Deuteronomy Chapter 27 · Verse 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.
Original Language Analysis
שֹׁכֵב֙
be he that lieth
H7901
שֹׁכֵב֙
be he that lieth
Strong's:
H7901
Word #:
2 of 13
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 13
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
אֲחֹת֔וֹ
with his sister
H269
אֲחֹת֔וֹ
with his sister
Strong's:
H269
Word #:
4 of 13
a sister (used very widely [like h0251], literally and figuratively)
בַת
or the daughter
H1323
בַת
or the daughter
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
5 of 13
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אָבִ֖יו
of his father
H1
אָבִ֖יו
of his father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
6 of 13
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
א֣וֹ
H176
א֣וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
7 of 13
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
בַת
or the daughter
H1323
בַת
or the daughter
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
8 of 13
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אִמּ֑וֹ
of his mother
H517
אִמּ֑וֹ
of his mother
Strong's:
H517
Word #:
9 of 13
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 13
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Leviticus 18:9The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.Leviticus 20:17And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.Ezekiel 22:11And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
Historical Context
These twelve curses (Deuteronomy 27:15-26) were proclaimed antiphonally at Mount Ebal as Israel entered Canaan (Joshua 8:30-35). Six tribes stood on Mount Gerizim for blessings, six on Mount Ebal for curses, with the Levites in the valley between declaring covenant conditions. The list emphasizes secret sins—violations done in darkness that human courts might not detect but that still brought divine judgment. Ancient Near Eastern cultures often tolerated incest among royalty (Egyptian pharaohs married siblings), but Israel's law reflected God's holiness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the requirement that 'all the people shall say, Amen' challenge modern individualism that says 'it's none of my business' about others' sin?
- What does God's attention to secret sexual sins reveal about His comprehensive concern for holiness in every area of life?
Analysis & Commentary
Cursed be he that lieth with his sister—the Hebrew shochev (שֹׁכֵב, lies with) uses covenant violation language. Leviticus 18:9 and 20:17 explicitly prohibit this incest, calling it chesed (חֶסֶד, disgrace/shame, not to be confused with the positive hesed). The arur (אָרוּר, cursed) formula marks covenant-breaking that severs one from God's blessing and community.
The precision—the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother—covers both full and half-siblings, closing any loophole. The communal response And all the people shall say, Amen makes every Israelite complicit in enforcing God's sexual purity standards. To remain silent when such sin occurred was to share in the curse. This anticipates church discipline principles (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13).