Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

DEUTERONOMY 27:16KJV
Know the Bible

Deuteronomy 27:16 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 27:16 mean?

Deuteronomy 27:16 states that anyone who treats their father or mother with contempt or disrespect is under a curse, and the people are to affirm this by saying "Amen." The verse highlights the seriousness of honoring one's parents in the community's moral and spiritual life.

In this passage, Moses is instructing the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The Levites are to pronounce a series of curses from Mount Ebal, and the people respond to each one. This particular curse emphasizes that disrespecting parents is not just a private failing but a public offense with spiritual consequences.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 27:16

  • "Cursed" (אָרוּר, 'arur'): This word means to be under a declaration of misfortune or divine judgment. Here, it signals that treating parents lightly is not just frowned upon but brings a serious consequence.
  • "Light" (קָלָה, qalāh): This word means to treat someone as insignificant, to despise, or to dishonor. The verse is not just about outright rebellion but includes any attitude or action that makes light of parental authority or dignity.
  • "Amen" (אָמֵן, 'āmēn): This word is an affirmation meaning "so be it" or "truly." The people's response shows communal agreement that this standard is to be upheld by everyone.

Why Deuteronomy 27:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that honoring parents is not only a family value but a foundational part of Israel's covenant with God, carrying real consequences for breaking it.
  • The use of "cursed" shows that disrespect toward parents is seen as a serious moral failing, not a minor issue.
  • By having the whole community say "Amen," the passage makes clear that upholding respect for parents is a shared responsibility, not just a private matter.

Where else these words appear

“light” Hebrew H7034 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.
  • 1 Samuel 18:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
  • Isaiah 3:5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

“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.

“Cursed” Hebrew H779 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
  • Numbers 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
  • Joshua 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.