What does it mean to CURSE someone?

God cursed

1. the serpent (Ge 3:14) because it sinned by lying to Eve,
2. the ground (v 17) because Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God's command not to eat from the forbidden tree,
3. Cain because he sinned by murdering his brother (Ge 4:11).

God cursed/pronounced some negative consequences due to someone's sin.

People cursed God even though God didn't sin:

1. Job's wife suggested that he should "curse God and die" after his sufferings (Job 2:9), but Job refused.
2. The third commandment prohibited taking God's name in vain (Ex 20:7) In Leviticus 24:10-16, there's an account of a man who blasphemed the Name of God and cursed, and was subsequently stoned to death according to God's instruction to Moses.
3. In Revelation, there are descriptions of people who curse God due to their sufferings during the end times (Rev 16:9, 11, 21).

People invoked the name of their gods to curse others:

1. After the flood, Noah's son, Ham, saw his father's nakedness. Noah cursed the son of Ham, Canaan.
2. After Jericho’s fall, Joshua pronounced a curse: "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates" (Jos 6:26)
3. There were several imprecatory psalms. E.g., "Let ruin come upon them unawares! And let the net that they hid ensnare them; let them fall into it—to their ruin" (Ps 35:8).
4. Goliath cursed David by his gods (1Sa 17:43). This curse didn't work. A causeless curse does not alight (Pr 26:2).

People pronounced a curse on themselves to prove their loyalty:

1. Numbers 5 described the Adultery Test. A wife could prove her innocence by drinking the bitter water that brought a curse to her.
2. Ruth pledged loyalty to Naomi: "Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge… May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you" (Ru 1:16-17).
3. Jonathan swore to be loyal to David, calling God’s punishment on himself if he failed. "But should it please my father to do you harm, may the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away" (1 Sa 20:13).

Cursing someone, in the OT context, was a solemn act of invoking divine judgment, harm, or misfortune upon another person. This practice continued to some extent in the New Testament.

1. Jesus cursed a fig tree (Mark 11:14, 21) to demonstrate his sovereign power.
2. Jesus pronounced woes on the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23).
3. Jesus pronounced a woe on Judas Iscariot for betraying the Son of Man (Mt 26:24).
4. Paul pronounced a curse on those who preached a false gospel (Ga 1:8–9).
5. Paul cursed anyone who did not love the Lord (1C 16:22).

Should Christians curse others today?

No. Lk 6:

28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

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Jesus taught us to love, not to curse. Let God deal with them.