Curses are mentioned both in the Old and New testaments of the Holy scriptures. In the book of Genesis Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden caused a curse, the good news is that the son of God and His death on the cross remedied the effects of Adam’s disobedience.
Today we’ll take a look at what the Bible says about curses, how to break a curse on your family, how to break your generational cycle, and how to pray for protection.
What does the Bible say about curses?
The first mention of the word curse in the Bible is in Genesis chapter three and this was directly linked to an act of disobedience. In blessing Abraham God gave him a promise saying, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…” (Genesis 12:3)
In spite of everything, you and I can have hope knowing that faith in Jesus can free us from the curse of sin. Galatians 3:13-14 states, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:
“Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit”.
How to break a curse on your family?
Removing a curse from your family could simply mean that you will not cause one by disobeying the word of God or that you will not curse your own family members. Let’s have a look at what the following Bible verses say about family curses.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, Deuteronomy 5:9 NIV
This scripture identifies two reasons why you and your family members may be faced with a generational curse. The first reason is worship and the second reason is punishment for hating the Lord.
If you or other family members worship handmade images a curse will be placed on you and your offspring to the third and fourth generation. All hope is not lost though. The Lord God promised in verse ten that He will show mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments.
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: Deuteronomy 28:15 NIV
Breaking a family curse may require you to break away from the practices of your parents, grandparents, and other family members. You have a choice between family traditions and the will of God.
If you choose to obey the word of the Lord and carefully follow the commands of the sacred scripture then curses meted out for disobedience and other sinful habits will not ‘come on you and overtake you’.
Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head. Leviticus 20:9 NIV
This text is a simple yet profound way to prevent a curse from falling on your parents. The Holy Bible says that the power of life and death lies in the tongue and this text supports that.
Not cursing your parents gives you the power of preventing them from being cursed. This also prevents you from facing a curse of death which is the penalty of placing a curse on your mother or father.
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ Matthew 15:4 NIV
This is another text that speaks about not cursing your parents. Instead of cursing them and facing death you may receive a blessing.
Honoring your parents comes with receiving a promise from the Lord Himself. Exodus 20:12 states, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”. If each person in your family should obey this command, then they will be claiming a blessing of the Lord while also averting a curse.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
There is no problem too big or no curse too strong for the power of your Heavenly Father. He has the power to cleanse and free you from any curse that holds you captive.
This scripture passage has the hopeful reminder that He is faithful, just, and will purify you. Remorse and confession will lead you to forgiveness and purification from the curses of sin.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NIV
Submitting to the Lord and His will is a great tactic to prevent or break curses that may be affecting you or your family members. This simply means that you will have to make every effort to resist the spiritual forces of evil and the schemes that the devil will try to attack you with.
To resist the power of sin, Ephesians 6:11 advises, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV
This passage is a reminder that through the help of the Holy Spirit you are able to do the will of God and obey His commands. Curses are as a result of evil actions that are thought of and acted upon.
According to Luke 6:27-28, you can overcome this evil by being good, upright, and righteous. The text advises, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 NIV
Verses three to eleven of this chapter lists a number of blessings. The meek, peacemaker, mourner, persecuted, and pure in heart all have a designated blessing. Strive to master these qualities daily, place your trust in the name of Jesus, and claim these blessings over your family and yourself.
Psalm 24:4-6 promises that if you have clean hands and a pure heart, you and your generation will be blessed by the Lord.
How can I break my generational cycle?
Breaking a generational cycle may require you to seek the forgiveness of God, have faith in the blessing of Abraham through whom all nations of the earth will be blessed, not giving evil a foothold in your life, and declaring blessings through the power of God.
‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ Numbers 14:18 NIV
This verse is a potent reminder that you should be very careful of the things that you do because they will affect your children.
One way to break a bad generational cycle is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This means you will live in obedience to the laws of God to prevent your future generations from being placed under a curse.
Another option would be to appeal to the Lord for His steadfast love and forgiveness and ask Him to replace the curse in your family line with a blessing.
But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, ⁴¹ which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, ⁴² I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. Leviticus 26:40-42 NIV
Verses fourteen to forty of this chapter list the punishment that God will place on His people if they don’t obey His commands. Illness, animals attacking children, crops being unfruitful, plagues, and enemies attacking are some of the curses that God will use as punishment for disobedience.
The best way to revert these curses is by humbling your uncircumcised heart and confessing your sins and the iniquity of the fathers. This is needed to claim the promise of blessings that God made with Abraham, for you and your own children.
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. ¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” Galatians 3:10-11 NIV
The good works we do are unable to save us. This is because the law of God draws attention to sin. It condemns us and we are cursed when we are unable to follow all its precepts and the voice of the Lord.
Trusting in the power of God and believing that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin is the only way to break the curse that the law places on us.
and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 NIV
This is another text that highlights how disobedience to God can have adverse effects on you and your own children. In verses twenty-five through to thirty-one the apostle Paul warns against certain behaviors.
As a child of God, if you don’t allow any room for evil and wrongdoing in your life then it will be very unlikely for an evil curse to take a foothold on you and your family. Instead, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV
This text is a beautiful reminder that the power to break a generational cycle lies within you. Believe wholeheartedly that the sins of the fathers and other family members before you can be forgiven through your faithful petition.
Declare with your mouth blessings over your life and plea the blood of Jesus against every curse and evil power that comes against you.
How do you pray for protection?
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament have very powerful scripture passages that may be used to claim the protection of God and dispel curses. Here are some verses that you may use as prayers.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
There is great power in prayer. The King James Version of this text states that, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.
This is a very good text to use against illnesses and other curses that plagues you or your family members. Pray the prayer of faith believing that the God of heaven will bring restoration, healing, and freedom.
no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 NIV
Dear Lord,
I come to you believing that no weapon formed against me or my family will prosper. Cover us from the spiritual warfare and the forces of darkness that surround us. Bless us, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Proverbs 26:2 NIV
Heavenly Father,
You are my protector and guide. I ask You at this moment to reverse every evil report against me. May curses flutter like sparrows and return from where they come. You promise in your word that an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
I claim this promise in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice. ²⁹ May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. Psalm 109:28-29 NIV
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
I claim You, the only wise God as my own. While others curse, may you bless me. Let those who attack me be put to shame. Help me to rejoice knowing that I am blessed and highly favored by the Almighty. I humbly ask it all in the name of my Redeemer. Amen.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, ¹⁰ no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:9-12 NIV
Lord,
You are my refuge and my dwelling place. Let no harm overtake me, let no disaster come upon me. Command Your angels to guard and protect me in all my ways. Grant me your richest blessings I ask. Amen.
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 NIV
Lord,
Release me from the curses that hold me captive. Let the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus free me from sin and death. Have mercy upon me and may my life be a testimony for You I pray. Amen.
Final Thought
Obedience to the word of God, faith in His promises, and praying for His protection are ways to break curses according to the Bible. Live a righteous life and believe like the Psalmist David that who God blesses, no man can curse.
