What does the Bible say about cursing your parents?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that cursing or treating one’s parents with contempt is a serious sin against God’s command to honor father and mother, calling for repentance, forgiveness, and a changed heart. Exodus 20:12 establishes filial honor as a basic duty, while Exodus 21:15, 17 and Leviticus 20:9 show how gravely such rebellion was judged under Israel’s civil law. Proverbs 20:20 and 30:11, 17 warn that contempt toward parents brings God’s judgment. Jesus reaffirmed this command in Matthew 15:4, exposing attempts to evade it. These passages do not authorize personal vengeance, but call believers to reverence, truthful speech, and humble repentance, even while recognizing that honoring parents never requires obeying sinful commands.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Leviticus 20:9 5 votes
“‘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 himself.
- Proverbs 20:20 4 votes
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
- Matthew 15:4 4 votes
For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
- Exodus 21:15 4 votes
“Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.
- Exodus 21:17 3 votes
“Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
- Exodus 20:12 2 votes
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- Deuteronomy 27:16 2 votes
‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- Proverbs 30:11 2 votes
There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
- Deuteronomy 21:18-21 2 votes
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place. They shall tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.
- Proverbs 30:17 2 votes
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
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