Deuteronomy 27

Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.

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.

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.

It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.

There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.

You shall build the LORD your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God.

You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.

You shall therefore obey the LORD your God’s voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”

Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,

“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel,

‘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.’

‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter presents the formal enactment of covenant renewal upon Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land, centered on a solemn ceremony at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. It establishes a visible, communal declaration of obedience through stone monuments inscribed with the law, an altar for worship, and a liturgical recitation of blessings and curses. The chapter marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s transition from wilderness wandering to national life under God’s covenant, grounding their identity and future on public adherence to divine commandments.

Flow.

Moses and the elders instruct Israel to erect plastered stones on Mount Ebal upon crossing the Jordan, inscribed with the law, and to build an uncut-stone altar for offerings.
The people are reminded they have become the people of the LORD and must obey His voice, statutes, and commandments.
The tribes are assigned to two mountains—Gerizim for blessings and Ebal for curses—to affirm the covenant publicly.
The Levites pronounce twelve specific curses for secret or societal sins, each met with the people’s collective “Amen,” underscoring communal responsibility before God.

Connections.
Following chapter 26, which concludes with Israel’s confession of covenant fidelity and God’s declaration of kingship over them, chapter 27 enacts the first tangible steps of that covenant in the land. The public inscription of the law and the altar on Ebal fulfill the promise of belonging to God’s holy nation. This covenant dramatization sets the stage for chapter 28, which expands the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience in national, agricultural, and social terms, grounding future prosperity or judgment in the loyalty first pledged at this moment.

What it teaches.
The chapter underscores the centrality of public, communal covenant renewal as an expression of Israel’s identity in relation to God’s law. The altar of uncut stones reflects the purity of worship due to the LORD alone, not shaped by human artifice (WCF 21.1). The curses highlight the seriousness of hidden sins and injustices, especially those exploiting the vulnerable, showing that covenant life demands both inward integrity and outward justice (WCF 19.5). The people’s “Amen” signifies collective assent, affirming that all are bound by the law’s demands—none are exempt from accountability before God (HC LD 4, Q&A 12).

Apply.
After receiving God’s Word, set it in place with deliberate, visible acts of remembrance and respond together with honest acknowledgment of its authority over every hidden thing.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.