Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
- KJV And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
- NKJV “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
- NASB “And one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.
- NLT “Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death.
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
Cursing one's father or mother carried the death penalty, underscoring the gravity of honoring parents. It guards the family as the foundation of covenant society.
Overview
This law enforces the fifth commandment, treating contempt for parents as an assault on the God-ordained structure of authority and family. Jesus cited it to rebuke those who nullified God's word with human traditions (Matthew 15:4). While the civil penalty belonged to Israel's theocracy, the abiding principle of honoring parents remains, fulfilled in Christ who perfectly honored His Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 20:20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
- Mark 7:10–11For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
- Deut 27:16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Matt 15:3–6Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
- Lev 20:9–10If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.
- Prov 30:11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Prov 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 21:17 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.