Topical Bible: Cursing

◄ Cursing ►

Jump to: Topical • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Cursing, in the biblical context, refers to invoking harm or misfortune upon someone or something, often through spoken words. The Bible addresses cursing in various forms, including divine curses, human curses, and the prohibition against cursing others.

Divine Curses

Divine curses are pronouncements of judgment or punishment from God. These are often seen as consequences of disobedience or sin. The first instance of a divine curse occurs in Genesis 3:14-19, where God curses the serpent, the ground, and pronounces consequences for Adam and Eve following the Fall. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. Deuteronomy 28:15 states, "But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you."

Human Curses

Human curses are expressions of ill will or the desire for harm to befall others. The Bible often warns against such behavior. In the Ten Commandments, the misuse of God's name, which can include cursing, is explicitly prohibited: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). The New Testament further instructs believers to refrain from cursing. Romans 12:14 advises, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse."

Prohibition Against Cursing

The Bible consistently teaches that cursing others is contrary to the character and will of God. James 3:9-10 highlights the inconsistency of using the tongue for both blessing and cursing: "With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!" Believers are called to use their words to edify and build up others, reflecting the love and grace of God.

Cursing and the Power of Words

The Bible acknowledges the power of words, both for good and for harm. Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." This underscores the responsibility of believers to speak life and truth, avoiding curses and harmful speech. Jesus taught that words are a reflection of the heart, as seen in Matthew 12:34-37, where He warns that people will give account for every careless word spoken.

Cursing in the Psalms

The Psalms contain imprecatory prayers, where the psalmist calls for God's judgment upon enemies. These are not personal vendettas but appeals for divine justice. Psalm 109 is a notable example, where David seeks God's intervention against those who wrong him. These prayers reflect a deep trust in God's righteousness and sovereignty, leaving vengeance to Him rather than taking it into one's own hands.

Conclusion

Cursing, as addressed in the Bible, is a serious matter that reflects one's relationship with God and others. Believers are called to bless rather than curse, trusting in God's justice and using their words to reflect His love and truth.

Topical Bible Verses

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 6:28
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which spitefully use you.
Topicalbible.org

Colossians 3:8
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 15:18-20
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Topicalbible.org

James 3:10
Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not so to be.
Topicalbible.org

James 3:8-10
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Curse.

Greek

2671. katara -- a curse
... a curse. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katara Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ar'-ah) Short Definition: a curse, cursing Definition: cursing; a curse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2671.htm - 7k

685. ara -- a prayer, curse
... a curse, imprecation. Word Origin a prim. word Definition a prayer, curse
NASB Word Usage cursing (1). curse. Probably from airo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/685.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

423. alah -- an oath
... curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing. From 'alah; an imprecation -- curse,
cursing, execration, oath, swearing. see HEBREW 'alah. 422, 423. alah. 424 > ...
/hebrew/423.htm - 6k

7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling
... NASB Word Usage abated (2), accursed (1), brought a curse (1), contempt (1),
contemptible (1), curse (15), cursed (16), curses (8), cursing (2), despise (1 ...
/hebrew/7043.htm - 6k

7045. qelalah -- a curse
... Word Origin from qalal Definition a curse NASB Word Usage accursed (1), curse
(27), curses (2), cursing (3), imprecation (2). accursed,. ...
/hebrew/7045.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Cursing is a Mortal Sin?
... OF CURSING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether cursing is a mortal sin? Objection 1: It
would seem that cursing is not a mortal sin. For Augustine ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether cursing is a mortal.htm

Of Cursing (Four Articles)
... OF CURSING (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now consider cursing. Under this head there
are four points of inquiry: ... (3) Whether cursing is a mortal sin? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of cursing four articles .htm

Blessing and Cursing
... BLESSING AND CURSING. ... Are these good people (who are certainly right in their horror
of cursing) right in the accusations which they bring against it? ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xi blessing and cursing.htm

Whether Cursing is a Graver Sin than Backbiting?
... OF CURSING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether cursing is a graver sin than backbiting? Objection
1: It would seem that cursing is a graver sin than backbiting. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether cursing is a graver.htm

The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing
... The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing. Matthew 5:34 " "But I
say unto you, Swear not at all." Among the many heinous ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the heinous sin of profane.htm

Song 19. Against Swearing and Cursing, and Taking God's Name in ...
... Song 19. Against Swearing and Cursing, and taking God's Name in vain. 1 Angels
that high in glory dwell Adore thy Name, Almighty God! ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 19 against swearing and.htm

Song 19. Against Cursing, Swearing, and Taking God's Name in Vain.
... Divine Songs Song 19. Against cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain.
Against cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain. 8,8,8,8. ...
/.../watts/divine and moral songs/song 19 against cursing swearing.htm

The Cursing of the Fig Tree.
... MONDAY"THE DAY OF AUTHORITY THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE. And on the morrow,
when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the cursing of the fig.htm

Is Then the Profaning of God's Name, by Swearing and Cursing, So ...
... Lord's Day 36 Question 100 Is then the profaning of God's name, by swearing and
cursing, so heinous a sin, that his wrath is kindled against those who do not ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 100 is then the.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Curse Anyone?
... OF CURSING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful to curse anyone? Objection
1: It would seem unlawful to curse anyone. For it is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 13.htm

Thesaurus

Cursing (53 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Curse. Multi-Version Concordance Cursing (53 Occurrences). ... Luke 6:28
bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely; (YLT). ...
/c/cursing.htm - 22k

Curses (55 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:20 The LORD will send upon thee cursing, discomfiture, and rebuke,
in all that thou puttest thy hand unto to do, until thou be destroyed, and ...
/c/curses.htm - 22k

Good-for-nothing (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 21:10 And get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and
give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. ...
/g/good-for-nothing.htm - 13k

Falsely (72 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:44 but I -- I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you,
do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and ...
/f/falsely.htm - 29k

Accusing (13 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:44 but I -- I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you,
do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and ...
/a/accusing.htm - 10k

Shimei (43 Occurrences)
... Jordan led through a narrow ravine, on one side of which, or on the ridge above,
stood Shimei in safety as he cast stones at David and his men, cursing as he ...
/s/shimei.htm - 30k

Curse (211 Occurrences)
... nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable
by death (Leviticus 24:10-16). The words "curse God and ...
/c/curse.htm - 46k

Mouths (86 Occurrences)
... been stopped, came together; (BBE). Romans 3:14 "Their mouths are full of
cursing and bitterness." (WEY NIV). Ephesians 4:29 Let no ...
/m/mouths.htm - 32k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... Our Lord's cursing the fig-tree near Bethany (Mark 11:13) has occasioned much
perplexity from the circumstance, as mentioned by the evangelist, that "the time ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Children
... Thus, we have (a) children of cursing, or those who are exposed to cursing (2 Peter
2:14), and (b) children of wrath or those who are exposed to wrath ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

Resources

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? | GotQuestions.org

Is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse? | GotQuestions.org

What are the covenants in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Cursing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cursing (53 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:44
but I -- I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,
(YLT)

Luke 6:28
bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely;
(YLT)

Romans 3:14
"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Hebrews 6:8
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(KJV WBS YLT)

James 3:10
Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Peter 3:9
Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.
(BBE)

2 Peter 2:14
having eyes full of adultery, and who can't cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing;
(WEB ASV BBE)

Exodus 21:17
Any man cursing his father or his mother is to be put to death.
(BBE)

Leviticus 20:9
Every man cursing his father or his mother is certainly to be put to death; because of his curse on his father or his mother, his blood will be on him.
(BBE)

Leviticus 24:15
And say to the children of Israel, As for any man cursing God, his sin will be on his head.
(BBE)

Leviticus 24:23
And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, and they took the man who had been cursing outside the tent-circle and had him stoned. The children of Israel did as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
(BBE)

Numbers 5:21
then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, "Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Numbers 24:9
He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee 'is' blessed, And he who is cursing thee 'is' cursed.'
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 28:20
Yahweh will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke, in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed, and until you perish quickly; because of the evil of your doings, by which you have forsaken me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS)

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
(KJV DBY WBS)

Judges 5:23
Curse Meroz -- said a messenger of Jehovah, Cursing, curse ye its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty!
(YLT)

Judges 9:27
And they went out into their fields and got in the fruit of their vines, and when the grapes had been crushed, they made a holy feast and went into the house of their god, and over their food and drink they were cursing Abimelech.
(BBE)

Judges 9:57
and all the evil of the men of Shechem hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 3:13
And you are to say to him that I will send punishment on his family for ever, for the sin which he had knowledge of; because his sons have been cursing God and he had no control over them.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 16:5
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.
(See JPS NAS)

2 Samuel 16:9
Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, Is this dead dog to go on cursing my lord the king? let me go over and take off his head.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 16:10
And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him go on cursing, for the Lord has said, Put a curse on David, and who then may say, Why have you done so?
(BBE RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 16:11
And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, You see how my son, the offspring of my body, has made designs against my life: how much more then may this Benjamite do so? Let him be, and let him go on cursing; for the Lord has given him orders.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 16:12
It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 16:13
So David and his men went on their way: and Shimei went by the hillside parallel with them, cursing and sending stones and dust at him.
(BBE NIV)

2 Samuel 19:21
But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said, Is not death the right fate for Shimei, because he has been cursing the one marked by the holy oil?
(BBE)

1 Kings 21:10
And get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death.
(BBE)

1 Kings 21:13
And the two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people, saying, Naboth has been cursing God and the king. Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:25
And I took up the cause against them, cursing them and giving blows to some of them and pulling out their hair; and I made them take an oath by God, saying, You are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
(BBE)

Job 1:11
But now, put out your hand against all he has, and he will be cursing you to your face.
(BBE)

Job 2:5
But now, if you only put your hand on his bone and his flesh, he will certainly be cursing you to your face.
(BBE)

Job 3:1
Then, opening his mouth, and cursing the day of his birth,
(BBE)

Psalms 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Psalms 59:12
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Psalms 62:4
Their only thought is to put him down from his place of honour; their delight is in deceit: blessing is in their mouths but cursing in their hearts. (Selah.)
(BBE)

Psalms 109:17
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn't delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS)

Psalms 109:18
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 27:14
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
(See RSV)

Proverbs 29:24
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
(KJV WBS)

Ecclesiastes 7:21
Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 8:21
And he will go through the land in bitter trouble and in need of food; and when he is unable to get food, he will become angry, cursing his king and his God, and his eyes will be turned to heaven on high;
(BBE)

Jeremiah 15:10
Sorrow is mine, my mother, because you have given birth to me, a cause of fighting and argument in all the earth! I have not made men my creditors and I am not in debt to any, but every one of them is cursing me.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 24:9
I will even make them a horror among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 25:18
Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them an appalment, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 26:6
then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.'
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 29:18
And I have pursued after them with sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and have given them for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth, for a curse and for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for a reproach among all the nations whither I have driven them,
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 42:18
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: As Mine anger and My fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall My fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt; and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 44:8
in that ye provoke Me with the works of your hands, offering unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 44:12
And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 44:22
So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 49:13
For I have sworn by Myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.
(See NIV)

Hosea 4:2
There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Zechariah 8:13
And it will come about that, as you were a curse among the nations, O children of Judah and children of Israel, so I will give you salvation and you will be a blessing: have no fear and let your hands be strong.
(See RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Cursing: Shimei Curses David

Cursing: The Precepts of Jesus Concerning

Related Terms

Curses (55 Occurrences)

Good-for-nothing (22 Occurrences)

Falsely (72 Occurrences)

Accusing (13 Occurrences)