings, emphasizing the need for purity of heart and speech.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of cursing in his epistles. In Romans 12:14, he instructs believers, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse." This teaching aligns with the broader Christian ethic of love and forgiveness, urging followers of Christ to respond to hostility with kindness and to refrain from cursing even in the face of persecution.

Spiritual Implications

Cursing is often associated with a heart that is not aligned with God's will. James 3:9-10 highlights the inconsistency of using the tongue for both blessing and cursing: "With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!" This passage calls believers to a higher standard of speech, one that reflects the image of God in others and maintains the integrity of one's faith.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on cursing is clear: it is a serious offense that reflects a deeper spiritual issue. The Scriptures consistently call for speech that edifies, blesses, and reflects the character of God, urging believers to cultivate hearts and tongues that align with His righteousness.

Library

Demonstration vi. --Of Monks.
... Let no reviling proceed out of our mouth, with which we pray unto God. Let us not
be cursers, that we may be delivered from the curse of the law. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration vi of monks.htm

Patience Both Antecedent and Subsequent to Faith.
... The law has found more than it has lost, while Christ says, "Love your personal
enemies, and bless your cursers, and pray for your persecutors, that ye may be ...
/.../tertullian/of patience/chapter vi patience both antecedent and.htm

The Law of Love
... We are not only to allow no stirring of malice in our feelings, but we are to let
kindly emotions bear fruit in words blessing the cursers, and in deeds of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the law of love.htm

Whether Cursing is a Mortal Sin?
... But cursing excludes from the kingdom of God, according to 1:Cor.6:10, "Nor cursers
[Douay: 'railers'], nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether cursing is a mortal.htm

A Penitent Heart, the Best New Year's Gift
... You, therefore, who have been swearers and cursers, you, who have been harlots and
drunkards, you, who have been thieves and robbers, you, who have hitherto ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/a penitent heart the best.htm

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our ...
... You pretend to repent for drunkenness, or such like, and yet you are ordinary cursers,
swearers, liars, railers, neglecters of prayer, profaners of the Sabbath ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xix if we confess.htm

The Gospel Supper
... lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the
blind," or call in the publicans and harlots, the common cursers and swearers ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the gospel supper.htm

Concerning Perfection.
... things ought not so to be. Who from this will conclude that the apostle was
one of those cursers? [528] But secondly, This objection ...
/.../proposition viii concerning perfection.htm

Chapter xxvi
... The unusual sequence of plural and singular conveys a shade of meaning about as
follows: "Thy cursers, may each one of them be cursed; they blessers, may each ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxvi.htm

Thesaurus

Cursers (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cursers (1 Occurrence). Job 3:8 Let the cursers
of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan. (YLT). ...
/c/cursers.htm - 6k