New Living Translation
Exodus 22:28
28“You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.
Exodus 22:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
- New International Version (NIV)“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
Context of Exodus 22:28
26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset. 27This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful. “You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers. 29“You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. “You must give me your firstborn sons. 30“You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. But leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day.
Read all of Exodus 22Exodus 22:28 word by word
אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֹ֣א תְקַלֵּ֑ל וְנָשִׂ֥יא בְעַמְּךָ֖ לֹ֥א תָאֹֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 22:28
- Exodus 22:8But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property.
- Psalms 32:6Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
- Psalms 82:1God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:
- Psalms 138:1I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.
- John 10:34Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’
- Exodus 21:17“Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death.
- 1 Samuel 24:6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”
- 1 Samuel 26:9“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?
- Ecclesiastes 10:20Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.
- Acts 23:3But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
- Romans 13:2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
- 1 Peter 2:17Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
- 2 Peter 2:10He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.
- Jude 1:8In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.
Commentaries on Exodus 22:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Thou 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28The gods - Heb. אלהים 'ělôhı̂ym See Exodus 21:6 note. Many take it as the name of God (as in Genesis 1:1), and this certainly seems best to represent the Hebrew, and to suit the context. Curse the ruler - See Acts 23:5.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-31These laws deal with different situations about social responsibility. They are not arranged in clear groups or categories. These laws show that every part of life relates to obedience to God. Obedience to God is not limited to worship. It includes daily actions and relationships (see study note on 21:1–23:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. 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).Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 22:28
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries