Deuteronomy 27:22
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The verse doesn't just condemn incest; it highlights the deliberate inclusion of both "daughter of his father" and "daughter of his mother." This specificity underscores that any sister, whether full or half, was subject to this curse, leaving no room for interpretation or loopholes in God's law regarding purity.
“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a solemn ceremony where the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, are commanded to publicly curse those who violate God's law. Moses instructs them to stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, with half the tribes proclaiming blessings and the other half curses, emphasizing the weighty consequences of obedience and disobedience to the covenant. The people then affirm each curse with a resounding "Amen," signifying their understanding and acceptance of these divine judgments.
Why would God's law specifically condemn incest with a sister? And why the mention of 'daughter of his father' or 'daughter of his mother'?
This verse addresses incest, a serious violation of God's moral law. The specific wording, "daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother," clarifies that this prohibition applies to full siblings (sharing both parents) and half-siblings (sharing one parent). While earlier periods in biblical history might show instances where marriage to a half-sister was tolerated, by the time of Deuteronomy, God's command was clear: such unions were forbidden. This underscores God's consistent call for His people to live in ways that reflect His holiness, setting them apart from the surrounding cultures.
This prohibition was not just about maintaining social order; it was about preserving the sanctity of family relationships and reflecting God's own pure nature.
Imagine standing on a mountain, hearing pronouncements of God's curse, and then collectively responding. What power is in that shared 'Amen'?
This verse is part of a powerful ceremony where the entire nation of Israel was to pronounce 'Amen' to a series of curses against specific sins. This wasn't a passive agreement; it was an active, corporate confession and affirmation of God's justice.
By saying 'Amen' (which means 'so be it' or 'truly'), the people were acknowledging:
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Moses used this solemn rite to impress upon the people the seriousness of God's law and the absolute necessity of obedience.
This verse is part of a dramatic public ceremony where the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, publicly affirmed God's curses against specific sins, underscoring that obedience to the Law carried profound national consequences.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Receive the Law at Sinai
God gives the Law, including prohibitions against incestuous relationships, to the Israelites through Moses shortly after their exodus from Egypt.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Leads Israelites into Canaan
After Moses' death, Joshua leads the people into the Promised Land, preparing them to establish their society under God's Law.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
The Curses Pronounced at Mount Ebal
Moses instructs the people to divide into two groups on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Six tribes pronounce blessings from Gerizim, while the other six pronounce curses from Ebal, including the one against incest.
c. 1400 BC
Israel Establishes Society in Canaan
As the Israelites settle the land, these public pronouncements of curses serve as a solemn reminder of God's justice and the consequences of disobedience.
c. 722 BC
Northern Kingdom of Israel Exiled
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom, demonstrating the severe consequences of prolonged national disobedience to the Law.
586 BC
Southern Kingdom of Judah Exiled
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and exiles the people of Judah, another testament to the reality of God's curses against covenant unfaithfulness.
This passage directly prohibits incestuous relations, specifically mentioning relations with a sister, which directly aligns with the curse in Deuteronomy 27:22 and reinforces the seriousness of the prohibition.
Genesis 20:12This verse shows an earlier instance where Abraham explains that Sarah is his half-sister, suggesting a different societal norm regarding half-sibling marriage in that patriarchal era, offering a contrast to the strict prohibition later codified.
2 Samuel 13:13In this account, Tamar points out that marrying a half-sister is considered incestuous, demonstrating the developing understanding and condemnation of such relationships within Israelite society, which Deuteronomy 27:22 formalizes as cursed.
Galatians 3:10This New Testament passage connects the concept of being cursed to not upholding the Law, echoing the structure of Deuteronomy 27 where obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings curses, thus placing this specific curse within a broader covenantal framework.
Ezekiel 22:11This prophetic passage condemns various sexual sins, including incest, highlighting that such abominations were still a problem and a cause for judgment, showing the enduring relevance of these curses against sexual impurity.
gillDeuteronomy 27:22: "Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen."
Cursed be he that lieth with his sister,.... Which is forbid, Leviticus 18:9 , the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother; whether his sister by father or mother's side: and all the people shall say Amen; detesting such uncleanness.
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…
The verse doesn't just condemn incest; it highlights the deliberate inclusion of both "daughter of his father" and "daughter of his mother." This specificity underscores that any sister, whether full or half, was subject to this curse, leaving no room for interpretation or loopholes in God's law regarding purity.
This verse is part of a solemn ceremony where the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, are commanded to publicly curse those who violate God's law. Moses instructs them to stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, with half the tribes proclaiming blessings and the other half curses, emphasizing the weighty consequences of obedience and disobedience to the covenant. The people then affirm each curse with a resounding "Amen," signifying their understanding and acceptance of these divine judgments.
This verse is part of a solemn ceremony where the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, are commanded to publicly curse those who violate God's law. Moses instructs them to stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, with half the tribes proclaiming blessings and the other half curses, emphasizing the weighty consequences of obedience and disobedience to the covenant. The people then affirm each curse with a resounding "Amen," signifying their understanding and acceptance of these divine judgments.
"“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’" — The verse doesn't just condemn incest; it highlights the deliberate inclusion of both "daughter of his father" and "daughter of his mother." This specificity underscores that any sister, whether fu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
