Exodus 22:28

My Notes

What Does Exodus 22:28 Mean?

This verse sits within a section of civil and moral law given at Sinai. The KJV margin note is significant: "gods" here can also be translated "judges." The Hebrew word is elohim, which is used for God Himself, for angelic beings, and — in legal contexts — for human judges who act as God's representatives in rendering verdicts. Most scholars read this verse as addressing both dimensions: do not blaspheme God, and do not curse those He has placed in positions of authority over you.

The pairing is intentional. In Israel's theocratic system, judges and rulers derived their authority from God. To curse a ruler was, in a sense, to curse the divine order that placed them there. This doesn't mean rulers are above criticism — the prophets spent centuries calling out corrupt kings. But there's a difference between prophetic accountability and contemptuous cursing.

The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in Acts 23:5 when he's rebuked for calling the high priest a "whited wall." Even Paul, who had legitimate grievances against corrupt religious leadership, acknowledged the principle: the office carries a weight that demands a certain kind of speech, even when the person in it fails.

Reflection Questions

• 1.How do you distinguish between holding a leader accountable and reviling them?
• 2.Is there a leader — past or present — toward whom your speech has crossed from honest critique into something more corrosive?
• 3.Why do you think God pairs reverence for Him with respect for human authority in the same command?
• 4.What would it cost you to speak about someone in authority with honesty but without contempt?

Devotional

We live in a culture where mocking leaders — political, spiritual, or otherwise — is practically a sport. And sometimes the frustration is legitimate. Leaders fail. Systems disappoint. People in authority abuse their power. This verse isn't asking you to pretend that doesn't happen.

But it is asking you to examine what comes out of your mouth. There's a difference between saying "this decision was wrong and here's why" and "that person is garbage." The first is discernment. The second is cursing. And cursing — even when it feels justified — does something to your own heart. It feeds cynicism. It trains you to see authority as inherently corrupt rather than fallen but still meaningful.

This is especially hard when you've been hurt by someone in leadership. A pastor who let you down. A boss who took credit for your work. A parent who didn't protect you. The temptation is to revile — to strip them of any dignity because they stripped you of yours. But God asks for something harder: to hold both truths at once. They were wrong, and they still bear an image that deserves more than your contempt. That's not about protecting them. It's about protecting you from becoming the kind of person whose default posture toward authority is bitterness.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture