The Meaning of Exodus 22:28 Explained

Exodus 22:28

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

YLT: 'God thou dost not revile, and a prince among thy people thou dost not curse.

Darby: Thou shalt not revile the judges, nor curse a prince amongst thy people.

ASV: Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Exodus 22:28 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse urges reverence toward God and the leaders of the community. Having dealt with proper behavior toward people on a lower social level, God also specified how to deal with those on higher levels of authority.

Chapter Summary: Exodus 22

1  Of Theft
5  Of damage
7  Of trespasses
14  Of borrowing
16  Of fornication
18  Of witchcraft
19  Of bestiality
20  Of idolatry
21  Of strangers, widows, and fatherless
25  Of usury
26  Of pledges
28  Of reverence to magistrates
29  Of the first fruits
31  Of torn flesh

What do the individual words in Exodus 22:28 mean?

God not You shall revile and a ruler of your people nor curse
אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֹ֣א תְקַלֵּ֑ל וְנָשִׂ֥יא בְעַמְּךָ֖ לֹ֥א תָאֹֽר

אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תְקַלֵּ֑ל  You  shall  revile 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
וְנָשִׂ֥יא  and  a  ruler 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.
בְעַמְּךָ֖  of  your  people 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָאֹֽר  curse 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָרַר  
Sense: to curse.