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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:25-31

Here is, I. A law against extortion in lending. 1. They must not receive use for money from any that borrowed for necessity (Exod. 22:25), as in that case, Neh. 5:5, 7. And such provision the law made for the preservation of estates to their families by the year of jubilee that a people who had little concern in trade could not be supposed to borrow money but for necessity, and therefore it is generally forbidden among themselves; but to a stranger, whom yet they might not oppress, they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:28

Thou shalt not revile the gods ,.... Meaning not the idols of the Gentiles, which they reckon gods, and worship as such; which is the sense of Philo, and some others, particularly Josephus F9 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 10. Contr. Apion. 1. 2. c. 33. , who, to curry favour with the Roman emperors given to idolatry, has from hence inserted the following among the laws given to Moses;"let no man blaspheme the gods, which other cities think are such, nor rob strange sacred places, nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:28

Thou shalt not revile the gods - Most commentators believe that the word gods here means magistrates. The original is אלהים Elohim , and should be understood of the true God only: Thou shalt not blaspheme or make light of [ תקלל tekallel ] God, the fountain of justice and power, nor curse the ruler of thy people, who derives his authority from God. We shall ever find that he who despises a good civil government, and is disaffected to that under which he lives, is one who has little... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:28

Verse 28 Exodus 22:28.Thou shalt not revile the gods. These four passages confirm what I have said, that in the: Fifth Commandment are comprised, by synecdoche all superiors in authority.: For it was not the design of God to add to the Two Tables, as if something better and more perfect had afterwards come into His mind; which it is sinful to suppose. He was therefore content with the rule once laid down, although He afterwards spoke in a more explanatory manner. But the precepts here given... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-31

Exodus 21:33 If a man shall open a pit. Rather, "If a man shall uncover a cistern." Cisterns, very necessary in Palestine, were usually closed by a flat-stone, or a number of planks. To obtain water from them, they had to be uncovered; but it was the duty of the man who uncovered them, to replace the covering when his wants were satisfied. Or dig a pit and not cover it . A man who was making a cistern might neglect to cover it while it was in course of construction, or even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:16-28

The severity and the tenderness of God. The miscellaneous laws thrown together, without any clear logical sequence or indeed any manifest connection, in the latter part of this chapter, may, generally speaking, be grouped under the two heads of instances of the Divine severity, and instances of the Divine tenderness. Here, as in so many places, "mercy and truth meet together—righteousness and peace kiss each other." God is as merciful to the weak and helpless as severe towards the bold and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:21-29

Jehovah's proteges and representatives. I. JEHOVAH 'S PROTEGES ( Exodus 22:21-28 ). These are the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, and the poor generally—all of whom the Israelites are forbidden to "afflict." The ground of Jehovah's interest in them is his own character—"for I am gracious" ( Exodus 22:27 ). In him, however little they may sometimes think of it or feel it, they have a constant Friend, a great invisible Protector. They are (in the sense of Roman law)... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:28

Law against reviling God, or rulers . It has been proposed to render Elohim here either 1 . "God;" or 2 . "The gods;" or 3 . "Judges." The last of these renderings is impossible, since Elohim in the sense of "judges" always has the article. The second, which is adopted by the Septuagint and the Authorised Version, seems precluded by the constant practice of the most religious Jews, prophets and others, to speak with contempt and contumely of the false gods of the heathen. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:28

The gods - Heb. אלהים 'ělôhı̂ym. See Exodus 21:6 note. Many take it as the name of God (as in Genesis 1:1), and this certainly seems best to represent the Hebrew, and to suit the context.Curse the ruler ... - See Acts 23:5. read more

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