Deuteronomy 27 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

The Altar on Mount Ebal

Deu 27:1Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today.

Deu 27:2

Deu 27:2And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster.

Deu 27:3

Deu 27:3And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

Deu 27:4

Deu 27:4And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.

Deu 27:5

Deu 27:5And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them;

Deu 27:6

Deu 27:6you shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut[fn] stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God,

Deu 27:7

Deu 27:7and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God.

Deu 27:8

Deu 27:8And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

Curses from Mount Ebal

Deu 27:9

Deu 27:9Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God.

Deu 27:10

Deu 27:10You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”

Deu 27:11

Deu 27:11That day Moses charged the people, saying,

Deu 27:12

Deu 27:12“When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Deu 27:13

Deu 27:13And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

Deu 27:14

Deu 27:14And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

Deu 27:15

Deu 27:15“‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:16

Deu 27:16“‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:17

Deu 27:17“‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:18

Deu 27:18“‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:19

Deu 27:19“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:20

Deu 27:20“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’[fn] And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:21

Deu 27:21“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:22

Deu 27:22“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:23

Deu 27:23“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:24

Deu 27:24“‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:25

Deu 27:25“‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deu 27:26

Deu 27:26“‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(27:6)

Hebrew whole

(27:20)

Hebrew uncovered his father’s skirt

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.