‘Cursed is one who distorts the justice due a stranger, an orphan, or a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Parallel translations
- WEB ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- KJV Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- BSB ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- NKJV ‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
- NLT ‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A curse falls on those who deny justice to the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.
Overview
God repeatedly defends the most defenseless members of society. Perverting their justice provokes his judgment because he is their protector. This concern for the marginalized runs through Scripture and culminates in Christ's care for the poor and outcast.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Deut 10:18He does execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, in giving him food and clothing.
- Deut 24:17You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge;
- Ps 82:2–4“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
- Prov 17:23A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
- Exod 22:21–24“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
- Exod 23:2“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice.
- Mal 3:5I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don’t fear me,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Mic 3:9Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
- Prov 31:5lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
- Exod 23:8–9“You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 27:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.