Deuteronomy 27:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Cursed is anyone who makes a carved or cast idol, an abomination to the LORD, the work of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret. Then all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן׃

Transliteration

ʾārûr hā-ʾîš ʾăšer yaʿăśeh pesel û-massēkāh tôʿăḇat YHWH maʿăśēh yədê ḥārāš wə-śām bas-sāter wə-ʿānû kol-hā-ʿām wə-ʾāmrû ʾāmēn

Grammar Details

• *ʾārûr*: Qal passive participle masculine singular - cursed
• *hā-ʾîš*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the man
• *ʾăšer*: relative particle - who
• *yaʿăśeh*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - makes
• *pesel*: noun masculine singular - carved image
• *û-massēkāh*: conjunctive waw + noun feminine singular - and molten image
• *tôʿăḇat*: noun feminine singular construct - abomination of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - LORD/Yahweh
• *maʿăśēh*: noun masculine singular construct - work of
• *yədê*: noun feminine dual construct - hands of
• *ḥārāš*: noun masculine singular - craftsman
• *wə-śām*: conjunctive waw + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular - and sets/places
• *bas-sāter*: preposition + definite article + noun masculine singular - in secret
• *wə-ʿānû*: conjunctive waw + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural - and shall answer
• *kol*: noun masculine singular construct - all
• *hā-ʿām*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the people
• *wə-ʾāmrû*: conjunctive waw + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural - and shall say
• *ʾāmēn*: adverb - amen/truly/so be it

Word Meanings

• *ʾārûr*: cursed/banned/under divine judgment
• *pesel*: carved image/idol/graven image
• *massēkāh*: molten image/cast idol/metal statue
• *tôʿăḇat*: abomination/detestable thing
• *ḥārāš*: craftsman/artisan/engraver
• *śām*: places/sets/puts
• *sāter*: secret/hiding/concealment
• *ʾāmēn*: truly/so be it/verily

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Cursed{H779} be the man{H376} that maketh{H6213} a graven{H6459} or molten image,{H4541} an abomination{H8441} unto Jehovah,{H3068} the work{H4639} of the hands{H3027} of the craftsman,{H2796} and setteth{H7760} it up in secret.{H5643} And all the people{H5971} shall answer{H6030} and say,{H559} Amen.{H543}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Cursed{H779}{(H8803)} be the man{H376} that maketh{H6213}{(H8799)} any graven{H6459} or molten image{H4541}, an abomination{H8441} unto the LORD{H3068}, the work{H4639} of the hands{H3027} of the craftsman{H2796}, and putteth{H7760}{(H8804)} it in a secret{H5643} place. And all the people{H5971} shall answer{H6030}{(H8804)} and say{H559}{(H8804)}, Amen{H543}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Cursed be he that maketh any carued image or image of metall (an abhominacion vnto the Lorde, the worke of the handes of the craftesman) and putteth it in a secrett place: And all the people shall answere and saye Amen.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Cursed be he, that maketh eny carued Idoll or molten ymage (an abhominacion of the LORDE, a worke of the handes of ye craftesman) and putteth it in a secrete place. And all the people shal answere and saye, Amen.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Cursed be the man that shall make any carued or molten image, which is an abomination vnto the Lord, the worke of the hands of the craftesman, and putteth it in a secrete place: And all the people shal answere, and say: So be it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Cursed be the man that maketh any carued or moulten image, an abhomination vnto the Lorde, the worke of the handes of the craftesman, and putteth it in a secrete place: and all the people shall aunswere and say, Amen.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Cursed be 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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Cursed is the man who makes any image of wood or stone or metal, disgusting to the Lord, the work of man's hands, and puts it up in secret. And let all the people say, So be it.

• World English Bible (2000)

  '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.'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  ‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or metal image– something abhorrent to the LORD, the work of the craftsman– and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say,‘Amen!’

Referenced Verses

• Exod 20:4 : 4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth.
• Exod 34:17 : 17 Do not make any molten gods for yourselves.
• Lev 19:4 : 4 Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.
• Lev 26:1 : 1 Do not make idols for yourselves, or set up a carved image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and do not place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.
• Deut 5:8 : 8 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
• 1 Cor 14:16 : 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can someone who is in the position of an outsider say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
• Jer 11:5 : 5 In order to establish the oath that I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey—as it is today.’ Then I replied, ‘Amen, LORD.’
• Jer 28:6 : 6 The prophet Jeremiah said, 'Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing back the articles of the LORD's house and all the exiles from Babylon to this place.'
• Num 5:22 : 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body, causing your abdomen to swell and your thigh to waste away.' And the woman shall say, 'Amen, Amen.'
• Exod 20:23 : 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be alongside Me, nor shall you make gods of gold for yourselves.
• Exod 32:1-4 : 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Get up, make for us gods who will go before us, because this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him." 2 Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off the gold earrings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with a tool, and made it into a molten calf. Then they said, "These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."
• Gen 9:25 : 25 he said, 'Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.'
• Gen 31:19 : 19 Meanwhile, Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
• Gen 31:34 : 34 Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and was sitting on them. Laban searched the entire tent but did not find them.
• Deut 4:16-23 : 16 Do not act corruptly by making for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure, whether male or female. 17 Or in the form of any animal on the earth, or any bird that flies in the sky, 18 Or any creature that moves along the ground, or any fish in the waters below the earth. 19 And be careful not to lift your eyes toward the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars—all the host of heaven—and be led astray to bow down to them and worship them, things the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of His inheritance, as you are today. 21 Furthermore, the LORD was angry with me because of you and swore that I would not cross the Jordan nor enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. 22 I will die in this land; I am not crossing the Jordan, but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which He made with you, and not to make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything He has forbidden you.
• Deut 28:16-19 : 16 Cursed will you be in the city, and cursed will you be in the field. 17 Cursed will be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed will be the fruit of your womb, the produce of your land, the offspring of your cattle, and the increase of your flocks. 19 Cursed will you be when you come in, and cursed will you be when you go out.
• Deut 29:17 : 17 Make sure there is no man or woman, family, or tribe among you whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations. Make sure there is no root among you that produces poisonous and bitter fruit.
• 1 Sam 26:19 : 19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD, because they have driven me out today to prevent me from having a share in the LORD's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'
• 1 Kgs 11:5-7 : 5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not fully follow the LORD as David his father had done. 7 At that time Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, on the hill east of Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites.
• 2 Kgs 17:19 : 19 But even Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God. They followed the practices of Israel as the Israelites had done.
• 2 Kgs 23:13 : 13 The king also defiled the high places east of Jerusalem, on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon, the king of Israel, had built for Ashtoreth, the detestable idol of the Sidonians, for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites.
• 2 Chr 33:2 : 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
• Ps 44:20-21 : 20 You have crushed us in the place of jackals and covered us with deep darkness. 21 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
• Isa 44:9-9 : 9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses see nothing and know nothing, so they will be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that can profit nothing?
• Isa 44:17 : 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol, and bows down to it. He worships it and prays to it, saying, 'Save me, for you are my god.'
• Isa 44:19 : 19 No one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals, roasted meat, and ate. Now, should I make an abomination of the rest? Should I bow down to a block of wood?'
• Jer 11:3 : 3 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the one who does not listen to the words of this covenant.
• Ezek 7:20 : 20 They took pride in the beauty of their jewelry and made it into images of their detestable idols. Therefore, I will make it a thing of uncleanness for them.
• Ezek 8:7-9 : 7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard, and I looked, and behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, 'Son of man, dig through the wall now.' So I dug through the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And He said to me, 'Go in and see the wicked abominations they are doing here.' 10 So I went in and looked, and behold, there were all sorts of carvings of crawling things, detestable animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel engraved on the walls all around. 11 Seventy elders of the house of Israel were standing there, with Jaazaniah, son of Shaphan, standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense was rising. 12 Then He said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each in the chamber of his carved images? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has abandoned the land.’'
• Ezek 14:4 : 4 Therefore, speak to them and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Any man from the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and then comes to the prophet—I, the LORD, will answer him myself in keeping with the multitude of his idols.'
• Dan 11:31 : 31 Forces from him will rise up and desecrate the sanctuary fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.
• Hos 13:2-3 : 2 Now they continue to sin and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully crafted from their silver, all of it the work of artisans. They say about them, 'Those who sacrifice kiss the calves!' 3 Therefore, they will be like the morning cloud, like dew that vanishes early, like chaff blown away from the threshing floor, and like smoke escaping through a window.
• Matt 6:13 : 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
• Matt 24:15 : 15 'So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),'
• Jer 23:24 : 24 Can anyone hide in secret places where I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the LORD.
• Rev 17:4-5 : 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her immorality. 5 On her forehead was written a name: 'Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.'