In Exodus 21:17 the Bible states “Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.” I am wondering how God wanted this law interpreted. Nowadays children would be unclean everyday from the age of six until they move out. So two questions:
1. In the time of Moses, was this law taken literally, or was it a symbol of comparing parents to God, like our parents brought us into this world, so we should respect them? Or is it something else?
2. How do Jews today see this law?
How Can Jews Follow The Law To Not Curse Their Parents?
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Not to talk back to their parents and not argue and curse them out like many people do their parents. Yahweh of the Hebrews was a very formal God.
In Exodus 21:17 the Bible states “Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.” I am wondering how God wanted this law interpreted. Nowadays children would be unclean everyday from the age of six until they move out. So two questions:
1. In the time of Moses, was this law taken literally, or was it a symbol of comparing parents to God, like our parents brought us into this world, so we should respect them? Or is it something else?
2. How do Jews today see this law?
The law was taken literally but often that meant exile and not actual death. It was often more the death of the soul and distance from G-d.
I am Jewish and I try to follow the law of honoring your parents but like everyone I sometimes find it hard. I do not curse them but I do sometimes dishonor them. I usually ask for their forgiveness and try to move on. They do the same.
I live in a Jewish area and a few kids I know have fallen away and moved on but very few. I do not know if they were asked to leave or they left on their own (I suspect on their own) but if a child curses their parents they are not only committing an act G-d forbade but they are setting a bad example for others and therefore that sort of behavior can be infectious.