Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26, the words of the Israelites who stood on Mount Ebal to pronounce God’s curse on those who failed to keep the terms of the old covenant.1 Though old covenant law was peculiar to Israel, it nevertheless revealed a universal truth. Specifically, it revealed the reality that life in God’s presence is for the one who perfectly obeys God’s law (James 2:10),2 with a failure to obey resulting in curse and exile (Deuteronomy 28:15–68).
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”