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Bible >Deuteronomy >Chapter 27 > Verse 20

◄ Deuteronomy 27:20►

New International Version
“Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

New Living Translation
‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

English Standard Version
“‘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.’

Berean Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

King James Bible
Cursedbe he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

New King James Version
‘Cursedis the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

New American Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s garment.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

NASB 1995
‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

NASB 1977
‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Amplified Bible
‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his father’s [former] wife, because he has violated what belongs to his father.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Christian Standard Bible
‘The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

American Standard Version
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

English Revised Version
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father's wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father." Then all the people will say amen.

Good News Translation
"'God's curse on anyone who disgraces his father by having intercourse with any of his father's wives.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

International Standard Version
"Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because he has disgraced his father. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, 'Amen!'

NET Bible
Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father's former wife, for he dishonors his father.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'

New Heart English Bible
'Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

World English Bible
‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“Cursed [is] he who is lying with his father’s wife, for he has uncovered his father’s skirt.” And all the people have said, “Amen.”

Young's Literal Translation
Cursed is he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cursed he lying with his father's wife, for he uncovered his father's wing: and all the people said, Amen.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, and uncovereth his bed: and all the people shall say: Amen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Cursed be he who lies with his father’s wife, and so exposes the covering of his bed. And all the people shall say: Amen.

New American Bible
“Cursed be anyone who has relations with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed!” And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”

New Revised Standard Version
“Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights.” All the people shall say, “Amen!”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife; and thus uncovers his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Cursed is everyone who will have sexual intercourse with the wife of his father and will expose the skirts of his father, and all the people shall say, “Amen.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say: Amen.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Cursed is he that lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt: and all the people shall say, So be it.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Curses Pronounced from Ebal
…19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife,for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’And let all the people say,‘Amen!’21‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Leviticus 18:8
You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

Leviticus 20:11
If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

2 Samuel 16:21-22
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Ezekiel 22:10
In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. / Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

1 Timothy 1:9-10
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Genesis 9:22-23
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. / Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Treasury of Scripture

Cursed be he that lies with his father's wife; because he uncovers his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 22:30
A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

Genesis 35:22
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heardit. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 49:4
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thouit: he went up to my couch.

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Deuteronomy 27

1.The people are commanded to write the law upon stones
5.and to build an altar of whole stones
11.The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal
14.The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife
This phrase addresses a specific sexual sin that was considered a grave offense in ancient Israelite society. The act of sleeping with one's father's wife is a violation of familial boundaries and is explicitly condemned inLeviticus 18:8 and 20:11. This sin disrupts the sanctity of the family unit, which was central to Israelite culture and law. The curse reflects the seriousness with which such transgressions were viewed, emphasizing the need for purity and respect within the family. This prohibition also underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of the marriage covenant, which is a recurring theme throughout the Bible.

for he has violated his father’s marriage bed
The phrase "violated his father’s marriage bed" indicates a breach of the sacred marital relationship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the marriage bed symbolized the exclusive union between a husband and wife. Violating this union was not only a personal offense but also a communal one, as it threatened the social order and stability of the community. This act is seen as a direct affront to the father's authority and honor, which were highly valued in patriarchal societies. The violation of the marriage bed is also metaphorically used in the Bible to describe unfaithfulness to God, as seen in the prophetic writings where Israel's idolatry is likened to adultery.

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
The communal response of "Amen" signifies agreement and acceptance of the curse by the entire assembly of Israel. This collective affirmation highlights the communal responsibility in upholding God's laws and the shared commitment to maintaining holiness within the community. The use of "Amen" is a declaration of truth and an acknowledgment of the righteousness of God's commandments. It also serves as a public witness to the covenant between God and His people, reinforcing the idea that the community is bound together by their adherence to divine law. This practice of communal affirmation is seen throughout Scripture, emphasizing unity and collective accountability.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Moses
The leader of the Israelites who delivered God's laws and commands, including the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy.

2.The Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving the law as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

3.Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim
The locations where the blessings and curses were to be proclaimed to the Israelites.

4.The Levites
The tribe responsible for proclaiming the curses to the people.

5.The Father and His Wife
The individuals directly referenced in the curse, highlighting the sanctity of marriage and family.

Teaching Points

The Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant established by God. Violating this covenant through adultery or incest is a serious sin that disrupts the family unit and dishonors God.

Community Responsibility
The communal response of "Amen" signifies collective agreement and responsibility in upholding God's laws. As a community, believers are called to support and maintain moral integrity.

Consequences of Sin
Sin has both personal and communal consequences. Understanding the gravity of sin helps believers to avoid actions that lead to spiritual and relational harm.

Repentance and Restoration
While the curse highlights the severity of sin, it also points to the need for repentance and the possibility of restoration through God's grace.

Moral Vigilance
Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant in their moral conduct, recognizing the subtle ways in which sin can infiltrate and damage relationships.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:20?

2.How does Deuteronomy 27:20 emphasize the importance of sexual purity in relationships?

3.What consequences are outlined for disobedience in Deuteronomy 27:20?

4.How does Deuteronomy 27:20 connect with the Ten Commandments on honoring family?

5.How can we uphold the principles in Deuteronomy 27:20 in modern society?

6.What steps can we take to avoid the sin mentioned in Deuteronomy 27:20?

7.Why does Deuteronomy 27:20 specifically condemn sleeping with one's father's wife?

8.How does Deuteronomy 27:20 reflect the cultural norms of ancient Israel?

9.What is the historical context behind the curse in Deuteronomy 27:20?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 27?

11.What is the curse of the law?

12.Is the law based on faith or works?

13.What does the Bible say about incest?

14.(Genesis 35:22) Why is Reuben’s act with Bilhah mentioned only briefly here, and does it conflict with other passages describing moral or legal consequences?

What Does Deuteronomy 27:20 Mean

“Cursed is he…”

The declaration opens with a sober word—“Cursed.” Scripture presents blessing and curse as real, covenant-based outcomes (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 28:15-68). To be cursed is to stand under God’s judicial displeasure.Galatians 3:10 echoes the gravity: “All who rely on works of the Law are under a curse.” In other words:

• This isn’t a social taboo alone; it is divine judgment.

• The curse is personal—“he,” not an undefined crowd—underscoring individual responsibility.

“…who sleeps with his father’s wife”

Moses specifies the sin: incestuous adultery.Leviticus 18:8 and 20:11 pronounce the same prohibition and penalty, and1 Corinthians 5:1 recalls the shock when the Corinthian church tolerated such a sin. The phrase reminds us:

• God’s design for sexuality is covenant-bound and clearly defined (Genesis 2:24).

• Violating family boundaries fractures both family and community stability; compare Reuben with Bilhah inGenesis 35:22 and Absalom’s public sin in2 Samuel 16:21-22.

“for he has violated his father’s marriage bed”

The reason for the curse is spelled out: it “violated” (literally “uncovered”) the father’s sacred union.Hebrews 13:4 reaffirms, “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” Consider:

• Marriage is a covenant sign; tampering with it attacks a God-ordained picture of faithfulness (Malachi 2:14).

• Such a violation dishonors both father and mother, breaking the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), and desecrates a symbol of Christ’s relationship with His church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

“And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’”

The gathered nation responds with “Amen”—“so be it.”Deuteronomy 27:15-26 repeats this pattern, andNehemiah 8:6 shows the same communal affirmation. “Amen” signals:

• Agreement with God’s verdict—no relativizing, no excuses.

• Communal accountability: the entire covenant community pledges to uphold righteousness (Matthew 18:15-17).

• Corporate worship:1 Chronicles 16:36 andRevelation 22:20 end in “Amen,” showing continuity from Sinai to the New Jerusalem.

summary

Deuteronomy 27:20 warns that sexual sin within the family invites God’s curse because it desecrates the sanctity of marriage and the stability of the covenant community. The verse calls each believer to honor God-given boundaries, uphold the purity of the marriage bed, and voice wholehearted agreement with God’s standards, knowing that true blessing flows from obedience.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

‘Cursed is
אָר֗וּר(’ā·rūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779:To execrate

he who sleeps
שֹׁכֵב֙(šō·ḵêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7901:To lie down

with
עִם־(‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973:With, equally with

his father’s
אָבִ֔יו(’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Father

wife,
אֵ֣שֶׁת(’ê·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, female

for
כִּ֥י(kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunction

he has violated
גִלָּ֖ה(ḡil·lāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1540:To denude, to exile, to reveal

his father’s
אָבִ֑יו(’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Father

marriage bed.’
כְּנַ֣ף(kə·nap̄)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3671:An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

And {let} all
כָּל־(kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֖ם(hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

say,
וְאָמַ֥ר(wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say

‘Amen!’
אָמֵֽן׃(’ā·mên)
Adverb
Strong's 543:Sure, faithfulness, truly

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OT Law: Deuteronomy 27:20 Cursed be he who lies with his (Deut. De Du)