Curse: Denounced by God against the serpent
(Genesis 3:14) and against Cain
(Genesis 4:11) These divine maledictions carried their effect with them.
Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men
(Genesis 9:25)
(Genesis 49:7; Deuteronomy 27:15; Joshua 6:26) Such curses are not the consequence of
passion or revenge, they are predictions. No one on pain of death
shall curse father or mother
(Exodus 21:17) nor the prince of his people
(Exodus 22:28) nor the deaf
(Leviticus 19:14) Cursing God or blaspheming
was punishable by death
(Leviticus 24:10-16) The words "curse God and die"
(R.V., "renounce God and die"), used by Job's wife
(Job 2:9) have been
variously interpreted. Perhaps they simply mean that as nothing but
death was expected, God would by this cursing at once interpose and
destroy Job, and so put an end to his sufferings.
