Updated on

DEU

Deuteronomy 27

OriginalSimple EnglishSimpleNew Summary

Read Deuteronomy Chapter 27

Up and down arrows move from one verse to the next.

1And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

2And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:

3And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

4Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.

5And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

6Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:

7And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.

8And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

9And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

10Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

11And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:

13And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

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

17Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

18Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

19Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

20Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

21Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

23Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

24Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

25Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Deuteronomy 27

In short

Moses tells Israel to set up stones with the law written on them after crossing into the promised land, to build an altar there, and to gather in a ceremony where curses are pronounced against people who break God's commands in secret.

What the text says

Verses 1-3: Moses and the elders command the people to keep all God's commandments. When they cross the Jordan river into the land God is giving them, they must set up large stones coated with plaster and write all the words of the law on them.

Verses 4-8: Once across the Jordan, they are to set up these inscribed stones on Mount Ebal and build an altar there made of stone, without using iron tools. They will offer burnt offerings and peace offerings on this altar, eat there, and rejoice. The words of the law must be written on the stones very plainly.

Verses 9-10: Moses reminds Israel that they have now become God's people and must obey his voice and follow his commandments.

Verses 11-13: Moses tells the people that after crossing the Jordan, six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless, and six tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to curse.

Verses 14-26: The Levites will speak out loud, pronouncing curses against various sins. Each curse is followed by the people saying "Amen." The curses target making idols in secret, dishonoring parents, moving boundary markers, misleading the blind, perverting justice for vulnerable people, sexual sins, murder, taking payment to kill innocents, and failing to obey all the words of the law.

Takeaways

  • God's law is to be written publicly on stones and spoken aloud as a reminder and a boundary for the community.
  • Secret wrongs and neglect of God's commands carry serious consequences.
  • The people formally agree to these standards by saying "Amen" to each curse.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.

Need words for what you are living?

Describe it and receive a prayer written for you, with verses to hold on to.

Write a prayer