Deuteronomy 27:25
New International Version
“Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

New Living Translation
‘Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

English Standard Version
“‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Berean Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

King James Bible
Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

New King James Version
‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

New American Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to attack an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

NASB 1995
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

NASB 1977
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to strike down innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Amplified Bible
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Christian Standard Bible
‘The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

American Standard Version
Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

English Revised Version
Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

Good News Translation
"'God's curse on anyone who accepts money to murder an innocent person.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

International Standard Version
"'Cursed is one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, 'Amen!'

Majority Standard Bible
‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

NET Bible
Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'

New Heart English Bible
'Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person: and all the people shall say, Amen.

World English Bible
‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Cursed [is] he who is taking a bribe to strike a person, innocent blood.” And all the people have said, “Amen.”

Young's Literal Translation
Cursed is he who is taking a bribe to smite a person, innocent blood, -- and all the people have said, Amen.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cursed he taking a gift to strike the soul of innocent blood: and all the people said, Amen.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Cursed be he that taketh gifts, to slay an innocent person: and all the people shall say: Amen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Cursed be he who accepts gifts in order to strike down the life of innocent blood. And all the people shall say: Amen.

New American Bible
“Cursed be anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person!” And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”

New Revised Standard Version
“Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.” All the people shall say, “Amen!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Cursed be he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say. Amen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Cursed is everyone who will take a bribe to kill the soul of innocent blood, and all the people shall say, “Amen.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say: Amen.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Cursed is he whosoever shall have taken a bribe to slay an innocent man: and all the people shall say, So be it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Curses Pronounced from Ebal
24‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 25‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 26‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’…

Cross References
Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

Exodus 23:7-8
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty. / Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Psalm 26:10
in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

1 Samuel 8:3
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Ezekiel 22:12
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Proverbs 29:4
By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.

Matthew 26:15
and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

Acts 1:18
(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

Matthew 27:3-5
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” / So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

James 5:4
Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.


Treasury of Scripture

Cursed be he that takes reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Exodus 23:7,8
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked…

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Deuteronomy 27
1. The people are commanded to write the law upon stones
5. and to build an altar of whole stones
11. The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal
14. The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal














Cursed is he
The Hebrew word for "cursed" is "אָרוּר" (arur), which signifies being under a divine curse or ban. In the context of Deuteronomy, curses are pronounced as part of the covenantal blessings and curses that the Israelites agree to upon entering the Promised Land. This curse is a divine pronouncement of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. It serves as a deterrent against sin and a reminder of the moral and ethical standards expected by God.

who accepts a bribe
The act of accepting a bribe is condemned throughout Scripture as it perverts justice and undermines the integrity of societal structures. The Hebrew word "שֹׁחַד" (shochad) refers to a gift or payment given to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of authority. In ancient Israel, justice was a foundational principle, and bribery was seen as a direct attack on the fairness and righteousness that God demanded from His people.

to kill an innocent person
The phrase "to kill an innocent person" highlights the gravity of the crime. The Hebrew word for "innocent" is "נָקִי" (naqi), meaning free from guilt or blameless. The sanctity of life is a core biblical principle, and the taking of innocent life is a grievous sin. This command underscores the value God places on justice and the protection of the innocent, reflecting His character as a just and righteous judge.

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
The word "Amen" is derived from the Hebrew "אָמֵן" (amen), meaning "truly" or "so be it." It is a declaration of agreement and affirmation. In this context, the collective response of "Amen" by the people signifies their acceptance of the covenantal terms and their commitment to uphold God's laws. It is a communal acknowledgment of the seriousness of the curse and a public commitment to justice and righteousness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
‘Cursed is
אָרוּר֙ (’ā·rūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

he who accepts
לֹקֵ֣חַ (lō·qê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a bribe
שֹׁ֔חַד (šō·ḥaḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7810: A present, bribe

to kill
לְהַכּ֥וֹת (lə·hak·kō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

an innocent
נָקִ֑י (nā·qî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5355: Clean, free from, exempt

person.’
נֶ֖פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

And {let} all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

say,
וְאָמַ֥ר (wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Amen!’
אָמֵֽן׃ (’ā·mên)
Adverb
Strong's 543: Sure, faithfulness, truly


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 27:25 Cursed be he who takes a bribe (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 27:24
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