‘Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Parallel translations
- WEB ‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- KJV Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- BSB ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- ESV “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- NKJV ‘Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
- NASB ‘Cursed is he who attacks his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘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 secret murder, where the killer escapes human justice but not God's.
Overview
Though a murderer may evade earthly courts, God sees and judges hidden bloodshed. This curse upholds the sanctity of human life made in God's image. It assures that no crime ultimately goes unanswered before the righteous Judge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Num 35:31“‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
- Lev 24:17“‘He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death.
- Exod 21:12–14“One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death,
- Deut 19:11–12But if any man hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, strikes him mortally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities;
- 2 Sam 20:9–10Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- 2 Sam 3:27When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
- 2 Sam 11:15–17He wrote in the letter, saying, “Send Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck, and die.”
- 2 Sam 12:9–12Why have you despised Yahweh’s word, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
- 2 Sam 13:28Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”
- Exod 20:13“You shall not murder.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 27:24 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.