Hereditary curse: what is it? Bible passages, study and more!

The hereditary curse is an intriguing biblical theme that points to a supernatural possibility that may or may not affect someone.

Therefore, to understand what it is, it is essential to know the origin of the term, what it represents, what are its implications and what are the “symptoms” of someone who may have inherited a curse.

First of all, it is interesting to emphasize that, although the concept is widely discussed and has gained different interpretations over time, the most correct thing to do is to observe its biblical roots and weave, from the understanding of the Holy Scriptures, comments relevant.

In this way, we do not seek to address comments and understandings already made or corroborate with different aspects, but only to understand in a practical and clear way what the Holy Bible says about what in fact would be or is the hereditary curse. Read on to find out all about it!

To start this compilation of biblical studies, it is important to first know what it is, what is the origin of the term “hereditary curse” and what is its context, all according to the Bible. Check out!

A hereditary curse is something that causes several generations of the same family to suffer. This curse can be in the form of an illness passed from father to son, a complicated financial situation, addictions, successive marital failures and many others.

However, and to simplify the understanding of the concept, when talking about a hereditary curse, it is important to keep in mind that if someone goes through the same problems that their parents or grandparents went through, they may supposedly have inherited a curse that started in their ancestors. .

The concept of “hereditary curse” originates from the Holy Bible and refers to an ancient understanding that says that some people, somehow, carry a scourge that has affected their lineage for generations.

Despite the concept being biblical, the term and the various interpretations that today permeate the debate in Christian communities have gained different contours over the centuries.

Follow carefully what the biblical passage in the book Genesis 9:25-26 says and what are the implications of the text regarding a hereditary curse.

“And he said, Cursed be Canaan; be a servant of servants to your brothers. And he added: Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.”

This biblical passage was one of the first to point out the concept that would later become known as a hereditary curse. However, this text carries a unique connotation in the Bible, since other incidents in which parents directly curse their children are not found in Scripture.

To contextualize the passage, it is interesting to say that before the quoted text, the Bible reports that Noah drank too much wine and with that he became so drunk that he came to undress, being completely naked and lying in the middle of his orchard.

Seeing the scene, Cam, Noah’s second son, laughed at his father’s nakedness and even called his brothers, Sem and Jafé, to share the mockery he made with the patriarch. Upon waking up and finding out about the situation, Noah became irritated and then uttered the curses that can be read in the excerpts above.

However, it is interesting to note that the curse does not extend to the entire Hamite lineage, but to the offspring of one of the sons of Ham, called Canaan.

Noah’s curse could somehow have been fulfilled, since the Canaanites, people who inhabited the region where the state of Israel is located today, were a fragmented people and who were later subjugated by Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews, descendants of of Abraham.

However, as we will see in later topics, the concept of hereditary curse, initiated in this biblical passage, does not have the irrevocable consistency that many people give it, because even many Canaanites could be freed from Noah’s curse.

Now, see what the text in the book of Exodus, chapter 20 and verses 5 and 6, means about the concept of hereditary curse.

“Do not bow down to idols or worship them, for I, the Lord, am your God and I tolerate no other gods. I punish those who hate me, even grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But I am kind to those who love me and keep my commandments, and I bless their descendants for thousands of generations.”

In this biblical text we have an emblematic case that demonstrates the purest expression of God’s desire to bless people, contrary to what some think. This can be noticed through the way the words are placed. Generally speaking, in the passage God only instructs people on how He wants them to behave.

In that sense, it’s as if He informs you what the rewards are for worshiping him and what the consequences are for rejecting him. However, when comparing the sentences, it can be noticed that the text has discrepancies that indicate God’s desire to bless man, not to curse him.

It says, “I chastise those who hate me to grandchildren and great-grandchildren” or “I chastise those who hate me to the third generation,” as described in other Bible translations, to indicate a punishment.

However, He also says: However, I am kind to those who love me and obey my commandments, and I bless their descendants for thousands of generations”, to affirm the reward of those who have him as the only God.

Therefore, the general understanding of this passage is that God did not determine parameters for a supposed hereditary curse, but, on the contrary, sought to educate the people who had him as their only Lord.

Follow the interpretation of the biblical passage in Deuteronomy 11:26-28 and its relation to the hereditary curse.

And Moses said to the people:

“Now I will let you choose whether you want a blessing or a curse. You will receive the blessing if you obey the laws of the Eternal, our God, which I am giving you today; or you will receive the curse, if you do not obey his laws, but reject the commandments I am giving you today and worship other gods that you did not know.”

In this part of the Pentateuch book of Deuteronomy, a passage is described, let’s say, legislative and specific, delivered to the people directly by the prophet Moses, the liberator, who spoke directly with God.

To understand what these words mean, we have to analyze the context. The people whom Moses led were Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, with whom God had made a covenant. At some point, these Hebrews settled in Egypt, where they eventually became enslaved.

Hearing the cry of those people, God decided to send a deliverer to take them to the land of Canaan, territory that had been promised to Abraham, to his son Isaac and later to Jacob, who came to be called Israel and was the son of Isaac.

When leaving Egypt and going to wander in the desert, the people needed laws and statutes, because now they were a nation led by God himself, through Moses, in a system of government that became known as theocracy.

And it was in this context that the 10 commandments were written, as well as the priestly, ceremonial, and other legislative documents. At a given moment, Moses receives divine inspiration and quotes what is described in the passage we highlighted.

Thus, it is correct to say that yes, in this specific passage we can understand that non-compliance with the rules would generate mishaps that would be felt by generations of Hebrews/Israelites. However, they were specific commands for that group of Israelites and for that specific period.

Understand better what these two verses 31 and 32 of Deuteronomy mean about hereditary curse in the Bible.

“Now you are going to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land that the LORD our God is giving you. So after you invade the land and start living there, be careful to obey all the laws and commandments I am giving you today.”

In this biblical text, which continues the text quoted in the previous topic, the prophet Moses only warns the people about what they will find in the Promised Land, which at the time was populated by Canaanite peoples, practitioners of habits opposite to those of the Hebrews.

In the passage, Moses exhorts the people to the importance of remembering the traditions that were passed on from generation to generation, in order not to contaminate themselves with the practices of the Canaanites.

Have you ever read chapter 18 of the book of the prophet Ezekiel, in the Holy Bible? This biblical passage discusses questions about the curse that is passed from parents to children. Follow some verses of this excerpt from the Scriptures and understand what the passage indicates!

Ezekiel 18:1-4:
“The Eternal said to me the following: Why is it that in the land of Israel people keep repeating the saying that says: ‘The fathers ate sour grapes, but it was the children’s teeth that got rough?’ As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, you will never again repeat this saying in Israel. For the life of all people belongs to me. Both the life of the father and the life of the son are mine. The person who sins will die.”

Ezekiel 18:20:
“He who sins is the one who dies. The son will not suffer for the sins of the father nor the father for the sins of the son. The good person will be rewarded for doing good, and the bad person will suffer for the evil he does.”

Ezekiel 18:21-23:
“If an evil man stops sinning and keeps my laws and does what is right and good, he will not die; it is certain that he will live. All of his sins will be forgiven, and he will live because he has done what is right. Do you think I like to see a bad man die? – asks the Eternal Lord. – No, I would like to see him repent and live.”

Ezekiel 18:32:
“I don’t want anyone to die – says the Eternal Lord. – Therefore, stop sinning and live.”

Throughout chapter 18 of the book of the prophet Ezekiel, even in the Old Testament, we see a vehement denial of the concept of hereditary curse coming from God himself.

It is important to say that the words of the Hebrew God spoken through his prophet do not nullify the terms he had used to educate the people when Moses led the…