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Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy book home•Chapter 27 of 34•26 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Deuteronomy 27 Overview

Moses commands Israel to write the law plainly on large plastered stones after crossing Jordan and to build an altar on Mount Ebal. Half the tribes are designated to stand on Gerizim for blessing and half on Ebal for cursing. The Levites then pronounce a series of curses against hidden and public covenant sins, and the people answer, 'Amen.'

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Before you read Deuteronomy 27

Coming from

Chapter 26 ended the central law collection with firstfruits, tithes, and Israel’s reaffirmed covenant identity.

In this chapter

The covenant now moves toward public ratification in the land: the law is written, worship is offered, and the people formally acknowledge curses attached to covenant rebellion.

Leads into

Chapter 28 expands the covenant sanctions in detail, setting extensive blessings for obedience against increasingly severe curses for disobedience.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The written stones make the law public and geographically anchored at Israel’s entrance into the land. Ebal and Gerizim had already been named in Deuteronomy 11. The curses focus heavily on sins that may be hidden from ordinary human view—secret idolatry, dishonoring parents, moving boundaries, exploiting vulnerable people, sexual violations, covert murder, and bribery. Saying 'Amen' means the people formally accept the justice of the covenant sanction.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God’s law is to be made plain, public, and remembered in the land.

Truth 2

Covenant accountability reaches secret sins as well as public offenses.

Truth 3

The people are not passive spectators; their 'Amen' acknowledges the justice of the stated curses.

Truth 4

Worship at the altar and submission to the written law belong together.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Joshua 8:30–35 records Joshua carrying out the Ebal altar, written law, and public reading.

Connection 2

Galatians 3:10 quotes Deuteronomy 27:26 to show the curse resting on everyone who does not continue in all things written in the law.

Connection 3

Nehemiah 8 later provides another major example of publicly reading and explaining God’s written law to the covenant community.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The curses are Mosaic covenant sanctions and should not be treated as magical formulas.

Keep this clear 2

Paul’s use of verse 26 in Galatians presses the law’s comprehensive demand in his argument about justification; it does not mean the original chapter was only about individual eternal salvation.

Keep this clear 3

Do not detach the altar from the law or the law from covenant worship; both are deliberately joined in the ceremony.

Read Deuteronomy 27 watching for…

What is written on the plastered stones.

Why Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim matter.

The kinds of sins highlighted in the curse list.

How often the people respond 'Amen.'

The final comprehensive curse on failing to confirm the words of the law.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-10The law is to be written on stones and an altar built at mount Ebal 11-26The Levites pronounce curses against covenant-breaking sins

And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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:

And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.

And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

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.

Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

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:

And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

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.

Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

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.

Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

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

Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

STUDY THIS VERSE

Deuteronomy 27:12

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