King James Version

Exodus 22:28

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

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Exodus 22:27.

אֱלֹהִ֖יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…תְקַלֵּ֑לteqalelmake brightקָלַלverb, piel, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “make bright”, an unfinished actionH7043to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), [idiom] slight(-ly), be swift(-er), (be, be more, make…וְנָשִׂ֥יאvenasiand captainנָשִׂיאconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and captain”, the ordinary formH5387properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mistcaptain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour.בְעַמְּךָ֖veamkhain peopleעַםpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “in people”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.לֹ֥אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…תָאֹֽרtaorto execrateאָרַרverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “to execrate”, an unfinished actionH779to execrate[idiom] bitterly curse.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(22-27) Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(22-27) Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Θεοὺς οὐ κακολογήσεις, καὶ ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς.

Quoted in

Acts 23:5 Acts 23:5 · King James VersionThen 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.Acts 23:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source
for it is written
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.

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The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.