Exodus 22:28

Bible in Basic English (1941)

You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מְלֵאָתְךָ֥ וְדִמְעֲךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְאַחֵ֑ר בְּכ֥וֹר בָּנֶ֖יךָ תִּתֶּן־לִּֽי׃

Transliteration

Your mĕlēʾātĕkā and your dimʿăkā not tĕʾaḥēr; bĕkôr bānekā you shall give to me.

Grammar Details

• *mĕlēʾātĕkā*: feminine singular noun with 2nd masculine singular suffix, 'your fullness/abundance'
• *dimʿăkā*: feminine singular noun with 2nd masculine singular suffix, 'your juice/tears'
• *tĕʾaḥēr*: piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular, 'you shall delay'
• *bĕkôr*: masculine singular construct, 'firstborn of'
• *bānekā*: masculine plural noun with 2nd masculine singular suffix, 'your sons'

Word Meanings

• *mĕlēʾātĕkā*: your abundance/fullness/harvest offering
• *dimʿăkā*: your juice/tears/liquid offerings/wine

Referenced Verses

• Acts 23:5 : 5 And Paul said, Brother, I had no idea that he was the high priest: for it has been said, You may not say evil about the ruler of your people.
• Eccl 10:20 : 20 Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
• Jude 1:8 : 8 In the same way these dreamers make the flesh unclean, having no respect for authorities, and say evil of rulers.
• Exod 21:17 : 17 Any man cursing his father or his mother is to be put to death.
• Exod 22:8-9 : 8 If they do not get the thief, let the master of the house come before the judges and take an oath that he has not put his hand on his neighbour's goods. 9 In any question about an ox or an ass or a sheep or clothing, or about the loss of any property which anyone says is his, let the two sides put their cause before God; and he who is judged to be in the wrong is to make payment to his neighbour of twice the value.
• Lev 24:16 : 16 And he who says evil against the name of the Lord will certainly be put to death; he will be stoned by all the people; the man who is not of your nation and one who is an Israelite by birth, whoever says evil against the holy Name is to be put to death.
• 1 Sam 24:6 : 6 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
• 1 Sam 24:10 : 10 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
• 1 Sam 26:9 : 9 And David said to Abishai Do not put him to death; for who, without sin, may put out his hand against the man on whom the Lord has put the holy oil?
• Ps 32:6 : 6 For this cause let every saint make his prayer to you at a time when you are near: then the overflowing of the great waters will not overtake him.
• Ps 82:1-7 : 1 <A Psalm. Of Asaph.> God is in the meeting-place of God; he is judging among the gods. 2 How long will you go on judging falsely, having respect for the persons of evil-doers? (Selah.) 3 Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights. 4 Be the saviour of the poor and those who have nothing: take them out of the hand of the evil-doers. 5 They have no knowledge or sense; they go about in the dark: all the bases of the earth are moved. 6 I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High: 7 But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth.
• Ps 138:1 : 1 <Of David.> I will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods.
• John 10:34-35 : 34 In answer, Jesus said, Is there not a saying in your law, I said, You are gods? 35 If he said they were gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Writings may not be broken),
• Acts 23:3 : 3 Then Paul said to him, God will give blows to you, you whitewashed wall: are you here to be my judge by law, and by your orders am I given blows against the law?
• Rom 13:2-7 : 2 For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise; 4 For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer. 5 So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right. 6 For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times. 7 Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.
• Titus 3:1-2 : 1 Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work, 2 To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.
• 1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.
• 2 Pet 2:10 : 10 But specially those who go after the unclean desires of the flesh, and make sport of authority. Ready to take chances, uncontrolled, they have no fear of saying evil of those in high places: