◄ Exodus 22:28 ►
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Study Bible
You must not blaspheme God
The Hebrew word for "blaspheme" here is "קָלַל" (qalal), which can mean to curse, revile, or treat with contempt. In the ancient Near Eastern context, blaspheming God was considered a grave offense, as it directly challenged the authority and holiness of the divine. The Israelites, having been delivered from Egypt by God's mighty hand, were called to honor and revere Him. This command underscores the importance of maintaining a respectful and worshipful attitude towards God, recognizing His sovereignty and the covenant relationship He established with His people. In a broader sense, it calls believers today to speak of God with reverence and to uphold His name in all aspects of life.

or curse the ruler of your people
The term "curse" is translated from the Hebrew "אָרַר" (arar), which means to utter a wish of evil against someone. The "ruler of your people" refers to the leaders appointed over the Israelites, whether judges, kings, or other authorities. This part of the verse emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring those in positions of leadership, as they are seen as representatives of God's order and justice on earth. In the historical context, rulers were often seen as divinely appointed, and cursing them was akin to challenging God's ordained structure. For contemporary believers, this principle extends to respecting governmental and spiritual leaders, recognizing their role in maintaining order and justice, and praying for them as instructed in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This respect for authority is a reflection of one's respect for God's ultimate authority.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The supreme being, creator, and sustainer of the universe, who is to be revered and respected.

2. Ruler of your people
Refers to the leaders or authorities appointed over the Israelites, such as judges or kings, who are to be respected as representatives of God's order.

3. Israelites
The people of God to whom the laws and commandments were given, including this directive in Exodus.

4. Moses
The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the law to the Israelites.

5. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses received the law from God, including the commandments found in Exodus.
Teaching Points
Reverence for God
Recognize the importance of honoring God in our speech and actions. Blasphemy is not just about words but reflects a heart attitude towards God.

Respect for Authority
Understand that respecting leaders is part of God's order. Even when we disagree, we are called to honor their position.

Guarding Our Speech
Be mindful of how we speak about God and leaders. Our words should reflect our respect and reverence.

Submission to God's Order
Acknowledge that God has established authorities for our good. Trust in His sovereignty even when human leaders fail.

Balancing Obedience and Conscience
While respecting authority, remember that our ultimate allegiance is to God. When human laws conflict with God's commands, we must choose to obey God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the command in Exodus 22:28 to not blaspheme God or curse rulers reflect the character of God?

2. In what ways can we show respect for authority in our daily lives, even when we disagree with their decisions?

3. How does the New Testament reinforce the principles found in Exodus 22:28 regarding respect for God and authority?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our speech honors God and those in leadership?

5. How can we balance the command to respect authority with the need to stand firm in our faith when faced with unjust laws or leaders?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 13:1-7
This passage emphasizes the importance of submitting to governing authorities, as they are established by God. It echoes the principle found in Exodus 22:28 about respecting rulers.

1 Peter 2:17
This verse instructs believers to honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the emperor, reinforcing the dual respect for God and earthly authorities.

Leviticus 24:15-16
These verses discuss the consequences of blaspheming God's name, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.

Proverbs 24:21
Advises fear of the Lord and the king, warning against rebellion, which aligns with the respect for authority in Exodus 22:28.

Acts 23:5
Paul acknowledges his mistake in speaking against the high priest, showing respect for authority even when in disagreement.
Sermons
The Divine Right of Magistrates to RespectJ. W. Burn.Exodus 22:28
Jehovah's Proteges and RepresentativesJ. Orr Exodus 22:21-29
People
Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Amongst, Blaspheme, Curse, Evil, Gods, Judges, Prince, Revile, Ruler
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 22:28

     4065   orderliness
     5509   rulers
     5550   speech, negative
     5800   blasphemy
     5827   curse
     8243   ethics, social
     8470   respect, for God

Library
Excursus on Usury.
The famous canonist Van Espen defines usury thus: "Usura definitur lucrum ex mutuo exactum aut speratum;" [96] and then goes on to defend the proposition that, "Usury is forbidden by natural, by divine, and by human law. The first is proved thus. Natural law, as far as its first principles are concerned, is contained in the decalogue; but usury is prohibited in the decalogue, inasmuch as theft is prohibited; and this is the opinion of the Master of the Sentences, of St. Bonaventura, of St. Thomas …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Parable of the Importunate Widow.
^C Luke XVIII. 1-8. ^c 1 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man [an utterly abandoned character]: 3 and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of [rather, Do justice to me as to] mine adversary. [In Scripture language widowhood is symbolic of defenselessness (Ex. xxii. 22-24; Deut. x. 18; xxvii. 19; Mal. iii. 5; Mark xii. 40), …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ciii. Zacchæus. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.
(Jericho.) ^C Luke XIX. 1-28. ^c 1 And he entered and was passing through Jericho. [This was about one week before the crucifixion. Jericho is about seven miles from the Jordan and about seventeen and a half from Jerusalem.] 2 And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich. [See p. 76. It is probable that Zacchæus was a sub-contractor under some Roman knight who had bought the privilege of collecting taxes at Jericho, or perhaps the privilege of all …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Epistle Xl. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. The Piety of my Lords in their most serene commands, while set on refuting me on certain matters, in sparing me has by no means spared me. For by the use therein of the term simplicity they politely call me silly. It is true indeed that in Holy Scripture, when simplicity is spoken of in a good sense, it is often carefully associated with prudence and uprightness. Hence it is written of the blessed Job, The man was simple and upright (Job i. 1). …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
To Felix, Bishop of Messana. To our most reverend brother, the Bishop Felix, Gregory, servant of the servants of God [246] . Our Head, which is Christ, to this end has willed us to be His members, that through His large charity and faithfulness He might make us one body in Himself, to whom it befits us so to cling that, since without Him we can do nothing, through Him we may be enabled to be what we are called. From the citadel of the Head let nothing divide us, lest, if we refuse to be His members, …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Feast of the Dedication. The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus and He Retires to Peræa.
(Jerusalem and Beyond Jordan.) ^D John X. 22-42. ^d 22 And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: 23; it was winter; and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. [The feast of dedication was one of eight days' duration and began upon the 25th Chisleu, which, according to the calculation of M. Chevannes, fell upon the nineteenth or twentieth of December, a.d. 29. The feast was kept in honor of the renovation and purification of the temple in the year b.c. 164, after it had been desecrated …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial.
The divisions of the chapter are,--I. The rule which permits us not to go astray in the study of righteousness, requires two things, viz., that man, abandoning his own will, devote himself entirely to the service of God; whence it follows, that we must seek not our own things, but the things of God, sec. 1, 2. II. A description of this renovation or Christian life taken from the Epistle to Titus, and accurately explained under certain special heads, sec. 3 to end. 1. ALTHOUGH the Law of God contains …
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees.
(in the Court of the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXIII. 1-39; ^B Mark XII. 38-40; ^C Luke XX. 45-47. ^a 1 Then spake Jesus ^b 38 And in his teaching ^c in the hearing of all the people he said unto ^a the multitudes, and to his disciples [he spoke in the most public manner], 2 saying, ^c 46 Beware of the scribes, ^a The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: 3 all things whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
(the Temple at Jerusalem, b.c. 4) ^C Luke II. 21-39. ^c 21 And when eight days [Gen. xvii. 12] were fulfilled for circumcising him [The rite was doubtless performed by Joseph. By this rite Jesus was "made like unto his brethren" (Heb. ii. 16, 17); that is, he became a member of the covenant nation, and became a debtor to the law--Gal. v. 3] , his name was called JESUS [see Luke i. 59], which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [Luke i. 31.] 22 And when the days of their …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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