Nehemiah 5:13

5:13 I also shook out my garment, ¹  and I said, “In this way may God shake out from his house and his property every person who does not carry out ²  this matter. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!” All the assembly replied, “So be it!” and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised. ³ 

Deuteronomy 27:14-26

The Covenant Curses

27:14 “The Levites will call out to every Israelite ⁴  with a loud voice: 27:15 ‘Cursed is the one ⁵  who makes a carved or metal image – something abhorrent ⁶  to the Lord, the work of the craftsman ⁷  – and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ⁸  27:16 ‘Cursed ⁹  is the one who disrespects ¹⁰  his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:18 ‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:20 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with ¹¹  his father’s former wife, ¹²  for he dishonors his father.’ ¹³  Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:21 ‘Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.’ ¹⁴  Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:22 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:23 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:24 ‘Cursed is the one who kills ¹⁵  his neighbor in private.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:25 ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 27:26 ‘Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

Psalms 15:4

15:4 He despises a reprobate, ¹⁶ 

but honors the Lord’s loyal followers. ¹⁷ 

He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise. ¹⁸ 

Luke 11:45-46

11:45 One of the experts in religious law ¹⁹  answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult ²⁰  us too.” 11:46 But Jesus ²¹  replied, ²²  “Woe to you experts in religious law as well! ²³  You load people ²⁴  down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch ²⁵  the burdens with even one of your fingers!

[5:13]  ¹ tn Heb “my bosom.”

[5:13]  ² tn Heb “cause to stand.”

[5:13]  ³ tn Heb “according to this word.”

[27:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “Israelite man.”

[27:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “man,” but in a generic sense here.

[27:15]  ⁶ tn The Hebrew term translated here “abhorrent” (תּוֹעֵבָה, to’evah) speaks of attitudes and/or behaviors so vile as to be reprehensible to a holy God. See note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.

[27:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “craftsman’s hands.”

[27:15]  ⁸ tn Or “So be it!” The term is an affirmation expressing agreement with the words of the Levites.

[27:16]  ⁹ tn The Levites speak again at this point; throughout this pericope the Levites pronounce the curse and the people respond with “Amen.”

[27:16]  ¹⁰ 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).

[27:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “who lies with” (so NASB, NRSV); also in vv. 22, 23. This is a Hebrew idiom for having sexual relations (cf. NIV “who sleeps with”; NLT “who has sexual intercourse with”).

[27:20]  ¹² tn See note at Deut 22:30.

[27:20]  ¹³ tn Heb “he uncovers his father’s skirt” (NASB similar). See note at Deut 22:30.

[27:21]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “lies with any animal” (so NASB, NRSV). “To lie with” is a Hebrew euphemism for having sexual relations with someone (or in this case, some animal).

[27:24]  ¹⁵ tn Or “strikes down” (so NRSV).

[15:4]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “despised in his eyes [is] a rejected [one].” The Hebrew term נִמְאָס (nim’as, “rejected [one]”) apparently refers here to one who has been rejected by God because of his godless behavior. It stands in contrast to “those who fear God” in the following line.

[15:4]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “those who fear the Lord.” The one who fears the Lord respects his sovereignty and obeys his commandments. See Ps 128:1; Prov 14:2.

[15:4]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “he takes an oath to do harm and does not change.” The phrase “to do harm” cannot mean “do harm to others,” for the preceding verse clearly characterizes this individual as one who does not harm others. In this context the phrase must refer to an oath to which a self-imprecation is attached. The godly individual takes his commitments to others so seriously he is willing to “swear to his own hurt.” For an example of such an oath, see Ruth 1:16-17.

[11:45]  ¹⁹ sn That is, an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law. They worked closely with the Pharisees.

[11:45]  ²⁰ tn For this term, see Matt 22;6; Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thess 2:2.

[11:46]  ²¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:46]  ²² tn Grk “said.”

[11:46]  ²³ tn Here “as well” is used to translate καί (kai) at the beginning of the statement.

[11:46]  ²⁴ tn Grk “men.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females.

[11:46]  ²⁵ tn Grk “you yourselves do not touch.” This could mean one of two things: (1) Either they make others do what they themselves do not (through various technical exceptions) or (2) they make no effort to help the others fulfill what they are required to do. Considering the care these religious figures are said to have given to the law, the second option is more likely (see L&N 18.11).