Exodus 22 · Verse 28

Exodus 22:28

Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Exodus 22:28, King James Version

Exodus 22:28 in other translations

BSBYou must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
WEB“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
ASVThou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.
YLT‘God thou dost not revile, and a prince among thy people thou dost not curse.
DARBYThou shalt not revile the judges, nor curse a prince amongst thy people.
BBEYou may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.
WebsterThou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

What does Exodus 22:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. gods--a word which is several times in this chapter rendered "judges" or magistrates. the ruler of thy people--and the chief magistrate who was also the high priest, at least in the time of Paul (Ac 23:1-5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods - Most commentators believe that the word gods here means magistrates. The original is אלהים Elohim, and should be understood of the true God only: Thou shalt not blaspheme or make light of [תקלל tekallel] God, the fountain of justice and power, nor curse the ruler of thy people, who derives his authority from God. We shall ever find that he who despises a good civil government, and is disaffected to that under which he lives, is one who has little fear of God before his eyes. The spirit of disaffection and sedition is ever opposed to the religion of the Bible. When those who have been pious get under the spirit of misrule, they infallibly get shorn of their spiritual strength, and become like salt that has lost its savor. He who can indulge himself in speaking evil of the civil ruler, will soon learn to blaspheme God. The highest authority says, Fear God: honor the king.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Exodus 22:28 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תְקַלֵּ֑לte.ka.Lelyou must curseH7043
וְנָשִׂ֥יאve.na.Si'and a leaderH5387
בְעַמְּךָ֖ve.'a.me.Khaamong people yourH5971
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
תָאֹֽר\׃ta.'Oryou must curseH779

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 22:28

  • Acts 23:5

    Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:20

    Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

  • Jude 1:8

    Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

  • Exodus 21:17

    And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

  • Exodus 22:8-9

    If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

  • 1 Samuel 26:9

    And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?

  • Psalms 138:1

    A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

  • Psalms 32:6

    For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

  • 1 Samuel 24:6

    And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

  • 2 Peter 2:10

    But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

  • Titus 3:1-2

    Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

  • Romans 13:2-7

    Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the gods. or, judges.
8,9; Ps 32:6; 82:1-7; 138:1; Joh 10:34,35
nor curse.
21:17; 1Sa 24:6,10; 26:9; Ec 10:20; Ac 23:3,5; Ro 13:2-7
Tit 3:1,2; 1Pe 2:17; 2Pe 2:10; Jude 1:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 22:27

    For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

  • Exodus 22:28

    Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

  • Exodus 22:29

    Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

Read all of Exodus 22

Exodus 22:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
No denostarás á los jueces, ni maldecirás al príncipe de tu pueblo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Tu ne différeras point à m’offrir de l’abondance de ton grenier et de ce qui coule de ton pressoir. Le premier-né de tes fils, tu me le donneras.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Die Richter sollst du nicht lästern, und einem Fürsten deines Volkes sollst du nicht fluchen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Diis non detrahes, et principi populi tui non maledices.