Jump to: Topical • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms International Standard Bible Encyclopedia CURSEkurs ('alah (Numbers 5:21, 23, 17, etc.), me'erah (Proverbs 3:33 Malachi 2:2, etc.), klalah (Genesis 27:12, 13); katara (Galatians 3:10, 13)): This word as noun and verb renders different Hebrew words, some of them being more or less synonymous, differing only in degree of strength. It is often used in contrast with "bless" or "blessing" (Deuteronomy 11:29). When a curse is pronounced against any person, we are not to understand this as a mere wish, however violent, that disaster should overtake the person in question, any more than we are to understand that a corresponding "blessing" conveys simply a wish that prosperity should be the lot of the person on whom the blessing is invoked. A curse was considered to possess an inherent power of carrying itself into effect. Prayer has been defined as a wish referred to God. Curses (or blessings) were imprecations referred to supernatural beings in whose existence and power to do good or inflict harm primitive man believed. The use of magic and spells of all kinds is based on the belief that it is possible to enlist the support of the superhuman beings with whom the universe abounds, and to persuade them to carry out the suppliant's wishes. It has been suggested that spells were written on pieces of parchment and cast to the winds in the belief that they would find their way to their proper destination-that some demoniac being would act as postman and deliver them at the proper address. In Zechariah 5:1-3 the "flying roll," with curses inscribed on it "goeth forth over the face of the whole land." It would find its way into the house of every thief and perjurer. But it was not always possible to commit curses to writing, it was enough to utter them aloud. Generally the name of some deity would be coupled with such imprecations, as Goliath cursed David by his gods (1 Samuel 17:43). Such curses once uttered possessed the power of self-realization. It was customary for heads of families in their declining years to bless their children, such a blessing being, not simply a paternal wish that their children should prosper in life, but a potent factor in determining their welfare (Genesis 9:25). in this case Jacob seeks his father's blessing, which was more than his father's good wishes for his future career. Such blessings and curses were independent of moraI considerations. Before moral distinctions played any part in molding theological conceptions it was not necessary, before a spell could be effectual, that the individual against whom the spell was pronounced should be deserving, on moral grounds, of the fate which was invoked on him. It was sufficient that he should be the foe of the author of the curse. We may assume that such curses signalized the commencement of a battle. But in process of time such indiscriminate imprecations would not satisfy enlightened moral judgment. In the dramatic situation depicted in Deuteronomy 11:29; Deuteronomy 27:12 the curse was placed on Mt. Ebal and the blessing. on Mr. Gerizim. But the curse was the penalty for disobedience, as the blessing was the reward for obedience. The Book of Proverbs 26:2 summarily dismisses the traditional belief-"the curse that is causeless alighteth not." "In the discourses of Jesus we find blessings and curses. They are however simply authoritative declarations of the eternal connection between right doing and happiness, wrong doing and misery" (Cheyne). Greek 2672. kataraomai -- to curse ... to curse. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataraomai Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ar-ah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I curse Definition: I curse. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2672.htm - 7k 2671. katara -- a curse 2652. katanathema -- curse. 685. ara -- a prayer, curse 2653. katanathematizo -- curse. 2617a. katathematizo -- to curse vehemently 2616b. katathema -- a curse 2617. kataischuno -- to curse vehemently 332. anathematizo -- to declare anathema, devote to destruction 331. anathema -- that which is laid up, ie a votive offering Strong's Hebrew 779. arar -- to curse... 778, 779. arar. 780 . to curse. Transliteration: arar Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rar') Short Definition: cursed. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/779.htm - 6k 6895. qabab -- to utter a curse against, curse 3994. meerah -- a curse 8381. taalah -- a curse 7045. qelalah -- a curse 7621. shebuah -- an oath, curse 422. alah -- to swear, curse 5344b. naqab -- to curse 1288. barak -- to kneel, bless 7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling Library Whether it is Lawful to Curse Anyone? Whether it is Lawful to Curse an Irrational Creature? The Curse and the Blessing. The Blessing and the Curse. That Curse was a Prediction of the Things which the Jews Would Do. The Blessings, and Also the Curse, Pronounced by Noah were ... God's Curse on Sin. Faustus Abhors Moses for the Awful Curse He Has Pronounced Upon ... Christ Took Upon Himself the Curse Due to Us. The Curse Removed Easton's Bible Dictionary Denounced by God against the serpent (Genesis 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Genesis 9:25; 49:7; Deuteronomy 27:15; Joshua 6:26). Such curses are not the consequence of passion or revenge, they are predictions.No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Exodus 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:10-16). The words "curse God and die" (R.V., "renounce God and die"), used by Job's wife (Job 2:9), have been variously interpreted. Perhaps they simply mean that as nothing but death was expected, God would by this cursing at once interpose and destroy Job, and so put an end to his sufferings. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.2. (v. t.) To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment. 3. (v. i.) To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear. 4. (n.) An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction. 5. (v. t.) Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation. 6. (n.) The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment. Topical Bible Verses Genesis 3:17And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; Topicalbible.org Judges 5:23 Numbers 23:11 Genesis 4:11-16 Genesis 3:14 Numbers 22:6 Thesaurus Curse (211 Occurrences)... No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Exodus 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14). ...CURSE. ... /c/curse.htm - 46k Bitterness (37 Occurrences) False (303 Occurrences) Cursing (53 Occurrences) Execration (9 Occurrences) Abiram (9 Occurrences) Accursed (26 Occurrences) Ones (687 Occurrences) Balak (42 Occurrences) Curses (55 Occurrences) Bible Concordance Curse (211 Occurrences)Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, Matthew 18:7 A curse is on the earth because of trouble! for it is necessary for trouble to come; but unhappy is that man through whom the trouble comes. Matthew 23:13 But a curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you are shutting the kingdom of heaven against men: for you do not go in yourselves, and those who are going in, you keep back. Matthew 23:15 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you go about land and sea to get one disciple and, having him, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:16 A curse is on you, blind guides, who say, Whoever takes an oath by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gold of the Temple, he is responsible. Matthew 23:23 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you make men give a tenth of all sorts of sweet-smelling plants, but you give no thought to the more important things of the law, righteousness, and mercy, and faith; but it is right for you to do these, and not to let the others be undone. Matthew 23:25 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of violent behaviour and uncontrolled desire. Matthew 23:27 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you are like the resting-places of the dead, which are made white, and seem beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and of all unclean things. Matthew 23:29 A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you put up buildings for housing the dead bodies of the prophets, and make fair the last resting-places of good men, and say, Matthew 25:41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand,'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but a curse is on that man through whom the Son of man is given up; it would have been well for that man if he had never come into the world. Matthew 26:74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed. Mark 11:21 Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away." Mark 14:71 But he began to curse, and to swear, "I don't know this man of whom you speak!" Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 10:13 A curse is on you, Chorazin! A curse is on you, Beth-saida! For if such works of power had been done in Tyre and Sidon as have been done in you, they would have been turned from their sins, in days gone by, seated in the dust. Luke 11:42 But a curse is on you, Pharisees! for you make men give a tenth of every sort of plant, and give no thought to right and the love of God; but it is right for you to do these things, and not let the others be undone. Luke 11:43 A curse is on you, Pharisees! for your desires are for the most important seats in the Synagogues and for words of respect said to you in the market-place. Luke 11:44 A curse is on you! for you are like the resting-places of dead men, which are not seen, and men go walking over them without knowledge of it. Luke 11:46 And he said, A curse is on you, teachers of the law! for while other men are crushed under the weight of the rules you make for them, you yourselves do not put so much as one finger to them. Luke 11:47 A curse is on you! for you make resting-places for the bodies of the prophets, but your fathers put them to death. Luke 11:52 A curse is on you, teachers of the law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you did not go in yourselves, and you got in the way of those who were going in. John 7:49 But this multitude that doesn't know the law is accursed." Acts 23:12 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. Acts 23:14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Acts 23:21 Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you." Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my relatives according to the flesh, Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don't curse. 1 Corinthians 4:12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I am a preacher of the good news, I have no cause for pride in this; because I am forced to do so, for a curse is on me if I do not. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord! Galatians 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed. Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them." Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree," Hebrews 6:8 but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned. James 3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 3:9 Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing. 1 Peter 3:16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Christ. 2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Jude 1:11 A curse on them! They have gone in the way of Cain, running uncontrolled into the error of Balaam for reward, and have come to destruction by saying evil against the Lord, like Korah. Revelation 8:12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet; and a curse fell upon a third part of the sun, a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars, so that a third part of them were darkened and for a third of the day, and also of the night, there was no light. Revelation 22:3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. Genesis 8:21 Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you." Genesis 27:12 What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing." Genesis 27:13 His mother said to him, "Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me." Genesis 27:29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you." Genesis 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Exodus 22:28 "You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people. Leviticus 19:14 "'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh. Leviticus 20:9 "'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. Leviticus 24:11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. Numbers 5:18 The priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and let the hair of the woman's head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse. Numbers 5:19 The priest shall cause her to swear, and shall tell the woman, "If no man has lain with you, and if you haven't gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse. Numbers 5:21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, "Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; Numbers 5:22 and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away." The woman shall say, "Amen, Amen." Numbers 5:24 He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter. Numbers 5:27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled, and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away: and the woman will be a curse among her people. Numbers 22:6 Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." Numbers 22:11 'Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the surface of the earth: now, come curse me them; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'" Numbers 22:12 God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed." Numbers 22:17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.'" Numbers 23:7 He took up his parable, and said, "From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel. Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied? Numbers 23:11 Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether." Numbers 23:13 Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from whence you may see them; you shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all: and curse me them from there." Numbers 23:25 Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all." Numbers 23:27 Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse me them from there." Numbers 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed." Numbers 24:10 Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. Deuteronomy 3:6 And we put them to the curse, every town together with men, women, and children. Deuteronomy 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: Deuteronomy 11:28 and the curse, if you shall not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known. Deuteronomy 11:29 It shall happen, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, that you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal. Deuteronomy 12:2 You are to give up to the curse all those places where the nations, whom you are driving out, gave worship to their gods, on the high mountains and the hills and under every green tree: Deuteronomy 13:15 Then take up arms against the people of that town and give it up to the curse, with all its cattle and everything in it. Deuteronomy 20:17 Give them up to the curse; the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God has given you orders: Deuteronomy 21:23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of God; that you don't defile your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 23:4 because they didn't meet you with bread and with water in the way, when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless Yahweh your God wouldn't listen to Balaam; but Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Yahweh your God loved you. Deuteronomy 27:13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. Deuteronomy 28:17 Your basket and your kneading trough shall be cursed. Deuteronomy 28:18 The fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock shall be cursed. Deuteronomy 28:20 Jehovah doth send on thee the curse, the trouble, and the rebuke, in every putting forth of thy hand which thou dost, till thou art destroyed, and till thou perish hastily, because of the evil of thy doings 'by' which thou hast forsaken Me. Deuteronomy 29:19 and it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, "I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry." Deuteronomy 29:20 Yahweh will not pardon him, but then the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie on him, and Yahweh will blot out his name from under the sky. Deuteronomy 29:27 therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against this land, to bring on it all the curse that is written in this book; Deuteronomy 30:1 It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; Joshua 2:10 For we have had news of how the Lord made the Red Sea dry before you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, on the other side of Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you gave up to the curse. Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. Joshua 6:18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so would you make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it. Joshua 6:21 And they put everything in the town to the curse; men and women, young and old, ox and sheep and ass, they put to death without mercy. Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. Joshua 8:34 Afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. Joshua 10:1 Now when it came to the ears of Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, that Joshua had taken Ai, and had given it up to the curse (for as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king); and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living among them; Subtopics Curse: Barak Commands Balaam to Curse Israel Curse: Curses of the Mosaic Law Curse: Denounced: Against Adam and Eve Curse: Denounced: Against Cain Curse: Denounced: Against Canaan, Noah's Son Curse: Denounced: Against Gehazi Curse: Denounced: Against Meroz Curse: Denounced: Against the Ground Curse: Denounced: Against the Serpent Related Terms Resting-places (27 Occurrences) Unfaithfulness (27 Occurrences) Links Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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