Generational Curses
What are they? Generational curses are commonly understood as the negative patterns, consequences, or spiritual influences that seem to pass down through family lines - such as sin tendencies, destructive behaviours, diseases, or misfortunes - as a result of the sins or iniquities of ancestors.
Where were they pronounced in the Bible?
Exodus 20:5-6 says: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
This verse shows us that God ‘visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation’ because of idolatry. The word iniquity in this passage in Hebrew is 'avon which means fault, guilt, blame, punishment and consequence of iniquity. The children were judged guilty and suffered the same consequences as their parents.
Deuteronomy 23:2 shows a child born out of wedlock generates a curse up to the ‘tenth’ generation of not being able to enter into full participation in the assembly of God.
Luke 11:46-51 you will see Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees about generational curses and the blood of the prophets being on this generation for the shed blood of all the past prophets from them and their fathers.
Matthew 27:25 is a self-imposed generational curse where the Jewish crowd was insisting on Jesus’ crucifixion, and when Pilate symbolically washed his hands of the matter, they willingly accepted the blame, saying they and their children would bear the responsibility for His death.
But …… Ezekiel 18:19-20 reveals the heart of God’s justice:
“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."
Many believe this Scripture in Ezekiel is the end of Generational curses and consequences but if you read Luke 11:46-51 and Matthew 27:25 this clearly shows that generational curses and consequences were still in operation.
So, what did Ezekiel mean? When you read all of Ezekiel 18 you will see that the judgment not being passed to the child anymore was death and eternal damnation. The whole chapter talks about the soul and the soul that dies. The soul is now not judged to die for all eternity regarding the sins of the parents. Throughout the Bible you would see patterns of generations who faithfully followed God and then the next generation who did not. God did not want the generations who kept His statutes to suffer eternal judgment alongside the parents or grandparents who didn’t. God also needed to make sure this Generational curse would not supersede Jesus’s death on the Cross, which we inherit through faith, and to ensure the child who was saved was not cursed to die because of their parents sins. The soul is what is judged at death and this statement ensured that the curse could not curse the child for eternity. This shows God's just nature - each person is judged for their own choices.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14, NKJV).
I have heard many people say that Christians can no longer suffer curses as they quote Galatians 3:13 claiming Jesus took all the curses. Scripture does not say that - it states He redeemed us from the ‘curse of the law’. If all curses were removed at the cross, then the original curse pronounced over Adam and Eve - and passed down to us – which included both physical death and spiritual separation from God would both be gone. When we are born again, the curse of spiritual death is instantly broken: we are reunited with God, and sin no longer separates us from Him, but our physical bodies are still aging and subject to the effects of the Fall. This part of the curse remains until our bodies are resurrected in Christ. There are also many instances in the New Testament where Christians can suffer curses (2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 2:14, James 3:9-10, Galatians 3:1-3, 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, Luke 6:28).
What is the curse of the law? The 'curse of the law' was the penalty system of punishment for those that failed to keep the law. The penalties ranged from 'being unclean to the evening' (Leviticus 11:24-28) to 'making an offering' (Leviticus 5:5-6) to being 'cut off' (Leviticus 7:27) and to 'the death penalty' (Exodus 31:14). It also included all the curses that were listed in Deuteronomy for disobedience. Because no one could keep the law perfectly, all were under its curse - which ultimately led to spiritual separation from God and eternal death. The law became a yoke of bondage because it relied on human effort to earn righteousness. But through Jesus, we are redeemed from the curse of the law and made right with God by faith, not performance.
If you study Deuteronomy and see how God gave His people blessings for walking in obedience and curses for disobedience you will see that this now does not apply to believers as this was given under the old covenant which is now obsolete. The new covenant is about believing in the Cross and accepting Christs sacrifice to enter into the blessings. It also removes the works-based performance orientation mentality to receive blessings. In fact, any curse given under the old covenant for punishment of not keeping the law is now no longer valid or applicable for believers.
Why then are people still suffering generational sickness and consequences? The reaping and sowing effect was never removed. As believers we are still under the consequences of sin - such as pain, dysfunction, and patterns that affect families – through the principle of sowing and reaping:
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
The consequences of the sins (yours and your ancestors) were already inherited before you were born-again and need to be dealt with. Just as our own sins and consequences need to be dealt with by surrender to Jesus the already inherited sins and curses from our ancestors are no different. This is why some generational patterns (like addictions, fear, or broken relationships) may still appear, even though the eternal penalty is removed. Jesus broke the legal power of all these things at the cross. However, just like salvation, you must receive it by faith and sometimes actively renounce the old ties to fully walk in freedom. This is why Deuteronomy 28:45 states that curses can be upon you as a sign and a wonder forever. These things were inherited and passed down by our ancestors who were still under the old covenant. Jesus bore the punishment for all sin - past, present, and future - on the cross (Hebrews 10:10-14). But we must personally apply that sacrifice through confession and repentance. This includes our own sin (past, present and future) and previously inherited ancestral curses and consequences of sin.
When you accept Jesus, your spirit is made new, and you are forgiven for all your sins so you can inherit the Kingdom. But your body - including your genes - still lives in a broken world. That means genetic weaknesses or damage, like a cancer gene, can still be passed down in families.
This doesn’t mean God is punishing you or your children. It means that the natural effects of sin and brokenness in the world can still impact our bodies and families. Sometimes, sins or harmful choices in the past, even by our ancestors, cause damage that carries on through generations.
The good news is that Jesus offers healing and restoration for every part of us - spirit, soul, and body. We can pray and ask God to heal any inherited damage and break any spiritual strongholds or curses over our family lines. So while salvation frees us from the punishment of sin, we still need to believe and receive God’s healing power to restore what sin has affected in our lives and bodies.
PRAYER - "Father God, I come before You in humility and repentance.
On behalf of myself and my Generational Bloodline I confess and renounce every sin, iniquity, and curse that has been passed down through my family line - known or unknown including religious, cultural and traditional practices that are rooted in idol worship. Please reveal to me anything specific that I need to confess and renounce. (Wait on God).
Thank You, Jesus, for bearing my iniquity and the iniquity of my forefathers at the cross.
I renounce the sin and corruption in my bloodline, but I do not reject the people or God-ordained lineage itself. In Christ, I am spiritually grafted into a new covenant family while allowing God to cleanse and redeem my natural line. I repent for all rejection of our natural lineage of who we are and where we came from and for any severed blood connections within my family line. I pray for all rejected DNA to be made whole, utilised, renewed, restored and accepted in Jesus name. I repent also for all idolisation of our natural lineage.
I honour my mother and father and all my ancestors but I utterly turn from and renounce their sins. I forgive my ancestors all the way back to Adam and Eve for their actions that caused me and my children any negative consequences. I am sorry for all I have done that may have affected my own children.
Today, I choose to bring every inherited burden to the foot of the cross. I surrender my natural bloodline to You and ask for a holy exchange - my corrupted blood for Your perfect, pure blood. Cleanse my DNA, my soul, my body and every part of me with the blood of Jesus. Remove every defilement, affliction, or oppression that entered through generational sin. I release healing into my body and into all genetic anomalies in Jesus name.
Holy Spirit, reveal to me any unyielded areas that still need to be brought into the light. I willingly lay down all pride, fear, culture, and traditions that are not rooted in You. Sanctify me daily and transform me into the image of Christ.
I now break every generational curse by the Blood of Jesus and command every spirit attached to generational sin to leave me and my descendants in Jesus’ name. I renounce every negative consequence and break every assignment against me and my descendants in Jesus name. I declare that I belong to the family of God - redeemed, washed, and made new. I choose to walk in the blessing that comes from obedience to Your Word. Let it flow to my children and grandchildren. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Special Note - When breaking Generational curses, I have seen some people disconnecting themselves from their own bloodlines to enter into Christ’s perfect bloodline. The Holy Spirit gave me a revelation about this. Blood ties connect DNA to DNA. If you reject your family or bloodline (even through disownment or bitterness), you may also be rejecting part of your own body, because you have inherited your ancestors DNA which can harm your health and wellbeing.
Psalm 139 says God knit us together in our mother’s womb. The races and lineage we carry are not by accident. God wants to use our natural inherited strengths and weaknesses along with the gifts of the Spirit for His glory. He doesn’t erase your identity - He redeems it. His goal is to make us holy, like Christ, while removing the sin and corruption, including traditions rooted in idolatry. We are grafted into Christ’s bloodline spiritually whilst cleaning up our own physical bloodlines.
Mixed Heritage – In this prayer we address warring spirits, which are spirits we inherit when we have mixed blood or mixed heritage from nations that are or were in direct opposition to each other. This division and fighting within our own souls can wreak havoc on our lives if it is not addressed. You may even see the generational pattern of division within your own family if this is not dealt with. One classic example is when there is a mixed race of Maori and Pakeha If we have had ancestors from opposing religions this too can cause disharmony within your soul. You will need to stand in for each lineage/ religion/ race/ tribe/ nation or clan represented and repent for the wars between you then forgive each one represented on behalf of the opposing one in order for God to cleanse and heal.
(PRAY) – “I pray for the Holy Spirit to show me any strife and division operating within my bloodline". ***Write them down then line then up with the opposing mixed heritage i.e.,
Maori – Pakeha
Jews – Nazis
Protestant – Catholic etc…………..
"Dear God if I or my children have inherited mixed blood or mixed heritage that is in direct opposition to one another I repent for the wars and bloodshed that went on between these races and nations. I forgive the ancestors on both sides for their part in the wars against one another. I repent for myself and ancestors for all sins of contention, chaos, division, fighting, complaining, judgments, bickering, dishonesty, broken covenants, corruption, strife, fighting of ownership of lands and arguments. I repent for all sins committed that have defiled the land, particularly the spilling of blood. I specifically repent for the aforementioned sins within my bloodline between (name all lineages/ religions/ races/ tribes/ nations/ clans and people shown).
On behalf of the (name each lineage/ religion/ race/ tribe/ nation/ clan or person shown in the first column) I forgive (name each one that is in opposition with the named one, then do the opposite).
Example: *** On behalf of the Maoris, Jews and Catholics I forgive the Pakehas, Nazis and Protestants. On behalf of the Pakehas, Nazis and Protestants I forgive the Maoris, Jews and Catholics.
I cut myself and my children free from the warring spirits in Jesus name and break all forms of division, separation, chaos, arguments, contention, fighting and strife in the name of Jesus Christ and break all ungodly soul ties that exist between all parties mentioned. I command Thor the demonic god of war, warring spirits and all other demons including division, separation and strife, as well as all demons who transferred via the soul ties to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. I cleanse the land where all blood has been spilled with the righteous blood of Jesus Christ. I release Love, Joy, Peace, Harmony and Patience in Jesus name”.
******It is a good idea to also ask the Holy Spirit if there is any conflicting heritage within your soul and your spouses soul causing division between you both. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31, NKJV). Because you are one flesh it works the same way as the warring within your own soul. If one of the couples is an unbeliever You can still use the same prayer by first declaring that you are standing in the gap for yourself and husband as one flesh.
(Husband and Wife together) - "We ask the Holy Spirit to show us any conflicting heritage and beliefs that cause division between us". (Write them down and again with the ones in opposition beside them).
"We repent for ourselves and ancestors for all sins of contention, chaos, division, fighting, complaining, judgments, bickering, dishonesty, broken covenants, corruption, strife and arguments between each and within our bloodline between (name all lineages/ religions/ races/ tribes/ nations/ clans and people shown).
On behalf of (name each lineage/ religion/ race/ tribe/ nation/ clan or person shown in the first column) we forgive (name each one that is in opposition with the named one, then do the opposite).
We command the warring spirits and all spirits of division that cause disharmony to leave us (and our children) immediately in the name of Jesus Christ."
By Tania Francis