Are Generational Curses Biblical? Discover |Exodus 20:4-6
“Did you ever in your worst moments think that you must have done something wrong in the eyes of God to deserve this?” “Yes,” Prakash answered, “I know there is a generational curse. Maybe it originated from me or from my parents because that curse lasts for three or four generations.” This piece is from A Question of Miracles, a 2001 HBO Documentary in which a couple were being interviewed.
Where was this teaching coming from? You got it right. Exodus 20:4-6. It is the only verse that speaks of something affecting up to four generations. Sadly, that verse does not speak about what people call generational curses.
Now, what does this verse mean? I had heard about generational curses many times. I had even heard people in their prayers ‘breaking generational curses’, there are sermons and books talking about this subject and how to unwind yourself from it. A generational curse is thought of as a curse passed down to the descendants, up to the 4th generation because of severe sin or occult that fathers have committed. Let us see if the teaching of generational curses is Biblical.
Exodus 20:5–6: “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (NASB). This is the verse many relate to generational curses. These words are also found in Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18 and
Deuteronomy 5:9 Deuteronomy 5:9 (ESV): 9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
.
The Context
Exodus 20:4–6 (ESV): 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
We must read this verse in its context to get what it means. Even if we cannot know what the verse means, we can know what the verse does not mean. The term ‘visiting the iniquity’ means that it is a generational curse.
Though to many this verse seems to imply that children will bear the sins of the fathers, other verses in the Bible clearly teach that everyone will bear their own sin. Ezekiel 18 teaches that everybody will bear their own sin.
In Exodus 20, Moses is on Mount Sinai being given 10 commandments. They are commanded not to make any carved image or likeness of anything. They are not supposed to bow down (worship)or serve them.
Why is God telling them not to worship idols? Because He, their God, is Jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Him, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
What Bible Says
-
It is God who visits the iniquities of fathers on children.
The Bible teaches that it is God who “visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children.” Though it does not state what this “visiting” is and how it is done, the Bible clearly says in this very verse that it is God who does it. Now, is there anything that can stop God from doing it? No. There is no prayer or fasting that can reverse what God has purposed to do. God is the one who will visit the iniquity.
We don’t know if this ‘visiting iniquity’ is a generational curse but if it is, then there is nothing that can be done to stop it. There are people out there claiming to know how to reverse or stop the generational curses. Now, if this ‘visiting the iniquity’ is a generational curse, there is nothing we can do to stop it.
-
God will not punish children for the sins of their parents.
The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
The Bible clearly teaches, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20.
The Jews were using the phrase, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth were set on the edge.” They were using it wrongly. In Deuteronomy 24:16, we see that the son shall not be put to death for the sins of the fathers. It is not that children were isolated and punished for the sins of their fathers.
-
God is emphasizing His Superabundant lovingkindness.
God is emphasizing His loving-kindness more than the ‘visiting iniquity.’ Do you not wonder why is iniquity passed on to a few generations (3rd and 4th) but his lovingkindness is to the Thousands (of generations)? A thousand is so great a number to compare with 4 generations.
God is displaying his superabundant lovingkindness and goodness. The main emphasis is on his goodness. Exodus 20:5–6: “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (NASB).
-
God will ‘visit’ iniquity onto children who hate Him.
We also learn that God will visit the iniquity of fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him. Someone may object to this by saying that the verse means that ‘those who hate Him’ refers to fathers.
This is not true because children will be bearing the sins of their fathers which the Bible has already denied. It won’t make sense in the second part that for a thousand generations, lovingkindness will follow wicked children because their parents loved God.
Therefore, we conclude that the iniquity of fathers will be visited on children who hate God. It is more likely that wicked parents will have wicked children. Those who reject God are the ones to whom ‘iniquity is visited’. Lovingkindness unto thousands of generations of those who love God.
This verse does not mean that fathers’ iniquity is passed onto children who love God. If a child turns away from the wicked way of his father, they will live. Lovingkindness is for those who love God. The wicked are not to enjoy lovingkindness because their fathers obeyed.
Sin Has Consequences
Someone may say, “Camp there for a moment, there are thousands of people (maybe millions) who are struggling because of the deeds of their parents. Make your case. To this person I answer, “ That’s true, a sexually immoral person may spread diseases to their partner and their partner may suffer the consequence of their spouse’s sin.” This teaches us that we should be careful and avoid sin because it has far-reaching consequences.
You may repent and be forgiven, but the consequences are not removed. Someone may repent of robbery but he will still go to jail and his family may suffer a lot. When Israel sinned, God dealt with them as a nation. They were all carried into captivity with their children.
Though the parents were the ones punished, children did feel the consequences. But God is faithful to believers that even in all this God is using the very situation to work it for believers’ good and for His glory. (Romans 8:28)
Conclusion
Now, are generational curses biblical? Generational curses are not Biblical. As far as the Bible is concerned, the believer is a new creation, and old things have passed away. God has forgiven their sins and they have peace with God through the righteousness of Christ.
Believer, flee from any teaching that you are under a curse. You are complete in Christ Jesus, the head of all principality and power(Colossians 2:10). Shalom. Are you saved? Click Here
