Deuteronomy 27:20
“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The curse here isn't just about the act itself, but about its profound violation of family honor. "Uncovering his father's nakedness" points to the shattering of the father's authority and the deep shame brought upon his household, a betrayal that spreads through generations.
Moses is leading the Israelites in a solemn ceremony on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. As they stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, half the tribes are positioned to pronounce blessings and the other half to pronounce curses. This specific curse addresses the grave offense of incest, particularly sleeping with one's father's wife, which was a serious violation of familial and social order and was explicitly forbidden.
Why was lying with a father's wife specifically called out as such a severe offense? It went beyond a mere violation of sexual purity.
This curse targets a specific violation of the familial order: incest with a father's wife. The phrase 'uncovered his father's nakedness' is a powerful metaphor. In ancient Near Eastern thought, a father's wife was considered an extension of the father himself. To lie with her was to symbolically 'uncover' or violate the father's honor and authority in the most intimate way possible. It was a profound betrayal that struck at the very heart of the family structure and the respect due to parents, a sin that brought deep shame.
Imagine standing on a mountainside, hearing curses read aloud. What does the collective 'Amen!' truly signify?
The repeated 'And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’' is crucial. This wasn't just an emotional outburst; it was a public and solemn affirmation. By saying 'Amen,' the entire nation was acknowledging the righteousness and justice of God's curses. They were declaring that these judgments were deserved by those who committed such sins. This corporate response served as a powerful statement of communal accountability and a unified commitment to uphold God's law, making it clear that sin had serious consequences for all.
Understand the original words
galah ervah · Hebrew Verb phrase
A euphemistic expression for sexual relations; 'uncovering nakedness' specifically denotes forbidden sexual intimacy.
This verse is part of a dramatic public ceremony where the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, collectively affirm the curses associated with disobedience to God's Law. It highlights the gravity of the covenant and the consequences of violating its moral and social order.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Receives the Law
At Mount Sinai, God gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments and the Law, laying the foundation for their covenant relationship and societal structure.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Curse Ceremony
Moses and the Levites lead the Israelites in a solemn ceremony at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, where specific curses are pronounced upon those who disobey God's law, and the people affirm 'Amen' to each curse.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Following Moses' death, Joshua leads the Israelites into Canaan, where they are to establish a society governed by the Law, including its curses and blessings.
Period of Judges
Cycles of Disobedience and Discipline
Throughout the period of the Judges, Israel repeatedly falls into disobedience, experiencing the consequences of violating God's law, as foretold in the curses.
This passage directly prohibits the act described in Deuteronomy 27:20, stating 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness.'
Leviticus 20:11This verse reiterates the prohibition and specifies the severe consequence: 'If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.'
1 Corinthians 5:1-5This New Testament passage addresses a similar, egregious sexual sin within the church, demonstrating that God's people are still called to holiness and to deal with such sin decisively, echoing the seriousness of the curse pronounced in Deuteronomy.
Galatians 3:10Paul quotes a similar concept from Deuteronomy (though not this specific verse) to show that anyone who fails to obey all aspects of the Law is under a curse, highlighting that adherence to God's commands, including those related to sexual purity, is essential.
calvinDeuteronomy 27:11-26: "And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,"
Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place: and all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Maledictus vir ille qui fecerit sculptile, et conflatile, abominationem Jehovae, opus manuum artificis, et posuerit in abscondito: et respondebunt universus populus, ac dicent, Amen.
Cursed be he that…
pooleDeuteronomy 27:20: "Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen."
See Deu 22:30 .
The curse here isn't just about the act itself, but about its profound violation of family honor. "Uncovering his father's nakedness" points to the shattering of the father's authority and the deep shame brought upon his household, a betrayal that spreads through generations.
Moses is leading the Israelites in a solemn ceremony on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. As they stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, half the tribes are positioned to pronounce blessings and the other half to pronounce curses. This specific curse addresses the grave offense of incest, particularly sleeping with one's father's wife, which was a serious violation of familial and social order and was explicitly forbidden.
Moses is leading the Israelites in a solemn ceremony on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. As they stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, half the tribes are positioned to pronounce blessings and the other half to pronounce curses. This specific curse addresses the grave offense of incest, particularly sleeping with one's father's wife, which was a serious violation of familial and social order and was explicitly forbidden.
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c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After King Solomon's reign, the united kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south), leading to further spiritual and political fragmentation.
"“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’" — The curse here isn't just about the act itself, but about its profound violation of family honor. "Uncovering his father's nakedness" points to the shattering of the father's authority and the deep s…
