Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 20:9

"For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." — Leviticus 20:9 (ASV)

For everyone that curses his father. —The administrators of the Law during the Second Temple laid down the most minute regulation regarding filial obedience . Moreover, nothing could exceed the tenderness with which they instilled into the hearts of children the biblical precepts on this subject (Exodus 20:12).

Yet, they decreed that the child only incurred the penalty of death when he used the ineffable name of God while cursing his parent, whether alive or dead.

If, however, he used an attribute of the Deity, such as 'Almighty,' 'the Merciful,' etc., he was simply to be beaten with stripes.

This distinction accounts for the rendering of this passage in the ancient Chaldee Version: “who curses his father or his mother by the inexpressible name,” that is, Jehovah.