Exodus 21:17
New International Version
“Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

New Living Translation
“Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death.

English Standard Version
“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible
Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

King James Bible
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

New King James Version
“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

New American Standard Bible
“And one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

NASB 1995
“He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

NASB 1977
“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Legacy Standard Bible
“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Amplified Bible
“Whoever curses his father or his mother or treats them contemptuously must be put to death.

Christian Standard Bible
“Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.”

American Standard Version
And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Contemporary English Version
Death is the punishment for cursing your father or mother.

English Revised Version
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death.

Good News Translation
"Whoever curses his father or his mother is to be put to death.

International Standard Version
"Whoever curses his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death.

Majority Standard Bible
Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

NET Bible
"Whoever treats his father or his mother disgracefully must surely be put to death.

New Heart English Bible
"Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

World English Bible
“Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he who is reviling his father or his mother is certainly put to death.

Young's Literal Translation
'And he who is reviling his father or his mother is certainly put to death.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he making light of his father and his mother, dying, he shall die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that curseth his father, or mother, shall die the death.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever speaks evil of his father or mother shall die a death.

New American Bible
Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He who will revile his father or his mother surely shall be killed.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that reviles his father or his mother shall surely die.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Personal Injury Laws
16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession. 17Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death. 18If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,…

Cross References
Leviticus 20:9
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.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, / his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, / and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” ...

Matthew 15:4
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

Mark 7:10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

Proverbs 20:20
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

Proverbs 30:17
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

Matthew 19:19
honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Romans 1:30
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.

2 Timothy 3:2
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

1 Timothy 1:9
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,


Treasury of Scripture

And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

curseth or veliteth

Leviticus 20:9
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.

Deuteronomy 27:16
Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Proverbs 20:20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

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Curses Curseth Cursing Death Mother Reviling Surely
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Curses Curseth Cursing Death Mother Reviling Surely
Exodus 21
1. Laws for men servants
5. For the servant whose ear is bored
7. For women servants
12. For manslaughter
16. For kidnappers
17. For cursers of parents
18. For smiters
22. For a hurt by chance
28. For an ox that gores
33. For him who is an occasion of harm














Whoever curses
The phrase "whoever curses" in Hebrew is "מקלל" (maqalel), which implies a severe form of disrespect or reviling. In the ancient Near Eastern context, words held significant power, and to curse one's parents was not merely to speak harshly but to invoke harm or wish evil upon them. This reflects the gravity with which familial relationships were regarded in Israelite society, emphasizing the importance of honoring one's parents as foundational to community and covenant life.

his father or mother
The mention of "his father or mother" underscores the dual respect required for both parents, reflecting the biblical commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). In the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, the family was the primary unit of social and religious life. Parents were seen as representatives of God's authority, and thus, cursing them was akin to rebelling against God's established order. This phrase highlights the equal importance of both paternal and maternal figures in the upbringing and spiritual formation of children.

must surely be put to death
The phrase "must surely be put to death" is a translation of the Hebrew "מות יומת" (mot yumat), a legal formula indicating the seriousness of the offense. This severe penalty reflects the covenantal nature of Israel's law, where maintaining holiness and order within the community was paramount. The death penalty for cursing parents underscores the sacredness of the family unit and the necessity of upholding respect and honor within it. While this may seem harsh by modern standards, it serves as a stark reminder of the weight of our words and the profound respect required in familial relationships. In a broader theological context, it points to the ultimate consequence of sin and the need for redemption, which is fulfilled in the New Testament through Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Verse 17. - He that curseth his father, etc. Blasphemy against God, and imprecations upon parents, were the only two sins of the tongue which the law expressly required to be punished with death (Leviticus 24:16). In later times analogy was held to require that "cursing the ruler of the people" (Exodus 22:28) should be visited with the same penalty (2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 2:8, 9, 46). The severity of the sentence indicates that in God' s sight such sins are of the deepest dye.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Whoever curses
וּמְקַלֵּ֥ל (ū·mə·qal·lêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

his father
אָבִ֛יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

or mother
וְאִמּ֖וֹ (wə·’im·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

must surely
מ֥וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

be put to death.
יוּמָֽת׃ (yū·māṯ)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Exodus 21:17 Anyone who curses his father or his (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 21:16
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