Passage

Deuteronomy 27

Book: Deuteronomy · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day. 2. And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: 3. and 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 Jehovah thy God giveth thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised thee. 4. And it shall be, when ye are passed over the Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. 5. And there shalt thou build an altar unto Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt lift up no iron tool upon them. 6. Thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah thy God: 7. and thou shalt sacrifice peace-offerings, and shalt eat there; and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God. 8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9. And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Keep silence, and hearken, O Israel: this day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God. 10. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 11. And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12. These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14. And the Levites shall answer, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15. Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19. Cursed be he that wresteth the justice due to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20. Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22. Cursed 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. 23. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25. Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen." (Deuteronomy 27:1-26, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today. 2. It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster. 3. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over; that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4. It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster. 5. There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them. 6. You shall build Yahweh your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God. 7. You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God. 8. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” 9. Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silence, and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God. 10. You shall therefore obey Yahweh your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.” 11. Moses commanded the people the same day, saying, 12. “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13. These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14. With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel, 15. ‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ 16. ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 17. ‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 18. ‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 19. ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 20. ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 21. ‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 22. ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 23. ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 24. ‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 25. ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 26. ‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”" (Deuteronomy 27:1-26, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2. 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 shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: 3. And 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. 4. 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 them with plaister. 5. And 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. 6. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: 7. And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. 8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9. And 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. 10. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 11. And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12. These 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: 13. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ^{to curse: Heb. for a cursing} 14. And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15. Cursed 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. 16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20. Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22. Cursed 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. 23. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen." (Deuteronomy 27:1-26, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. 'And Moses, the elders of Israel also, commandeth the people, saying, Keep all the command which I am commanding you to-day; 2. and it hath been, in the day that ye pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, that thou hast raised up for thee great stones, and plaistered them with plaister, 3. and written on them all the words of this law in thy passing over, so that thou goest in unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, God of thy fathers, hath spoken to thee. 4. 'And it hath been, in your passing over the Jordan, ye raise up these stones which I am commanding you to-day, in mount Ebal, and thou hast plaistered them with plaister, 5. and built there an altar to Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones, thou dost not wave over them iron. 6. Of complete stones thou buildest the altar of Jehovah thy God, and hast caused to ascend on it burnt-offerings to Jehovah thy God, 7. and sacrificed peace-offerings, and eaten there, and rejoiced before Jehovah thy God, 8. and written on the stones all the words of this law, well engraved.' 9. And Moses speaketh, the priests, the Levites, also, unto all Israel, saying, 'Keep silent, and hear, O Israel, this day thou hast become a people to Jehovah thy God; 10. and thou hast hearkened to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and done His commands, and His statutes, which I am commanding thee to-day.' 11. And Moses commandeth the people on that day, saying, 12. 'These do stand, to bless the people, on mount Gerizzim, in your passing over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. 13. And these do stand, for the reviling, on mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14. 'And the Levites have answered and said unto every man of Israel, a loud voice: 15. 'Cursed [is] the man who maketh a graven and molten image, the abomination of Jehovah, work of the hands of an artificer, and hath put [it] in a secret place,, and all the people have answered and said, Amen. 16. 'Cursed [is] He who is making light of his father and his mother,, and all the people have said, Amen. 17. 'Cursed [is] he who is removing his neighbour's border,, and all the people have said, Amen. 18. 'Cursed [is] he who is causing the blind to err in the way,, and all the people have said, Amen. 19. 'Cursed [is] he who is turning aside the judgment of fatherless, sojourner, and widow,, and all the people have said, Amen. 20. 'Cursed [is] he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt,, and all the people have said, Amen. 21. 'Cursed [is] he who is lying with any beast,, and all the people have said, Amen. 22. 'Cursed [is] he who is lying with his sister, daughter of his father, or daughter of his mother,, and all the people have said, Amen. 23. 'Cursed [is] he who is lying with his mother-in-law,, and all the people have said, Amen. 24. 'Cursed [is] he who is smiting his neighbour in secret,, and all the people have said, Amen. 25. 'Cursed [is] he who is taking a bribe to smite a person, innocent blood,, and all the people have said, Amen. 26. 'Cursed [is] he who doth not establish the words of this law, to do them,, and all the people have said, Amen." (Deuteronomy 27:1-26, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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TBD
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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.