Deuteronomy 27:25

Cursed [be] he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed {H779} be he that taketh {H3947} reward {H7810} to slay {H5221} an innocent {H5355} person {H5315}{H1818}. And all the people {H5971} shall say {H559}, Amen {H543}.

"'A curse on anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'

‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:25 is a potent declaration from the covenant renewal ceremony, forming part of the curses pronounced from Mount Ebal. This verse specifically condemns the heinous act of accepting a bribe to commit murder or to unjustly condemn an innocent person, underscoring God's absolute commitment to justice and the sanctity of human life.

Context

This verse is one of twelve curses Moses commanded to be read aloud to the Israelites from Mount Ebal after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The ceremony involved two mountains, Mount Gerizim (for blessings) and Mount Ebal (for curses), symbolizing the nation's choice between obedience and disobedience to God's law. Each curse was followed by the people's solemn affirmation, "Amen," signifying their agreement and acceptance of the consequences of violating these divine statutes. This particular curse addresses a fundamental aspect of societal justice, condemning corruption at its core.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Condemnation of Corruption: The verse highlights God's unwavering opposition to bribery and judicial perversion. Taking a "reward" (Hebrew: shochad, often meaning a bribe) to harm an innocent person is an egregious offense against both human and divine law. This principle is echoed throughout scripture, warning against the corrupting influence of money on justice, as seen in Exodus 23:8 and Proverbs 17:23.
  • Sanctity of Human Life: At its heart, this curse protects the most vulnerable—the "innocent person" (Hebrew: naqi, meaning blameless or clean). It reinforces the fundamental biblical principle that human life is sacred and must not be unjustly taken, aligning with the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."
  • Community Accountability: The repeated phrase "And all the people shall say, Amen" emphasizes the collective responsibility of the community to uphold God's law. Saying "Amen" (Hebrew: amen, meaning "so be it" or "truly") was not merely a passive agreement but an active affirmation, binding the community to the enforcement and adherence of these moral standards. It signifies a public commitment to justice and a shared rejection of evil, as also demonstrated in Nehemiah 8:6.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "reward" here, shochad (שֹׁחַד), is consistently used in the Old Testament to denote a bribe, particularly one offered to pervert justice. The word for "innocent person," naqi (נָקִי), literally means "clean" or "pure," emphasizing the blamelessness of the victim and the utter depravity of the act. The response "Amen" (אָמֵן) is a powerful Hebrew affirmation, expressing solemn agreement, certainty, and a desire for the statement to be true and binding. Its repetition throughout Deuteronomy 27 underscores the gravity and communal acceptance of these divine pronouncements.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 27:25 remains profoundly relevant today. It serves as a timeless warning against the insidious nature of corruption and injustice, particularly when it targets the vulnerable. For individuals, it calls for integrity and a refusal to compromise moral principles for personal gain. For societies, it demands the establishment and vigilant protection of fair and impartial legal systems that defend the innocent and prosecute the guilty, irrespective of wealth or influence. The communal "Amen" reminds us that upholding justice is not solely the responsibility of judges or leaders, but a collective duty of all citizens to speak out against injustice and affirm righteousness in their communities. Christians are called to be agents of justice, reflecting God's character in a world often swayed by greed and corruption, seeking to do justly, and to love mercy.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 23:7

    Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

  • Exodus 23:8

    And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  • Deuteronomy 10:17

    For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

  • Psalms 15:5

    [He that] putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved.

  • Deuteronomy 16:19

    Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

  • Micah 3:10

    They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

  • Micah 3:11

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
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