Deuteronomy 27:20

King James Version

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

Parallel Translations

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.'

Update Bible Version
Cursed be he that lies with his father's wife, because he has 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.

New Century Version
"A man will be cursed who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because it is a dishonor to his father." Then all the people will say, "Amen!"

New English Translation
‘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!'

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.

World English Bible
Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt. 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.'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Cursid is he that slepith with `the wijf of his fadir, and schewith the hiling of his bed; and al the puple schal seie, 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.

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!'

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.

Bible in Basic English
Cursed is he who has sex relations with his father's wife, for he has put shame on his father. And let all the people say, So be it.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Cursed be he that lyeth with his fathers wyfe, and vnhealeth his fathers couering: and all the people shall say, Amen.

Complete Jewish Bible
"‘A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because he has violated his father's rights.' All the people are to say, ‘Amen!'

Darby Translation
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; for he uncovereth his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen.

Easy-to-Read Version
"The Levites will say, ‘Cursed is the one who shames his father by having sexual relations with his father's wife.' "Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!'

JPS Old Testament (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.

King James Version (1611)
Cursed be hee that lieth with his fathers wife, because he vncouereth his fathers skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen.

New Life Bible
‘Cursed is the man who lies with his father's wife because he has taken off the clothes of her who belongs to his father.' And all the people will say, ‘Let it be so.'

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

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Cursed, be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath turned aside his father's coverlet. And all the people shall say - Amen.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Cursed be hee that lyeth with his fathers wife: for he hath vncouered his fathers skirt: And all the people shal say: So be it.

George Lamsa Translation
Cursed be he who lies with his fathers wife; and thus uncovers his fathers skirt. And all the people shall 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!'

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

Revised Standard Version
"'Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered her who is his father's.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.

Christian Standard Bible®
‘The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’

Hebrew Names Version
Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt. All the people shall say, Amein.

Lexham English Bible
‘Cursed be the one who lies with the wife of his father, because he has dishonored his father's bed.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.'

Literal Translation
Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he uncovers his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Cursed be he, that lyeth with his fathers wife, to vncouer his fathers couerynge. And all the people shal saye, 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.'

New King James Version
"Cursed is 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 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.'

New American Standard Bible (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.'

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.'

Contextual Overview

¹¹ And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, ¹² These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: ¹³ And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴ And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. ¹⁷ Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. ¹⁸ Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. ¹⁹ Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Deuteronomy 22:30, Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:8, Leviticus 20:11, 2 Samuel 16:22, 1 Chronicles 5:1, Ezekiel 22:10, Amos 2:7, 1 Corinthians 5:1

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:9 - taken up

Cross-References

Genesis 24:12
And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Job 13:7
Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Cursed [be] he that lieth with his father's wife,.... As Reuben did, and which is forbidden Leviticus 18:8;

because he uncovereth his father's skirt; see Deuteronomy 22:30;

and all the people shall say Amen; the tribe of Reuben said this as well as the rest.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Compare Joshua 8:32-35. The solemnity was apparently designed only for the single occasion on which it actually took place.

Deuteronomy 27:12, Deuteronomy 27:13

The tribes appointed to stand on Gerizim to bless the people all sprang from the two wives of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. All the four tribes which sprang from the handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah are located on Ebal. But in order, as it would seem, to effect an equal division, two tribes are added to the latter from the descendants of the wives, that of Reuben, probably because he forfeited his primogeniture Genesis 49:4; and of Zebulun, apparently because he was the youngest son of Leah.

The transaction presents itself as a solemn renewal of the covenant made by God with Abraham and Isaac, but more especially with Jacob and his family. Accordingly the genealogical basis of the “twelve patriarchs” (compare Acts 7:12; Revelation 7:4 ff), the sons of Jacob, is here assumed. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are merged in the name of Joseph, their father; and Levi regains on this occasion his place collaterally with the others. “The Levites” of Deuteronomy 27:14 are no doubt “the priests the Levites” (compareJoshua 8:33; Joshua 8:33), in whom the ministerial character attaching to the tribe was more particularly manifested. It is noteworthy that the group of tribes which stood on Gerizim far exceeded the other in numbers and in importance, thus perhaps indicating that even by the Law the blessing should at length prevail.

Deuteronomy 27:15

The “Amen” attested the conviction of the utterers that the sentences to which they responded were true, just, and certain; so in Numbers 5:22, and in our own Commination Office, which is modelled after this ordinance of Moses.

Deuteronomy 27:15-26

Twelve curses against transgressions of the covenant. The first eleven are directed against special sins which are selected by way of example, the last comprehensively sums up in general terms and condemns all and every offence against God’s Law. Compare the marginal references.