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.

DEUTERONOMY 27:22KJV
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Deuteronomy 27:22 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 27:22 mean?

Deuteronomy 27:22 states that anyone who has sexual relations with his sister—whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother—is under a curse, and the gathered people are to affirm this by saying “Amen.” This verse highlights a specific forbidden relationship and marks it as a serious violation within Israel’s community.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan, listing curses for breaking God’s laws. The verse is part of a ceremony where the people publicly agree that certain actions, like incest with a sister, are unacceptable and bring a curse. The command for everyone to say “Amen” shows the community’s shared responsibility in upholding these standards.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 27:22

  • Cursed (אָרוּר, ’arur): This word means “cursed” or “under a curse,” and it signals a strong warning that the action brings severe consequences, not just personal guilt.
  • Lieth (יִשְׁכַּב, yishkav): This verb means “to lie with” in a sexual sense, making clear that the verse refers to a sexual relationship, not just sharing a bed or living space.
  • Sister (אָחוֹת, ’achot): The word for “sister” includes both full and half-sisters, which is why the verse specifies “daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother.”
  • Amen (אָמֵן, amen): This word means “so be it” or “truly,” and by saying it, the people publicly agree with the curse and accept its seriousness.

Why Deuteronomy 27:22 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the prohibition against incest covers both full and half-siblings, leaving no room for loopholes based on parentage.
  • The public response of “Amen” emphasizes that these laws were not just private matters but were to be upheld by the whole community, reinforcing collective responsibility.
  • Deuteronomy 27:22 is part of a larger section where Moses lists actions that threaten the moral and social fabric of Israel, showing how seriously these boundaries were taken in shaping the nation’s identity.

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 27:21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. 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.

“sister” Hebrew H269 · used in 104 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Leviticus 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
  • Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.