Curse
Summary
A pronouncement of divine judgment or harm upon a person, people, or thing. Unlike mere wishes, biblical curses carry inherent power to accomplish their purpose. The curse upon creation through Adam's sin finds its resolution in Christ, who became 'a curse for us.'
☩The Nature of Biblical Curses
When a curse is pronounced in Scripture, it is not merely a violent wish but possesses inherent power to carry itself into effect. Holy men sometimes prophetically cursed particular persons, and history records their fulfillment—as with Noah's curse on Canaan (Genesis 9:25), or Christ's curse upon the barren fig tree (Mark 11:21). Such curses are predictions, not expressions of passion or revenge. The divine maledictions are attended with all the miseries they denounce.
☩The Primeval Curse
After Adam and Eve's sin, God pronounced curses: upon the serpent ('upon thy belly shalt thou go'), upon the ground ('cursed is the ground for thy sake'), and consequent suffering upon humanity (Genesis 3:14-19). Man was not cursed directly, but the curse fell on the serpent and ground. After the Flood, God said, 'I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake' (Genesis 8:21), establishing a new economy. Creation groans under this curse, awaiting deliverance (Romans 8:20-22).
☩Curses of the Mosaic Law
The Law of Moses pronounced curses upon disobedience, dramatically enacted at Mounts Ebal and Gerizim (Deuteronomy 27-28). The curse was the penalty for disobedience, as blessing rewarded obedience. 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them' (Galatians 3:10). In this light, all humanity stands under condemnation—there is no acquittal through a law that commands and never forgives.
☩Christ and the Curse
Christ redeemed believers 'from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree' (Galatians 3:13). A curse that has overtaken its victim is a spent force—Christ endured the curse on the cross, exhausting its power. In the Jewish view, crucifixion bore special cursedness (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Deliverance from the curse is certain: in the new creation, 'there shall be no more curse' (Revelation 22:3).
☩Blessing Instead of Cursing
Jesus commands His disciples, 'Bless them that curse you' (Luke 6:28; cf. Romans 12:14). No one shall curse father or mother on pain of death (Exodus 21:17), nor the deaf (Leviticus 19:14), nor the ruler (Exodus 22:28). Blasphemy—cursing God—was punished with death (Leviticus 24:10-11). Christ pronounces 'blessed' those who are falsely loaded with curses, transforming the ancient practice of cursing into Christian blessing.
Related Verses109 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Curse," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Curse," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.George Morrish, "Curse," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Curse," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).