What does the Bible actually say about these?

These courses include and are not limited to various sexual sins, early deaths, alcoholism, drug abuse, and broken homes. Cases and mentions of generational curses exist in the Bible.

Bible on generational curses

Here are five times the Bible talks about generational curses:

Exodus 20:5 -

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me."

Exodus 34:6–7 -

"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."

Deuteronomy 5:9 -

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me."

Numbers 14:18 -

"The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation."

Ezekiel 18: 20 -

"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor does the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."

The last verse is proof of God's love and mercy.

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God offers redemption

While the old testament is filled with many verses about generational curses or sins, the new testament is not.

The only time the New Testament talks curses and deliverance is in Galatians 3; where it is made very clear that there is redemption not by works by grace.

Galatians 3: 13 -14 says,

"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."

This verse is supported by the following verses:

Romans 8:1–2 -

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:15 -

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Galatians 5:1 -

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

In conclusion, certain things like bad habits or diseases can be passed down from one generation to another but we have no reason to be afraid because we are free, saved and therefore no longer under bondage (1 Corinthians 15:1–5). All you have to do is believe it.