Deuteronomy 27:16
“‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about outright defiance of parents; it curses anyone who "sets light by" them. This implies a subtler, more internal disrespect, a heart that quietly dismisses or devalues their parents, not necessarily through open rebellion but through contempt. The people's resounding "Amen" signifies their full agreement and understanding that even hidden disrespect carries God's serious judgment.
This verse is part of a dramatic public ceremony on Mount Ebal where, following Moses' instructions, the Levites read out curses for specific sins, and the people responded with "Amen." This follows the tribes being divided, with some on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings and others on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The curses cover transgressions against God's commands, including idolatry, dishonoring parents, and various forms of injustice and sexual immorality, before concluding with a sweeping curse against anyone who doesn't uphold the entire Law.
Ever felt like your parents just don't 'get' you? This ancient text calls disrespect a curse. Let's unpack why.
This verse is part of a solemn ceremony where the people of Israel publicly affirmed God's law by responding 'Amen' to curses against specific sins. Dishonoring parents is listed early, right after sins against God Himself.
More Than Just Rudeness
'Setting light by' doesn't just mean being rude. It implies despising, belittling, or treating with contempt. In ancient Israel, parents held significant authority, and their word was crucial. Disrespecting them was seen as undermining the foundational structure of family and society, and by extension, disrespecting God who commanded them to be honored.
This wasn't a minor offense; it was a breach of the covenant, worthy of a curse.
The powerful 'Amen' wasn't just a passive agreement. It was an active declaration. What does this communal response teach us?
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The repeated response of 'Amen' by 'all the people' after each curse is a critical part of this passage. It signifies their collective agreement and acceptance of God's judgment against these sins.
Embracing God's Standard
This wasn't just a legal pronouncement; it was a moment of communal spiritual accountability. By saying 'Amen,' the people were:
This shared declaration highlights that living according to God's covenant was a community effort, not just an individual pursuit.
Understand the original words
arur · Hebrew Adjective
A state of being under divine judgment or separation from God due to disobedience or violation of His law, invoking His righteous condemnation.
maqleh · Hebrew Verb
To treat with lack of reverence, value, or esteem; specifically, failing to provide the respect and care commanded by God for one's parents.
amen · Hebrew Interjection/Adverb
A Hebrew word of affirmation, meaning 'truly,' 'it is true,' or 'so be it,' used to express agreement and commitment to the truth or the binding nature of a statement.
This verse is part of a powerful, public ceremony where the entire nation of Israel corporately affirmed their commitment to God's Law by agreeing to the curses that would fall on those who violated it. The direct, communal 'Amen' highlights the seriousness of upholding the covenant, underscoring that even the foundational duty of honoring parents carried divine judgment.
c. 1400 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Following their exodus from Egypt and wilderness wandering, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, prepare to take possession of Canaan. This is the era when the Law of Moses is being established as their guiding code in their new homeland.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
The Curses Proclaimed at Mount Ebal
Moses, as instructed by God, leads the people in a solemn ceremony on Mount Ebal. After conquering Canaan, half the tribes pronounce blessings from Mount Gerizim and curses from Mount Ebal on those who disobey the Law.
c. 1350-1050 BC
The Period of the Judges
This era saw cycles of Israel's disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. The curses proclaimed at Ebal served as a constant reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commands.
c. 1050 BC
The Monarchy Established
Saul, David, and Solomon rule as kings. The emphasis on covenant faithfulness, including the curses for disobedience, continues to be a backdrop to Israel's national life.
This passage is the foundational commandment of the Ten Commandments that Deuteronomy 27:16 is upholding, highlighting the direct link between a divine command and its severe consequence for disobedience.
Proverbs 30:17This proverb directly speaks to the contemptuous attitude described in Deuteronomy 27:16, showing how disrespect for parents was seen as a serious character flaw even in wisdom literature.
Matthew 15:4-6Jesus confronts the Pharisees for finding ways around the commandment to honor parents, demonstrating that the principle of honoring parents was a continuous ethical requirement that extended beyond mere outward actions.
Ephesians 6:1-3Paul echoes the Old Testament command, stating that honoring parents is 'the first commandment with a promise,' reinforcing its significance within the New Testament understanding of godly living and its blessings.
Galatians 3:10This passage powerfully connects the concept of a curse to the failure to uphold God's law, serving as a New Testament parallel to the 'Amen' response in Deuteronomy, underscoring that any failure to keep the law results in condemnation.
gillDeuteronomy 27:16: "Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen."
Cursed be he that setteth light by his father, or his mother,.... That secretly despises them in his heart, and by looks and gestures mocks at them in a private manner, unseen by others, Proverbs 30:17 ; for if he publicly cursed them, that was cognizable by the civil magistrate, and he was to be put to death, Leviticus 20:9 . This follows next, as in the order of the ten comman…
clarkeDeuteronomy 27:16: "Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen."
Setteth light by his father or his mother - See the note on Exodus 20:12 .
This verse isn't just about outright defiance of parents; it curses anyone who "sets light by" them. This implies a subtler, more internal disrespect, a heart that quietly dismisses or devalues their parents, not necessarily through open rebellion but through contempt. The people's resounding "Amen" signifies their full agreement and understanding that even hidden disrespect carries God's serious judgment.
This verse is part of a dramatic public ceremony on Mount Ebal where, following Moses' instructions, the Levites read out curses for specific sins, and the people responded with "Amen." This follows the tribes being divided, with some on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings and others on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The curses cover transgressions against God's commands, including idolatry, dishonoring parents, and various forms of injustice and sexual immorality, before concluding with a sweeping curse against anyone who doesn't uphold the entire Law.
This verse is part of a dramatic public ceremony on Mount Ebal where, following Moses' instructions, the Levites read out curses for specific sins, and the people responded with "Amen." This follows the tribes being divided, with some on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings and others on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The curses cover transgressions against God's commands, including idolatry, dishonoring parents, and various forms of injustice and sexual immorality, before concluding with a sweeping curse against anyone who doesn't uphold the entire Law.
"“‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’" — This verse isn't just about outright defiance of parents; it curses anyone who "sets light by" them. This implies a subtler, more internal disrespect, a heart that quietly dismisses or devalues their…
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