Deuteronomy 27:16

‘Cursed ¹  is the one who disrespects ²  his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

Ex 20:12; Ex 21:17; Le 19:3; De 21:18-21; Pr 30:11-17; Eze 22:7; Mt 15:4-6

¹ tn The Levites speak again at this point; throughout this pericope the Levites pronounce the curse and the people respond with “Amen.”

² tn The Hebrew term קָלָה (qalah) means to treat with disdain or lack of due respect (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV “dishonors”; NLT “despises”). It is the opposite of כָּבֵד (kaved, “to be heavy,” that is, to treat with reverence and proper deference). To treat a parent lightly is to dishonor him or her and thus violate the fifth commandment (Deut 5:16; cf. Exod 21:17).