King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood [shall be] upon him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'A person who curses his father or mother must be put to death; having cursed his father or his mother, his blood is on him.
Berean Standard Bible:
If 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.
American Standard Version:
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For every{H376} one{H376} that curseth{H7043} his father{H1} or his mother{H517} shall be surely{H4191} put to death{H4191}: he hath cursed{H7043} his father{H1} or his mother{H517}; his blood{H1818} shall be upon him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 21:17
- And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
Deuteronomy 27:16
- Cursed [be] he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Mark 7:10
- For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Matthew 15:4
- For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Proverbs 20:20
- ¶ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Proverbs 30:17
- The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
2 Samuel 1:16
- And David said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 20:9
1. Themes:
- Respect for Parents: Leviticus 20:9 emphasizes the importance of honoring one's parents within the Israelite society. The severe penalty for cursing parents underscores the value placed on the parent-child relationship and the respect due to parents as a foundational societal norm.
- Moral and Social Order: The verse reflects the broader theme of maintaining moral and social order within the community. The laws in Leviticus, including this one, were intended to govern personal conduct and ensure the stability and continuity of the Israelite community.
- Divine Authority: The commandments and laws in Leviticus are presented as deriving from God, and as such, they carry divine authority. Obedience to these laws was seen as obedience to God, and violations were considered not just civil offenses but also religious transgressions.
2. Historical Context:
- The Book of Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally believed to have been written by Moses. It contains laws given to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt, while they were in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.
- The laws in Leviticus were designed to set the Israelites apart from other nations and to establish them as a holy people under the covenant with God. The strict punishment for cursing one's parents reflects the importance of family loyalty and cohesion in a society where the extended family was crucial for survival and identity.
- The historical context also includes the concept of family as a microcosm of the larger social structure, where respect for parents was linked to respect for authority and the social hierarchy.
- The harsh penalty of death for such an offense would have served as a deterrent to maintain the integrity of the family unit and, by extension, the community at large.
In summary, Leviticus 20:9 is a reflection of the ancient Israelite legal system, which intertwined religious and civil law to enforce societal norms and maintain the structure of the community. The verse highlights the gravity with which the culture viewed the sanctity of the family and the respect owed to parents.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H7043
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָלַל
Transliteration: qâlal
Pronunciation: kaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.); abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), [idiom] slight(-ly), be swift(-er), (be, be more, make, re-) vile, whet. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.