Verse MeaningDeuteronomySome background helps
Deuteronomy 27:13: Meaning Explained
And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Deuteronomy 27:13
“And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.”
What Does This Verse Mean?
The other six tribes stand on Mount Ebal to announce curses for those who disobey.
What’s Happening Here
Both blessings and curses are declared - the positive and negative consequences of obedience and disobedience.
Key Words
curseBad things that happen to those who disobey
Why It Matters
This verse reminds us that our choices have real consequences, and that communities are responsible for upholding shared values of right and wrong, a principle that remains relevant in any society.
Did You Know?
Mount Ebal, where these tribes stood to pronounce curses, was a barren, rocky mountain, symbolically fitting for declarations of judgment, while the lush Mount Gerizim nearby was used for the blessings.
Word Study
H5975
And these shall standיַֽעַמְד֥וּ
H7045
to curseהַקְּלָלָ֖ה
H2022
upon mountבְּהַ֣ר
H5858
Ebalעֵיבָ֑ל
H7205
Reubenרְאוּבֵן֙
H1410
Gadגָּ֣ד
H836
and Asherוְאָשֵׁ֔ר
H2074
and Zebulunוּזְבוּלֻ֖ן
H1835
Danדָּ֥ן
H5321
and Naphtaliוְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃
Cross References
Continue Exploring
Read Deuteronomy 27:13 in the Bible reader, or explore the full chapter summary.