KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Denounced by God against the serpent (Genesis 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Genesis 9:25; 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 (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.

Against the serpent
Genesis 3:14-15

Against Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:15-19

Against the ground
Genesis 3:17-18

Against Cain
Genesis 4:11-16

Against Canaan, Noah's son
Genesis 9:24-27

Against Meroz
Judges 5:23

Against Gehazi
2 Kings 5:27

Barak commands Balaam to curse Israel
Numbers 22:6; Numbers 23:11
Benedictions

Curses of the Mosaic Law
Deuteronomy 27:1-26; Joshua 8:30-34
Blessing

CURSE, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive cursed or curst.

1. To utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate.

Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people. Exodus 22:28.

Bless and curse not. Romans 12:14.

CURSE me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Numbers 22:6.

2. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, harass or torment with great calamities.

On impious realms and barbarous kings impose thy plagues, and curse em with such sons as those.

3. To devote to evil.

CURSE, verb intransitive To utter imprecations; to affirm or deny with imprecations of divine vengeance.

Then began he to curse and to swear. Matthew 26:74.

CURSE, noun

1. Malediction; the expression of a wish of evil to another.

Shimei--who cured me with a grievous curse 1 Kings 2:8.

2. Imprecation of evil.

They entered into a curse and into an oath. Nehemiah 10:29.

3. Affliction; torment; great vexation.

I will make this city a curse to all nations. Jeremiah 26:6.

4. Condemnation; sentence of divine vengeance on sinners.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:10.

5. Denunciation of evil.

The priest shall write all these curses in a book. Numbers 5:18.

CURSED, participle passive

1. Execrated; afflicted; vexed; tormented; blasted by a curse.

2. Devoted to destruction.

Thou art cursed from the earth. Genesis 4:11.

3. adjective Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.

4. adjective Vexatious; as a cursed quarrel; cursed thorns.

CURSEDLY, adverb In a cursed manner; enormously; miserably; in a manner to be cursed or detested. [A low word.]

CURSEDNESS, noun The state of being under a curse, or of being doomed to execration or to evil.

CURSER, noun One who curses, or utters a curse.