Deuteronomy 27 is the chapter where Moses gives Israel a set of instructions for the day they enter the Promised Land: set up large stones coated with plaster, write the law on them, build an altar, and then recite a series of curses that the people answer with “Amen.” People read it because it is one of the most unusual passages in the Old Testament, and because its central question still matters: what does it look like to commit publicly to God’s law?
Deuteronomy 27 Summary
The chapter opens with Moses and the elders charging the people to keep every command he has given them. He then describes a ceremony to take place once they cross the Jordan River: they are to set up great stones, plaster them, write the words of the law on them, and build an altar of uncut stone on Mount Ebal, where they will offer sacrifices and celebrate before the Lord.
From there the chapter turns to a gathering of the tribes. Six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, and six will stand on Mount Ebal to speak the curses. Levites then recite a list of twelve prohibitions, each beginning with the word “Cursed,” and after each one the people respond with “Amen.” The chapter closes with a final curse on anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them.
Background and Setting
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Torah, traditionally attributed to Moses and presented as his final series of addresses to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before they enter Canaan. Many scholars date its final form to a later period, often associated with the reforms of the seventh century BC, though most also recognize that it preserves older material. Whatever its editorial history, the book is framed as Moses speaking to a new generation who did not experience the wilderness rebellion.
Chapter 27 sits between Moses’ exhortations about the land and his later sermons about blessings and curses in chapters 28 through 30. It acts as a bridge: having restated the law, Moses now shows how the people are to make that law visible and binding in the land itself, through stones, altars, and communal oaths.
Deuteronomy 27 Section by Section
Verses 1-8: Stones, Plaster, and an Altar
2 It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster. 3 You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over; that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
Deuteronomy 27:2-3 (WEB)
Moses begins with a command that the people set up large stones on the day they cross the Jordan, coat them with plaster, and write on them all the words of this law. The plaster would give a smooth surface for writing, and the stones would stand as a lasting witness that the nation’s life was now to be shaped by God’s instruction. Nothing in the text suggests the stones were meant to be merely decorative; they were a public declaration.
The altar that follows is also to be built of uncut stone, with no iron tool touching it. Many readers understand this as a way of keeping the altar natural and unshaped by human artistry, so that the focus stays on the Lord rather than on the craftsmanship of the builders. The people are then to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings there and rejoice before the Lord, linking the law with worship and celebration.
Verses 9-10: Today You Have Become a People
9 Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent, and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the LORD your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
Deuteronomy 27:9-10 (WEB)
Moses and the Levitical priests address all Israel with a striking statement: “Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.” The covenant relationship is presented as something real and present, not merely a memory of the exodus. The response they call for is simple and direct: obey the Lord’s voice and keep his commandments.
This moment is the hinge of the whole chapter. Before the stones and the curses, Israel is reminded that its identity rests on a relationship that demands a response. Being God’s people is not only a status but a way of life that the community is invited to embrace together, in full view of one another.
Verses 11-14: Blessings on Gerizim, Curses on Ebal
12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
Deuteronomy 27:12-13 (WEB)
The tribes are divided between two mountains that face each other across the valley. Six tribes descended from Leah and Rachel stand on Gerizim to bless the people, while six others stand on Ebal to pronounce curses. The division is a visible reminder that the covenant includes both the promise of God’s favor and the warning of his judgment.
The arrangement is also a way of making the community a participant in the covenant rather than passive spectators. Everyone is placed in a position to respond, and the setting itself, with its two mountains and a valley of voices, makes the stakes unmistakable. The chapter wants Israel to hear the law spoken aloud and to take part in its affirmation.
Verses 15-26: The Twelve Curses and the Final Amen
15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ 16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deuteronomy 27:15-16 (WEB)
The Levites pronounce twelve curses, each one addressing a specific wrong. They cover idolatry, dishonoring parents, moving a neighbor’s boundary stone, misleading the blind, denying justice to the vulnerable, various sexual sins, secret murder, and taking bribes to kill the innocent. Each curse is followed by the people’s “Amen,” a solemn word of agreement that makes them witnesses to their own commitment.
The list is notable for its breadth. It touches worship, family, property, honesty, care for the weak, and sexuality, showing that God’s law reaches into private and public life alike. The chapter ends with a general curse on anyone who fails to uphold the words of this law by doing them, which reinforces that the point of the whole exercise is practice, not mere assent.
Key Themes in Deuteronomy 27
- Public commitment: The stones, the plaster, and the communal “Amen” make the covenant a visible and shared commitment rather than a private matter.
- Obedience as response: Moses repeatedly ties identity to action, insisting that being God’s people means keeping his commandments.
- Blessing and warning: The two mountains set blessing beside curse, reminding the people that the covenant carries real consequences.
- Justice for the vulnerable: Several curses focus on the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, showing God’s concern for those easily overlooked.
- Communal responsibility: Every curse is answered by the whole people, so that no one can claim ignorance or stand apart from the community’s vow.
Lessons From Deuteronomy 27 for Today
Many people today make commitments in private and rarely say them aloud before others. Deuteronomy 27 suggests that faith gains weight when it is made visible and accountable. A believer who tells a trusted friend about a resolution to keep a promise, to be honest at work, or to forgive a family member is doing something close to what the stones and the “Amen” accomplished.
The chapter also presses on the gap between knowing and doing. Israel hears the law read aloud, responds with agreement, and is then warned about failing to practice it. A modern reader might recognize this in the easy agreement with a sermon that never reaches the calendar, the budget, or the way someone treats a coworker. The chapter asks whether our affirmations turn into actions that others can see.
Questions for Reflection
- What commitment have you made to God that you have never spoken to another person, and what would it mean to share it?
- Which of the twelve curses in this chapter do you find most uncomfortable, and why?
- How do you respond to the call to care for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow in your own community?
- Where is the gap between what you say you believe and how you actually spend your time and money?
A Prayer From Deuteronomy 27
Lord, you have called us to be your people, and you have given us your law as a gift and a guide. Help me to hear your words and not only to agree with them but to live them out in the ordinary places where I work, rest, and love. Teach me to care for those who are easily forgotten and to act honestly when no one is watching. Where I have said yes to you and then turned away, forgive me and draw me back. Let my life be a stone that bears witness to your faithfulness. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Israel set up stones and write the law on them?
The stones served as a permanent, public reminder that the nation’s life was to be governed by God’s instruction. Writing the law on plastered stone made it visible to everyone who passed by. The act turned the covenant into a shared, lasting witness.
Why were the curses spoken from Mount Ebal rather than blessings alone?
Deuteronomy presents the covenant as carrying both promise and warning. Placing blessings on Gerizim and curses on Ebal kept both realities before the people. The arrangement made clear that faithfulness has real consequences.
Does Deuteronomy 27 apply to Christians today?
Christians read the Old Testament as Scripture that reveals God’s character and purposes, while recognizing that the covenant at Sinai was given to Israel in a specific setting. Many find enduring value in its emphasis on justice, honesty, and the call to put faith into practice. The chapter is best read with attention to its original context and the wider witness of the whole Bible.