Deuteronomy 27 · Verse 20

Deuteronomy 27:20

Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:20, King James Version

Deuteronomy 27:20 in other translations

BSB‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
WEB‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
ASVCursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife, because he hath uncovered his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
YLT‘Cursed is he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt, --and all the people have said, Amen.
DARBYCursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; for he uncovereth his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen.
BBECursed is he who has sex relations with his father's wife, for he has put shame on his father. And let all the people say, So be it.
WebsterCursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen.

What does Deuteronomy 27:20 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26

The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Ga 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 27:11-26 →

Deuteronomy 27:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אָר֗וּר'a.Rur[is] cursedH779
שֹׁכֵב֙sho.Khev[one who] liesH7901
עִם\־'im-withH5973
אֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shet[the] wife ofH802
אָבִ֔יו'a.Vivfather hisH1
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
גִלָּ֖הgi.Lahhe has uncoveredH1540
כְּנַ֣ףke.Naf[the] skirt ofH3671
אָבִ֑יו'a.Vivfather hisH1
וְאָמַ֥רve.'a.Marand it will sayH559
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָעָ֖םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
אָמֵֽן\׃\ \ס'a.MenamenH543

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 27:20

  • Deuteronomy 22:30

    A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.

  • Leviticus 18:8

    The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1

    It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

  • Leviticus 20:11

    And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

  • Ezekiel 22:10

    In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.

  • 2 Samuel 16:22

    So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

  • Genesis 49:4

    Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1

    Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

  • Amos 2:7

    That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:

  • Genesis 35:22

    And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:30; Ge 35:22; 49:4; Le 18:8; 20:11; 2Sa 16:22; 1Ch 5:1; Eze 22:10
Am 2:7; 1Co 5:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 27:19

    Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Deuteronomy 27:20

    Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Deuteronomy 27:21

    Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Read all of Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Maldito el que se echare con la mujer de su padre; por cuanto descubrió el regazo de su padre. Y dirá todo el pueblo: Amén.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Maudit qui couche avec la femme de son père, car il relève le pan du vêtement de son père! Et tout le peuple dira: Amen!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Verflucht sei, wer bei dem Weibe seines Vaters liegt, denn er hat die Decke seines Vaters aufgedeckt! und das ganze Volk sage: Amen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Maledictus qui dormit cum uxore patris sui, et revelat operimentum lectuli ejus: et dicet omnis populus: Amen.