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Does the Bible Say Someone Can Place a Curse on Me?

You may wonder if someone can put a curse on you. Fortunately, the Bible has some answers to this question.

Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 08, 2024
Does the Bible Say Someone Can Place a Curse on Me?

You may wonder if someone can put a curse on you. Let me answer this question to get it out of the way. If you are a follower of Christ, and you are in Christ, then no one can place a curse on you. Let me say it again for emphasis. No one can put a curse on you. I want to clarify that point upfront because you do not need to worry about this. However, answering this question with a no is not enough. You must understand why this is true. My goal today is that you will walk away from this article empowered, knowing the presence and power of God that watches over you. When you understand his power, you will know that no one can ever put a curse on you.

What Happens When Someone Tries to Put a Curse on You?

To ensure we all have a common understanding, let me clarify the meaning of putting a curse on someone's life. Google’s English Dictionary defines a curse as “a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something.” We must be clear that curses are demonic, and they come straight from the pit of hell. If someone is trying to curse you, they are trying to conjure up demonic forces to bring mayhem into your life. In their mind, this curse will bring many negative events into your life. The intention is for these events to work against you, where nothing will go right for you, and everything will go wrong in your life. Now that I have defined it, let me tell you why you don’t need to worry about it.

4 Reasons No One Can Put a Curse on You

1. The biggest curse on your life has already been broken

The Bible says we were all born in sin and conceived in iniquity. This means that when we were born, the curse of sin was on our lives. The curse of sin separated us from God and made us candidates for his judgment. The Bible tells us that we have sinned, and because of our sins, we are all guilty before God.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, in this way, death came to all people because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

This was the greatest curse in your life, but that is only part of the story. That’s because Jesus broke the curse of sin over your life.

“Since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22

“Christ redeemed us from the law's curse by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14)

The story of your life in Christ is simple. You were a sinner, subject to the curse of sin. Christ came, died, and broke the curse of sin in your life. Now, because you are in Christ, you have freedom from the curse of sin and death, and Christ has given you the gift of eternal life. In addition, your salvation found in Christ also comes with other benefits that keep you from ever being cursed again.

2. The Holy Spirit lives in you

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, when you believed.” (Ephesians 1:18)

The moment you believed in Jesus and received salvation, the Holy Spirit occupied your heart. Before you take this lightly, he is not just the Holy Spirit; he is God the Holy Spirit. This means that everywhere you go, God’s presence goes with you. If God is with us and for us, then what curse can overcome that power and authority? No curse has ever been uttered that can overcome that. Aside from that, another truth is connected to the Holy Spirit living inside you.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one in you is greater than the one in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

This one verse alone should settle the issue once and for all because the Holy Spirit who lives in you is greater than Satan, who is in the world. 

3. Jesus watches over you

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

If it isn’t enough that the Holy Spirit lives in you, remember that you also live under the care and protection of Jesus. If you are in Christ, you are in his hands, and his responsibility is to protect you. No one can snatch you out of his hands, and he will never allow a curse to come near your life. In the same chapter, Jesus doubles down, saying that you are also in the Father’s hands and no one can snatch you out of his hands. You can walk confidently knowing that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are your refuge and are watching over you.

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ And you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9-10)
 
4. You have the power to resist, and the devil must flee

Let me make one last case for you so you can be certain that no one can put a curse on you. We have established that a curse originates from Satan. As believers, we have the power to resist the devil.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

The enemy may come against you, and he may even try to attack you, but you have greater authority. There is one trick the enemy will use against you. He will try to convince you that he is more powerful than you are. He is right if you fight him in your strength. But when you are submitted to God and filled with the Holy Spirit, the enemy has no power or authority over you. You must know this, believe this, and live in this truth. 

Do Bad Things Happening to Me Mean that I am Cursed?

One thing you must recognize is that we still live in a sinful, fallen world. This means there will be times when the effects of sin will come near your doorstep. Sometimes, these things may happen in succession, and you feel like you are cursed. Just know that you are not. Like many of you, I have suffered tragedy in my life. But again, none was because of a curse over my life. 

Please remember, having God’s protection does not make us immune to the difficulties of life everyone experiences. However, here is the difference. Often, God will take your life's hard and challenging things and turn them around. He will take these things that can cause pain and use those things to bless and encourage others around you. What looks like a curse turns out to bless you and bless others. 

How Does Spiritual Warfare Play into Curses?

A Christian can face a spiritual attack or even demonic oppression, which can manifest in different ways. Demonic oppression is a spiritual attack from a demonic spirit that seeks to influence someone’s thoughts, emotions, and even actions. These attacks do not mean God has forgotten you, but they can happen because of the spiritual battle we are in and the reality that Satan is our enemy. The goal of demonic oppression is to keep you trapped and bound and to paralyze you so you become ineffective. When under this level of attack, a person may experience abnormal fear, restlessness, nightmares, prolonged periods of depression, and even a sense of rejection by God. 

This differs from someone trying to place a curse on you. Remember, if someone tries to curse you, they attempt to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on you. As I said before, no one can do that to you. However, Satan can attack, looking for those he can devour. Thankfully, when he does attack, we have mighty weapons that allow us to push back and defeat whatever he brings against us.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Final Thought on Curses and Divine Protection

Here is my last thought on this. You can rest easy and sleep well. If you are in Christ, filled with his Holy Spirit, you can find comfort today because no curse can ever come near you. Satan can attack, and sometimes, we must fight against his attacks. However, we can fight back and win because God has equipped us to defeat him. You must believe and know this is true because it is. All that is left is for you to walk in the power God has given you. With his strength, you will defeat anything that tries to come against you.

Photo Credit:©GettyImages/alexkich

Clarence Haynes 1200x1200Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.  He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com


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