Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

DEUTERONOMY 27:15KJV
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Deuteronomy 27:15 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 27:15 mean?

Deuteronomy 27:15 declares that anyone who secretly makes a carved or metal idol—something detestable to the LORD and crafted by human hands—is under a curse, and the whole community must respond by affirming this with “Amen.” This verse warns against idolatry, especially when it is hidden, and calls for the community to agree that such actions are wrong.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The verse is part of a ceremony where specific sins are listed, and the people publicly agree to the consequences. The focus is on the seriousness of making idols (objects meant for worship), even if done in secret, and on the community’s shared responsibility to uphold God’s standards.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 27:15

  • “Cursed” (אָרוּר, ’arur): This word means to be under a divine curse or judgment, not just disapproval. The curse is seen as a real consequence, not just a warning.
  • “Graven” (פֶּסֶל, pesel) and “image” (מַסֵּכָה, masekhah): “Pesel” refers to a carved idol, while “masekhah” is a cast metal image. The verse covers both types of idols, showing that any form of idol-making is condemned.
  • “Abomination” (תוֹעֵבָה, to‘evah): This word means something utterly detestable or repulsive to the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH). It emphasizes how strongly God rejects idol worship.
  • “Secret” (סָתַר, sater): This word means a hidden or concealed place. The verse points out that even if idolatry is done in private, it is still seen and judged by God.

Why Deuteronomy 27:15 matters

  • The verse makes clear that idolatry is not just a public offense; even hidden acts are serious in God’s eyes.
  • By having all the people say “Amen,” the passage shows that the whole community is responsible for upholding what is right, not just individuals.
  • This verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where other hidden or secret sins are also addressed, highlighting the importance of integrity and faithfulness in the community.

Where else these words appear

“Amen” Hebrew H543 · used in 24 verses

  • Numbers 5:22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
  • Deuteronomy 27:22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
  • Nehemiah 8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

“image” Hebrew H4541 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
  • Judges 18:14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
  • Psalms 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

“graven” Hebrew H6459 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
  • Judges 18:18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
  • Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

“craftsman” Hebrew H2796 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
  • Isaiah 44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.