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Exodus 22:28

“You shall not treat Elohim with contempt, nor curse a chief among your people.”

Exodus 22:28 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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28

Quotation · Acts 23:5

Go to Acts 23:5

Paul quotes the second half of Exodus 22:28 on learning that he had insulted the high priest.

Formula: γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι “for it is written” (Acts 23:5)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: ἔφη τε ὁ Παῦλος Οὐκ ᾔδειν ἀδελφοί ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀρχιερεύς γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι Ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐκ ἐρεῖς κακῶς

Hebrew (Masoretic text): אֱלֹהִים לֹא תְקַלֵּל וְנָשִׂיא בְעַמְּךָ לֹא תָאֹר

Septuagint (Exodus 22:28 in the Septuagint numbering): Θεοὺς οὐ κακολογήσεις, καὶ ἄρχοντας τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 3 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Exodus 22:28, word by word

Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohim” appears
with contemptתְקַלֵּלtekalel

despise

To count something or someone as little, as a thing without weight.

Where else “tekalel” appears
curseתָאֹרtaor

curse

Curse: declare someone or something under punishment, deprived of blessing. It is the opposite of bless.

Where else “taor” appears
a chiefנָשִׂיאnasi

chief

Literally "one lifted up": the leader of a tribe or clan.

Where else “nasi” appears
among your peopleעַמְּam

people

A group of people united by family, land and customs: a nation.

Where else “am” appears

Translation note

“Treat with contempt”: the Hebrew verb means to make light of, insult, or curse (it is the same as in Exodus 21:17). “Elohim” can also be understood here as “the judges.” Paul quotes the second part in Acts 23:5.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · Acts 23:5

Paul quotes the second half of Exodus 22:28 on learning that he had insulted the high priest.

See them side by side

Exodus 22:28

28You shall not treat Elohim with contempt, nor curse a chief among your people.

Acts 23:5

5And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

The context

27for it is his only covering; it is his cloak for his skin. In what shall he sleep? And when he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.

28 · This verse (above)

29You shall not delay offering the first of your harvest and of your press. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.

Read all of Exodus 22

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