Deuteronomy 27:21

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Cursed {H779} be he that lieth {H7901} with any manner of beast {H929}. And all the people {H5971} shall say {H559}, Amen {H543}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with any kind of animal.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'

Berean Standard Bible

‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 27:21 is a solemn pronouncement within the covenant renewal ceremony at Mount Ebal, condemning the egregious sin of bestiality. It highlights God's absolute standard for sexual purity and the sanctity of creation, underscoring that such a perversion is an abomination. The verse culminates with the entire assembly of Israel affirming this divine judgment with a resounding "Amen," signifying their corporate agreement to uphold God's holy laws and accept the severe consequences of disobedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 27:21 is part of a pivotal covenant renewal ceremony commanded by Moses, to be enacted immediately after Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The chapter details the erection of large stones inscribed with the Law on Mount Ebal, followed by a dramatic ritual involving two groups of tribes, one on Mount Gerizim for blessings and the other on Mount Ebal for curses. The Levites were tasked with proclaiming twelve specific curses, each addressing a hidden sin or a public transgression that defiled the community. Following each curse, the entire assembly of Israel was to respond with a unified "Amen," thereby publicly assenting to the terms of the covenant and the just consequences of violating them. This particular curse, like others in the series (e.g., against idolatry, dishonoring parents, or injustice), underscores the comprehensive nature of God's moral law and the importance of a holy community in the land.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** As Israel prepared to enter Canaan, they were confronted with the pervasive idolatry and moral depravity of the indigenous inhabitants. Practices such as bestiality, child sacrifice, and various sexual perversions were common among the Canaanites, often intertwined with their pagan worship. God explicitly forbade these "abominations" (Hebrew: _to'evah_) to distinguish Israel as His holy people and prevent the land from being defiled, which would ultimately lead to its "vomiting out" its inhabitants (as seen in [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Defilement of the Land")). The solemn ceremony at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim served as a foundational act of national commitment, establishing the moral and spiritual boundaries for the new nation in their promised inheritance, emphasizing that their tenure in the land was contingent upon their obedience to God's covenant.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. It reinforces the theme of **Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing God's unwavering demand for sexual integrity within His covenant community, a standard starkly contrasted with the surrounding cultures. The condemnation of bestiality as an "abomination" highlights the theme of **Divine Order and Creation**, as such an act perverts the natural boundaries established by God (cf. [Leviticus 18:23](/leviticus/18-23 "Leviticus 18:23 - Prohibition of Bestiality")). Furthermore, the people's communal "Amen" underscores the theme of **Covenant Affirmation and Corporate Responsibility**, demonstrating their solemn agreement to uphold God's laws and accept the consequences of breaking them. This collective declaration bound the entire nation to the covenant's terms, making their obedience a matter of national destiny. Finally, the pronouncement of a "curse" signifies the theme of **Divine Judgment and Justice**, revealing God's severe displeasure and separation from His blessing for those who engage in such grave transgressions.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cursed (Hebrew, _אָרוּר_, _arur'_):** This term signifies a state of being cut off from divine favor, under divine displeasure, and subject to negative consequences. It is a declaration of divine judgment, indicating a separation from God's blessing and protection due to a violation of His covenant. Unlike a human curse, an _arur_ curse carries divine authority and efficacy, implying that the one cursed will experience the direct and severe repercussions of God's righteous wrath.
* **Beast (Hebrew, _בְּהֵמָה_, _behemah'_):** This word refers generally to any land animal, often domesticated livestock. Its inclusion here highlights the unnatural and perverse nature of the act. God established clear boundaries between humanity and the animal kingdom, and sexual relations with animals fundamentally violate the created order, blurring distinctions that are foundational to human dignity and God's design for sexuality.
* **Amen (Hebrew, _אָמֵן_, _amen'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be firm," "to be reliable," or "to be true," "Amen" is a powerful affirmation. In this context, it is not merely an acknowledgment but a solemn, binding declaration of agreement, commitment, and acceptance of the truth and justice of the preceding curse. By saying "Amen," the people collectively pledged themselves to uphold the law and accepted the consequences should they violate it, thereby taking full corporate responsibility for their covenant obligations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Cursed [be] he that lieth with any manner of beast."**: This clause pronounces a divine curse upon any individual who engages in bestiality. The phrasing "lieth with" (Hebrew: _shakav_) is a common euphemism for sexual intercourse. The inclusion of "any manner of beast" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prohibition, leaving no room for ambiguity or exception. This act is deemed an ultimate perversion, violating the sanctity of human sexuality and the divinely established order of creation, thus meriting severe divine judgment.
* **"And all the people shall say, Amen."**: This command requires the entire assembly of Israel to collectively affirm the curse. Their unified "Amen" signifies their corporate understanding, agreement, and acceptance of the righteousness of the curse. It transforms the individual prohibition into a communal standard, binding the entire nation to uphold this aspect of God's law and to acknowledge the just consequences for its violation. This public declaration served as a powerful deterrent and a constant reminder of their covenant obligations.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 27:21, in its broader context, employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Covenant Formula**, where a divine pronouncement (the curse) is followed by a communal affirmation ("Amen"). This structure, repeated twelve times in [Deuteronomy 27:15-26](/deuteronomy/27-15 "Deuteronomy 27:15-26 - The Twelve Curses"), creates a powerful, ritualistic binding of the people to the Law. The **Repetition** of "Amen" after each curse emphasizes the people's corporate responsibility and their solemn, binding agreement to the covenant's terms. Furthermore, the entire chapter utilizes **Antithetical Parallelism** by contrasting the blessings on Mount Gerizim with the curses on Mount Ebal, highlighting the stark choice between obedience and disobedience, life and death, blessing and curse, which is a pervasive theme throughout Deuteronomy. The specific nature of the curse, addressing a hidden sin, also implies **Divine Omniscience**, reminding the people that even secret transgressions are known to God and subject to His judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 27:21 profoundly underscores the biblical emphasis on God's absolute holiness and His demand for sexual purity among His people. This severe condemnation of bestiality reveals that God's moral law extends beyond human-to-human interactions, touching upon the very order of creation and the sanctity of life. Such acts are not merely social taboos but "abominations" that defile both the individual and the land, demonstrating a profound rebellion against the Creator's design. The communal "Amen" transforms individual responsibility into a corporate covenant obligation, reminding us that the holiness of a community is built upon the adherence of its members to God's righteous standards. This principle of corporate accountability for sin, even hidden sin, is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, leading to national consequences when God's laws are disregarded.

* [Leviticus 18:23](/leviticus/18-23 "Leviticus 18:23 - Do not lie with any animal")
* [Leviticus 20:15-16](/leviticus/20-15 "Leviticus 20:15-16 - Punishment for Bestiality")
* [Romans 1:24-27](/romans/1-24 "Romans 1:24-27 - God's Judgment on Sexual Perversion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 27:21, though addressing a specific ancient prohibition, carries timeless principles for believers today. It reminds us that God's standards for sexual morality are eternal and rooted in His holy character and the created order. In a world increasingly prone to redefining sexual ethics and blurring moral boundaries, this verse calls us to uphold God's unchanging truth regarding the sanctity of human sexuality and the distinctiveness of humanity within creation. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to honor God with them, living lives of purity and holiness that reflect His character. Furthermore, the communal "Amen" challenges us to consider our corporate responsibility as the body of Christ. Do we, as a church, affirm God's righteous judgments and uphold His standards, even when they are counter-cultural? Our collective "Amen" to God's Word should be evidenced not just in verbal assent but in a shared commitment to holy living and a willingness to confront sin within our midst, always with grace and truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's condemnation of bestiality in this verse speak to the broader biblical understanding of human sexuality and the created order?**
* **What does the communal "Amen" teach us about the church's corporate responsibility to uphold God's moral standards in a fallen world?**
* **In what ways might contemporary society's redefinition of sexual ethics challenge or affirm the principles found in this verse?**
* **How can individual believers cultivate a deeper commitment to sexual purity and holiness in their personal lives, reflecting the seriousness with which God views these matters?**

### FAQ

**Why is bestiality so severely condemned in the Old Testament, even to the point of a curse?**

Answer: Bestiality is condemned so severely because it represents a profound violation of God's created order and the sanctity of human sexuality. God established clear distinctions between humans and animals, and sexual relations with animals blur these boundaries, demeaning human dignity and perverting the divine design for intimacy. It was considered an "abomination" (_to'evah_), a term reserved for practices utterly detestable to God, often linked to pagan worship and the defilement of the land (as seen in [Leviticus 18:23-25](/leviticus/18-23 "Leviticus 18:23-25 - Abominations that Defile the Land")). Such acts were not merely social taboos but spiritual offenses that corrupted the individual and the community, threatening to bring divine judgment upon the nation, as they mirrored the depravity of the Canaanite cultures that Israel was to displace. The curse highlights the extreme gravity of such a transgression in God's eyes.

**What is the significance of "all the people shall say, Amen" after each curse?**

Answer: The repeated command for "all the people" to say "Amen" after each curse is profoundly significant. "Amen" means "so be it," "truly," or "it is firm." By saying "Amen," the entire assembly of Israel was not merely acknowledging the curse but solemnly affirming its truth, justice, and their personal and corporate commitment to uphold the law that the curse guarded. It transformed a divine pronouncement into a binding communal oath. This collective affirmation demonstrated their understanding of the covenant terms, their acceptance of the consequences for disobedience, and their corporate responsibility to maintain holiness within the community. It was a public and binding pledge of allegiance to God's law, making every individual complicit in upholding the covenant and accountable for its violation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 27:21, with its pronouncement of a curse and the people's "Amen," finds profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The curse for bestiality, like all curses in the Law, highlights humanity's inability to perfectly uphold God's righteous standards and the inescapable judgment for sin. Yet, the New Testament reveals that Christ became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the Law (as powerfully stated in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). He perfectly fulfilled the Law, bearing its full weight and its curses on the cross, thereby satisfying divine justice for all who believe. Furthermore, while the people's "Amen" in Deuteronomy signified their flawed commitment to a covenant they would ultimately break, Christ is the ultimate "Amen" to all of God's promises (as revealed in [2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - Christ is the 'Yes' to God's Promises")). In Him, God's perfect will is accomplished, and His covenant of grace is established. Through Christ, believers are not under the curse but are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of true holiness and purity, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law not by external compulsion but by an inner transformation (as promised in [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts") and explained in [Romans 8:4](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - The Righteous Requirement of the Law Fulfilled in Us")). Thus, the terrifying "Amen" of Mount Ebal is transformed into the joyful "Amen" of grace and redemption in Christ, who enables us to truly say "Amen" to God's holy standards through His indwelling Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 18:23

Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it [is] confusion.

Leviticus 20:15

And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.

Exodus 22:19

Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.