Deuteronomy 27
Deuteronomy Chapter 27, Explained
The covenant is to be written in stone and proclaimed on the mountains. Crossing Jordan, Israel is to set up plastered stones inscribed with the law and build an unhewn altar on Mount Ebal for offerings. Six tribes stand on Gerizim to bless and six on Ebal to curse, while the Levites pronounce twelve curses on hidden sins, and all the people answer, Amen.
Key verses from Deuteronomy 27
“And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Deuteronomy 27:8
“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.”
Deuteronomy 27:15
What happens in Deuteronomy 27
Moses and the elders command that on crossing into the land, Israel set up great stones coated with plaster and write on them all the words of this law very plainly. On Mount Ebal they are to build an altar of whole, unhewn stones, offer burnt and peace offerings, and rejoice before the LORD. Moses declares that this day Israel has become the people of the LORD.
He then arranges a covenant ceremony: six tribes stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, and six on Mount Ebal to curse. The Levites recite aloud twelve curses, largely against secret sins: idolatry hidden away, dishonoring parents, moving a landmark, misleading the blind, perverting justice for the vulnerable, sexual corruptions, secret violence, taking a bribe to kill, and finally a comprehensive curse on anyone who does not confirm all the words of this law. To each the whole people answer, Amen.
Where Deuteronomy 27 sits
This chapter sets a covenant-ratification ceremony for the land, later carried out by Joshua at Shechem between the two mountains. Writing the law on plastered stone made it public and permanent. The curses target especially sins done in secret, where only God sees, and the people's Amen turned each one into a self-conscious oath binding the whole nation to the covenant's terms.
Themes in Deuteronomy 27
The law made public. Israel inscribes the words on plastered stones very plainly, so the covenant is not hidden knowledge but open testimony. God's will is meant to be known, read, and owned by all the people, not concealed or reserved for an elite few.
Secret sins exposed. Most curses fall on hidden wrongs: the idol in a secret place, the covert landmark moved, the neighbor smitten secretly. The oath reminds Israel that God sees what people conceal, and that the community owns responsibility even for evil done in the dark.
Corporate Amen. The whole people answer each curse, binding themselves knowingly to the covenant. Faith here is public agreement, a shared owning of God's standards rather than a private opinion, so that no one can later claim they never agreed to its terms.
How Deuteronomy 27 points to Jesus
The chapter's final curse, cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them, is caught up by Paul to expose our plight: all who rely on law-keeping fall under a curse, for none confirms all its words. Every honest Amen the people spoke was also a confession that they could not perfectly obey. Then comes the gospel's exchange: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. The blessing stood on Gerizim and the curse on Ebal, but at the cross the two mountains met, and the one who deserved only blessing took our curse. The unhewn altar, untouched by human tool, foreshadows a salvation not achieved by our craft but received as gift.
A thought to carry
Read the list of curses and notice how many concern what no one else would see. Where does your hidden life not match your public Amen? Bring one secret thing into God's light today, trusting that Christ has already borne its curse.
A prayer. Lord, you see what I keep hidden, and still you love me. Thank you that Christ became a curse to redeem me from mine. Make my secret life honest, and let my whole Amen be true before you. Amen.
Want to sit with this chapter for yourself? Read all of Deuteronomy 27 in the King James Version, then open The Living Bread to ask any question about it and pray with others, free.
Questions people ask about Deuteronomy 27
Why are so many of the curses aimed at secret sins?
Because the covenant reaches beyond what human courts can see. Moving a landmark, misleading the blind, and striking a neighbor secretly often escape detection, so the oath places them under God's all-seeing eye. By naming hidden wrongs and answering Amen, the people confess that God judges the concealed heart, not just public acts, and that integrity belongs to the unseen life.
What does the unhewn altar of whole stones signify?
The command forbids lifting an iron tool on the altar stones, so no human shaping intrudes on the place of sacrifice. It guards against pride and idolatrous craft, insisting that atonement rests on God's provision, not human artistry. The worshiper brings offerings to an altar he did not fashion, a quiet reminder that salvation is received as gift rather than manufactured by effort.
Every chapter in Deuteronomy
← Deuteronomy 26 · The book of Deuteronomy · The gospel · Deuteronomy 28 →