ON CURSES

 

Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D 

          A curse is usually defined as an expression of a wish that misfortune befall another person or group. Therefore, strictly speaking, using a cuss word is not really a curse.

          Here is a biblical example of a curse: God said to Adam: “By the sweat of your brow, shall you eat bread to eat” (Gen. 3:19).

          Here is a Talmudic example: “May it be Heaven’s will that a horn sprouts from between your eyes” (Shab. 108a). 

          Here is a modern example from a Yiddish curse: “ I hope you sink like a ship.”

          In the past, people took curses seriously. In fact, one Rabbi taught: “Let not the curse of a common man seem trivial in your eyes” (B. Meg, 15a). Many actually believed that curses had a power of action and derived their strength from the gods (e.g. I Sam. 17:43). That is, people thought that when someone uttered a curse, it will actually take place. Sheldon Blank, a biblical scholar, called them “automatic and self-fulfilling” (HUCA 33, 1950-51, 73-95). Therefore, many were afraid of being cursed.

          In order to insurance compliance, curses in the past were often attached to law codes or covenants. Here is an example of a curse from the Laws of Hammurabi (17^th cent. BCE): “May Enlil (the god) , the determiner of destinies…incite revolts against him [the person who disregards the laws] in his abode, which he cannot suppress, misfortune leading to his ruin” (ANET, p. 179, line 51). Here is another one found at the end of a treaty between Suppiluliumas, the Hittite king (14^th cent. BCE),  and Kurtizawa; “If you, Kurtiwaza, the prince……do not fulfil the words of this treaty, may the gods, the lords of the oath, blot you out” (ANET, 206). Similarly, many biblical law codes ended with blessings and curses to insure compliance. Here is an example from the curses attached to the end of the laws in Leviticus: “ If you do not obey Me (God)…I will loose wild beasts against you..(Lev. 26: 18-22).

          Today, however, many of us do not believe that curses include the power of action. Therefore they are not likely to take effect. They simply express our displeasure towards another. They do not have any reality attached to them. They are just silly statements, like, “May you always step in a wet spot after putting on fresh socks,” or, “some day you’ll go far-and I really hope you stay there.” So, don’t waste sleep over if someone utters a curse against you. It is not going to happen, though you may have to find a new friend.  

Dec. 15, 2021; Total pageviews: 680,124.