Cursing G‑d - Negative Commandment 60

The 60th prohibition is that we are forbidden from cursing G‑d's great Name (may He be exalted much, much higher than what the fools1 say). This prohibition is euphemistically called, "blessing the Name."

Scripture explicitly states that the punishment for transgressing this prohibition is death by stoning, in G‑d's statement,2 "Anyone who curses G‑d's Name shall be put to death. The entire community shall stone him." However, there is no verse which states this particular prohibition alone.3 The prohibition which includes this, as well as other acts,4 is G‑d's statement (exalted be He)5 "Do not curse Elokim."

In the words of the Mechilta, "The verse, 'Anyone who curses G‑d's Name shall be put to death,' prescribes the punishment, but not the prohibition itself. [This we learn from what] the Torah says,6 "Do not curse Elokim." The Sifra says, "[For cursing] the Unique Name7 of G‑d one is punished by death. [Cursing] other8 Names of G‑d is a regular prohibition." The Mechilta also says, "The verse, 'Do not curse Elokim,' serves as the prohibition for cursing G‑d's Name."

The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the seventh chapter of Sanhedrin.

You9 must know that this type of prohibition — which consists of two or three different subjects10 — is not in the category of a "general prohibition." This is because Scripture explains the punishment for each one separately, thereby telling us absolutely that each one is a prohibition and counts as a separate Negative Commandment, as we explained in the Introduction.11 Since the rule is that whenever Scripture indicates a punishment, there must be another source indicating the actual prohibition, we must search for it. Sometimes it is derived from one of the rules of Torah derivation, and sometimes it is included in another prohibition, as we explained in the Introduction.12

A prohibition is considered to be "general" only when there is no previous indication whatsoever that this act is prohibited aside from that [general] prohibition, as we explained in the Ninth Introductory Principle. If, however, we know that this act is prohibited from G‑d's statement that, "One who does this particular action shall be punished in this particular way," it doesn't matter whether the actual prohibition is stated explicitly or [only] derived; or if it is stated separately or included.13 You must understand this well, because you will find its application in many commandments.

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Negative Commandment 59

Negative Commandment 61

Footnotes

Or, "the heretics." (Kapach, 5731, note 8*)

Lev.24:16.

As the Rambam has mentioned many times, a prohibition normally has one verse which states that the act is prohibited, and another verse which states the punishment. In this case, there is a verse indicating the punishment; but there is no verse which serves as the actual prohibition for this commandment alone.

Namely, the prohibition of cursing a judge (N315). The Hebrew word Elokim is used both as one of the Names of G‑d, and to refer to judges.

Exodus 22:27.

Ibid.

I.e. the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter Name of G‑d. In his legal code (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 2:7), the Rambam rules that the same punishment applies if a person curses the Name spelled "alef-dalet-nun-yud."

In Hilchos Sanhedrin (26:3), the Rambam includes other Names of G‑d — whether in Hebrew or in other languages — as well as descriptive Names such as "the Merciful One."

The Rambam now deals with the fact that the same verse is being used for two separate prohibitions. This would seem to put it in the category of a "general prohibition" (lav she'bi'klalot), which is not counted among the 613 commandments, as set forth in the Ninth Introductory Principle.

10.

In this case, G‑d's Name and judges.

11.

After the Fourteenth Introductory Principle.

12.

Ibid.

13.

With another prohibition, by virtue of both prohibitions deriving from one verse, as in our case.

By Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ("Maimonides"); translated by Berel Bell

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.