‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Parallel translations
- KJV Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- BSB ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- ESV “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- NKJV ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
- NASB ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- NLT ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 incest with one's mother-in-law, another forbidden union.
Overview
This continues the list of secret sexual sins that defile the covenant people. Such relationships violate the order and honor of the extended family. The people's affirmation shows their accountability to God's holy standard.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Lev 20:14“‘If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that there may be no wickedness among you.
- Lev 18:17“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 27:23 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.