Leviticus 20:9

9 “ ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.

Leviticus 20:9 in Other Translations

KJV
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.
ESV
9 For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.
NLT
9 “Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. Such a person is guilty of a capital offense.
MSG
9 "Any and every person who curses his father or mother must be put to death. By cursing his father or mother he is responsible for his own death.
CSB
9 "If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood is on his own hands.

Leviticus 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 20:9

For everyone that curseth his father or his mother
Here begins the account of the penalties annexed to the several laws in the preceding chapter; and that respecting the fear and honour of parents being the first, ( Leviticus 19:3 ) , is here begun with:

shall surely be put to death;
the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``by casting of stones,''

stoning being the punishment of such transgressors:

he hath cursed his father or his mother:
to do either is his sin, and a capital crime it is:

his blood [shall be] upon him:
he shall be guilty of death, be condemned unto it, and punished with it, namely, by stoning; for, as Jarchi observes, wherever it is, "his blood [shall be] on him", or "their blood shall be on them", it is to be understood of stoning.

Leviticus 20:9 In-Context

7 “ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
9 “ ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.
10 “ ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.
11 “ ‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Exodus 20:12; Jeremiah 35:16; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10
  • 2. S Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 27:16; Ezekiel 22:7
  • 3. Exodus 21:17; Deuteronomy 21:20-21; Matthew 15:4*; Mark 7:10*
  • 4. ver 11; Deuteronomy 22:30; Joshua 2:19; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 3:29; 1 Kings 2:37; Ezekiel 18:13; Ezekiel 33:4,5
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