Bible Strands
Exodus 21:17
Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God delivers this statute to the Israelite assembly through Moses as part of the wilderness covenant code, positioned directly between regulations on kidnapping and physical assault.
The words — The text employs מְקַלֵּל (mekallel), literally “one who curses,” alongside יוּמָת (yumat), meaning “he will be put to death,” to declare a mandatory capital penalty.
The thread — Deuteronomy 27:16 pronounces a communal curse for dishonoring parents, Proverbs 20:20 describes the extinguishing of the cursing child’s lamp, and Mark 7:10 cites this law as part of Moses’ command to honor parents.
Why it lands — The text states that cursing one’s father or mother incurs a death sentence, establishing parental authority as a protected covenant boundary and demanding strict, legally enforced obedience from the community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
- Mark 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
- Deuteronomy 27:16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
- Leviticus 20:9 If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.
- Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Proverbs 30:17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.