Deuteronomy 27:20
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.
Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- ‘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!’
- KJV
- Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- WEB
- ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; for he uncovereth his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen.
- BLB
- ‘Cursed is he who lies with the wife of his father, because he has uncovered the skirt of his father.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- ÅB
- Forbannet være den som ligger hos sin fars hustru, for han har vanæret sin fars leie! Og alt folket skal si: Amen.
- OTB
- ‘Forbannet er den som ligger med sin fars kone, for han bringer vanære over sin fars seng.’ Da skal hele folket si: ‘Amen.’
- B1930
- Forbannet være den som ligger hos sin fars hustru, for han har vanæret sin fars leie! Og alt folket skal si: Amen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 22:30
A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.
Read in contextLeviticus 18:8
The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.
Read in context1 Corinthians 5:1
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
Read in contextLeviticus 20:11
And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Read in contextEzekiel 22:10
In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
Read in context2 Samuel 16:22
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Read in contextGenesis 49:4
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Read in context1 Chronicles 5:1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
Read in context