The big picture
Deuteronomy 27 opens in verse 1 with “And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun…”, and closes in verse 26 with “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the…” Repeated or prominent terms include people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Deuteronomy · King James Version · 26Deuteronomy 27:1-7
1–7: Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all…
Deuteronomy 27:1–7 opens with “And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments…” and reaches “And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 27 develops its own movement around people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones, with particular weight carried by LORD, plaister, stones.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Deuteronomy 27:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
Deuteronomy 27:8-14
8–14: Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
Deuteronomy 27:8–14 opens with “And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” and reaches “And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 27 develops its own movement around people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones, with particular weight carried by Israel, people, Levites.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include plainly, stones, words. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Deuteronomy 27:8-14
King James Version8And 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,
Deuteronomy 27:15-21
15–21: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination…
Deuteronomy 27:15–21 opens with “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD , the…” and reaches “Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 27 develops its own movement around people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones, with particular weight carried by Amen, Cursed, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD , the work of the hands of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Deuteronomy 27:15-21
King James Version15Cursed 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.
Deuteronomy 27:22-26
22–26: Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or…
Deuteronomy 27:22–26 opens with “Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his…” and reaches “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 27 develops its own movement around people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones, with particular weight carried by Amen, Cursed, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Deuteronomy 27:22-26
King James Version22Cursed 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Deuteronomy 27:1 begins with “And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.”
Where the chapter turns
Deuteronomy 27:4 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore 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…”
The final note
Deuteronomy 27:26 leaves the reader with “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words people, Amen, Cursed, LORD, stones, Israel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What makes the deception more than a harmless family trick?
Jacob exploits his father's blindness, impersonates his brother and invokes God while lying.
What does the family lose?
Trust, safety and proximity: Jacob must flee, and Esau carries murderous resentment.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.