The blood curse refers to a New Testament passage from Matthew 27:24-25 which is part of the section that describes Pilate's court before the Crucifixion of Jesus.
The King James Bible states:
- When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that a tumult was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person. See ye to it." Then answered all the people and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children!"
This immediately follows the action of Pilate in Matthew 27:24 in which he washes his hands in public to proclaim his own innocence.
This episode is then followed by Jesus Carrying the Cross towards Calvary in Matthew 27:31–33.
Famous quotes containing the words blood and/or curse:
“The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which the opposing armies are counted and the victory is awarded to the larger before any blood is shed. Except in the sacred tests of democracy and in the incantations of the orators, we hardly take the trouble to pretend that the rule of the majority is not at bottom a rule of force.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)
“What, shall we curse the planets of mishap
That plotted thus our glory’s overthrow?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)