# curse, cursed, cursing

## Definition:

The term “curse” means to cause negative things to happen to the person or thing that is being cursed.

* A curse can be a statement that harm will happen to someone or something.
* To curse someone can also be an expression of desire that bad things will happen to them.
* It can also refer to the punishment or other negative things that someone causes to happen to someone.

## Translation Suggestions:

* This term could be translated as “cause bad things to happen to” or “declare that something bad will happen to” or “swear to cause evil things to happen to.”
* In the context of God sending curses on his disobedient people, it could be translated as, “punish by allowing bad things to happen.”
* The term “cursed” when used to describe people could be translated as, “(this person) will experience much trouble.”
* The phrase “cursed be” could be translated as, “May (this person) experience great difficulties.”
* The phrase, “Cursed is the ground” could be translated as, “The soil will not be very fertile.”
* However, if the target language has the phrase “cursed be” and it has the same meaning, then it is good to keep the same phrase.

(See also: [bless](../kt/bless.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Samuel 14:24-26](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/14/24)
* [2 Peter 02:12-14](rc://en/tn/help/2pe/02/12)
* [Galatians 03:10](rc://en/tn/help/gal/03/10)
* [Galatians 03:14](rc://en/tn/help/gal/03/14)
* [Genesis 03:14](rc://en/tn/help/gen/03/14)
* [Genesis 03:17](rc://en/tn/help/gen/03/17)
* [James 03:10](rc://en/tn/help/jas/03/10)
* [Numbers 22:06](rc://en/tn/help/num/22/06)
* [Psalms 109:28](rc://en/tn/help/psa/109/28)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[02:09](rc://en/tn/help/obs/02/09)__ God said to the snake, “You are __cursed__!”
* __[02:11](rc://en/tn/help/obs/02/11)__ “Now the ground is __cursed__, and you will need to work hard to grow food.”
* __[04:04](rc://en/tn/help/obs/04/04)__ “I will bless those who bless you and __curse__  those who __curse__  you.”
* __[39:07](rc://en/tn/help/obs/39/07)__ Then Peter vowed, saying, “May God __curse__  me if I know this man!”
* __[50:16](rc://en/tn/help/obs/50/16)__ Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin into this world, God __cursed__  it and decided to destroy it.


## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H422, H423, H779, H1288, H2763, H2764, H3994, H5344, H6895, H7043, H7045, H7621, H8381, G331, G332, G685, G1944, G2551, G2652, G2653, G2671, G2672, G6035
