The big picture
A ceremony awaits Israel, God's people, after crossing Jordan, the river before the promised land. They have heard Moses, their leader, explain God's commands. He now plans a public ceremony after they enter. Stones bearing the law and an altar will stand on Ebal, a mountain in the land. Tribes will also gather by Gerizim, another mountain. Spoken curses and the people's replies will make their commitment public and shared.
In this chapter
- Stones Display the Law Plainly Deuteronomy 27:1-8
Moses and the elders tell the people to obey all the commands.
- The Tribes Take Their Assigned Places Deuteronomy 27:9-14
The Levite priests join Moses in telling Israel to listen because they belong to God and must obey his commands.
- Secret Wrongs Receive Public Curses Deuteronomy 27:15-19
The first curses concern a hidden idol and scorn for parents.
- The Closing Curses Reach Hidden Violence Deuteronomy 27:20-26
Further curses forbid sex with a father's wife, a sister or a mother in law.
Central truth
Israel must publicly record God's law and agree to its warnings, including commands that expose wrongdoing hidden from ordinary view.
Scripture beside the summary
Deuteronomy · King James Version · 26Deuteronomy 27:1-8
Stones Display the Law Plainly
Moses and the elders tell the people to obey all the commands. After crossing Jordan, they must set up large stones on mount Ebal. They must coat them with plaster and write the law clearly on them. They must also build an altar of uncut stones, without using iron tools. Burnt offerings and peace offerings follow, with eating and rejoicing before God. The ceremony joins a readable public record with worship. Entering the land means receiving its terms as well as enjoying its gifts.
In everyday life
A civic engineer installs a large printed safety charter beside the entrance to a newly opened public facility. Residents gather there for its opening and can read the conditions governing its use. The shared celebration includes a visible statement of responsibility. Israel's ceremony includes sacrifice and God's covenant, not a municipal operating charter.
Notice
Deuteronomy 27:8 The words must be written plainly. People can read the law where it stands. The ceremony does not rely only on what they recall of a speech heard long before.
Deuteronomy 27:1-8
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.
8And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
Deuteronomy 27:9-14
The Tribes Take Their Assigned Places
The Levite priests join Moses in telling Israel to listen because they belong to God and must obey his commands. Six tribes are assigned to stand on Gerizim for blessing, and six on Ebal for cursing. The Levites, the tribe serving sacred duties, will speak loudly to the assembled men. Each group receives a place in the public ceremony. A few officials do not stand for the whole nation alone. All its tribes have a place in the act that declares what their promise requires.
In everyday life
The parade steward directs each district's residents to a marked part of the public square before they make a shared pledge. A loudspeaker carries the words to the back rows. Separate groups stand within the same act and hear the same terms. The steward directs a civic pledge; Israel answers God's covenant blessings and curses.
Notice
Deuteronomy 27:14 The Levites must speak loudly to all the assembled men. The response is meant to follow words the people actually hear, not a private exchange among leaders.
Deuteronomy 27:9-14
King James Version9And 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 27:15-19
Secret Wrongs Receive Public Curses
The first curses concern a hidden idol and scorn for parents. Others name moving a neighbour's boundary stone or leading a blind person astray. Denying fair judgment to a foreigner, orphan, or widow is also cursed. These are people with little power to force a fair hearing. After each curse, the gathered people say they agree. Some of these wrongs can be done in secret. The public reply puts everyone under a rule that reaches the acts their neighbours cannot see, as well as acts done openly.
In everyday life
A disability access tutor asks trainees to state that they must not mislead a blind passenger. The rule holds even when no supervisor sees the act. They answer together while examining the route instructions they will use on duty. A hidden abuse is named before it occurs. The trainees face workplace discipline; Israel accepts God's curse on these wrongs.
Notice
Deuteronomy 27:18 Misleading a blind person receives its own curse. The command singles out abuse of someone who must rely on others, even when the act can be hidden.
Deuteronomy 27:15-19
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.
Deuteronomy 27:20-26
The Closing Curses Reach Hidden Violence
Further curses forbid sex with a father's wife, a sister or a mother in law. They also forbid sexual acts with animals. They also condemn secretly killing a neighbour and taking payment to kill an innocent person. The people answer each curse with agreement. The final curse covers failure to uphold the law by doing it. Saying the right response is therefore not enough. Public words bind the people to act. That includes hidden acts which harm those unable to protect themselves, even when no witness sees the wrong.
In everyday life
The safeguarding trainer reads prohibited abuses to a quiet room of youth workers without staging any of them. Each worker signs the same code, including duties that apply when no colleague is present. The serious silence recognises what hidden wrongdoing can cost. Israel's spoken agreement accepts God's curse, not an employer's disciplinary code.
Notice
Deuteronomy 27:26 The final curse concerns doing the law, not merely hearing it. The public response must be matched by conduct if the ceremony is to mean what it declares.
Deuteronomy 27:20-26
King James Version20Cursed 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.
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.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
