Deuteronomy 27:20

27:20 violated his father: See 22:30.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

In committing villiany against him, Lev. 20:11; Deut. 22:30; Ezek. 22:10.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

20. See on Deu_22:30 (Deu_23:1); H, Lev_18:8; Lev_20:11.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife,.... As Reuben did, and which is forbidden Lev 18:8,

because he uncovereth his father's skirt; see Deu 22:30,

and all the people shall say Amen; the tribe of Reuben said this as well as the rest.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

See Deu 22:30.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

cf. Lev_18:8; Deu_22:30

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Moses continues telling the Levites and the people what they must say.

May the man be cursed

This can be stated in active form. See how you translated this in Deuteronomy 27:16. AT: "May Yahweh curse the man" (See: Active or Passive)

his father's wife

This does not refer to the man's mother, but another wife of his father.

he has taken away his father's rights

When a man marries a woman, only he has the legal right to sleep with her. The full meaning of this statement may be made explicit. AT: "he has taken away his father's legal rights" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

who sleeps with any kind of beast

The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. AT: "who sleeps with any kind of beast in the way that man sleeps with a woman" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

translationWords

curse

had relations with

people of God

amen

beast

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

BECAUSE HE HATH UNCOVERED HIS FATHER’S SKIRT. This is a respectful euphemism for the father, for in the Torah He mentioned, he hath uncovered his father’s nakedness. So also He mentioned the term “their nakedness” in the cases of his brother’s wife, Verse 21. and his uncle’s wife, Verse 20. for there the transgressors are liable to severe punishment, death [by the court, if there were witnesses] or extinction [if there were no witnesses] and Scripture thus needed to condemn the evil they had done; therefore it mentioned “nakedness” concerning them. But here the transgressor being “cursed,” it was sufficient to mention because he hath uncovered his father’s skirt, for he is deserving of an imprecation merely for uncovering his father’s skirt, for it disgraces his honor, and anyone who dishonors his father, is cursed. Similarly, A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt is a respectful euphemism meaning that he should not approach her, for it is not proper to uncover the skirt which he spread over a wife by means of a canopy, similar to what is stated, spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid. This excludes the interpretation of him who says — above 23:1] as referring to a woman violated by his father. To this Ramban objects, for this opinion coincides with that of Rabbi Akiba, while the majority of the Sages hold that a man may marry such a woman (Yebamoth 49a). that this verse [A man shall not take his father’s wife] includes a woman that was violated by him.

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.