Deuteronomy 27:22
“‘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)
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The verse emphasizes the severity of this specific forbidden relationship by explicitly mentioning both full and half-siblings. This isn't just about incest; it's a profound statement against actions that deeply violate familial purity and God's ordered creation.
This verse is part of a dramatic ceremony on Mount Ebal where Moses instructs the Israelites to pronounce curses upon themselves for breaking God's law. Following curses against idolatry and dishonoring parents, this verse specifically targets incest, declaring a curse on anyone who has sexual relations with their sister. The entire assembly then responds with "Amen," signifying their agreement and acknowledgment of the divine judgment against such forbidden acts.
Imagine standing on a mountain, hearing a list of terrible sins read out, and then shouting "Amen!" This wasn't just a passive listening event.
In Deuteronomy 27, the Israelites participated in a powerful ritual at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. As the Levites read out curses for specific sins, the entire nation responded with a resounding "Amen." This wasn't just a formal declaration; it was the people acknowledging the justice of God's judgment and their own sinfulness.
A Unified Witness
Why single out lying with a sister? This wasn't just another forbidden act; it struck at the very heart of family and purity.
The curse in Deuteronomy 27:22 specifically targets sexual relations with a sister. This prohibition is also found in Leviticus 18:9.
Family Foundations and Purity
This prohibition against incest, particularly with a sister, was part of a broader covenantal framework established at Sinai and reinforced as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land. The repeated pronouncements of curses were meant to impress upon the people the serious consequences of violating God's law, a lesson tragically learned through their later periods of exile.
c. 1446 BC
Israel's Covenant at Sinai
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites formally enter into a covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai, receiving the Law, which includes prohibitions against incestuous relationships.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, begin their conquest of the Promised Land, preparing to establish a new society governed by God's Law.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
The Curses Proclaimed at Shechem
Moses, before his death, instructs the people to proclaim curses from Mount Ebal against those who disobey God's commands. This public declaration serves as a solemn warning and a call to obedience as they enter the land.
c. 1366 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel enters a period characterized by cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, highlighting the ongoing need for adherence to the Law and its sanctions.
This passage directly prohibits incestuous relations, including those with a sister, establishing the foundational law that Deuteronomy 27:22 reinforces with a curse.
Leviticus 20:17This verse further details the consequences of incest, specifically mentioning a sister relationship, and reiterates that such actions bring a curse.
Genesis 20:12This passage provides a historical example, where Abraham explains that Sarah is his half-sister, highlighting that while less common, unions with half-siblings were sometimes practiced or understood differently in earlier patriarchal contexts, making the prohibition in Deuteronomy even more significant.
2 Samuel 13:13In the account of Amnon and Tamar, Tamar confronts Amnon about his incestuous actions, calling it a great shame and a violation of God's law, demonstrating the deep-seated understanding of this prohibition as a grave sin.
Ezekiel 22:11This prophetic passage lists various sexual sins, including incest, as reasons for God's judgment on Jerusalem, showing how these prohibitions were still critically important and viewed as offenses against God centuries later.
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 emphasizes the severity of this specific forbidden relationship by explicitly mentioning both full and half-siblings. This isn't just about incest; it's a profound statement against actions that deeply violate familial purity and God's ordered creation.
This verse is part of a dramatic ceremony on Mount Ebal where Moses instructs the Israelites to pronounce curses upon themselves for breaking God's law. Following curses against idolatry and dishonoring parents, this verse specifically targets incest, declaring a curse on anyone who has sexual relations with their sister. The entire assembly then responds with "Amen," signifying their agreement and acknowledgment of the divine judgment against such forbidden acts.
This verse is part of a dramatic ceremony on Mount Ebal where Moses instructs the Israelites to pronounce curses upon themselves for breaking God's law. Following curses against idolatry and dishonoring parents, this verse specifically targets incest, declaring a curse on anyone who has sexual relations with their sister. The entire assembly then responds with "Amen," signifying their agreement and acknowledgment of the divine judgment against such forbidden acts.
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These pronouncements of curse might seem harsh, but they were a vital part of God's plan. What ultimate hope do they reveal?
The extensive list of curses in Deuteronomy 27, including the one against incestuous relations, serves a crucial purpose beyond simply condemning sin.
A Shadow of Greater Redemption
c. 722 BC
Exile of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, partly as a consequence of their persistent disobedience to the Law, underscoring the reality of the curses.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This devastating event is a direct result of generations of national sin and rebellion against God's covenant.
"“‘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 emphasizes the severity of this specific forbidden relationship by explicitly mentioning both full and half-siblings. This isn't just about incest; it's a profound statement against actions…
