Decoding the TorahSample

Do Not Curse God and Leaders

“You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” —Exodus 22:28

The commandment against cursing God and leaders underscores the importance of reverencing, respecting, and submitting to both divine and earthly authorities, thus honoring the order established by HaShem. In its original context, cursing God or a ruler was regarded as a serious transgression deserving of severe consequences. We see this in the Book of Numbers:

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. …Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, He said…‘Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?’ So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed. But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous.” —Numbers 12:1, 5–6, 8–10

Then and now, the prohibition in Exodus 22:8 reinforces the sanctity of God’s name and cultivates an environment of respect and order within the community. For followers of Yeshua, why we shouldn’t curse God is self-evident, but what escapes many is the seriousness of cursing leaders. Often today, God’s people are sensitive to sin but not to authority. They fail to realize that cursing leaders actually reveals disrespect and lack of reverence for God. In Romans 13, the apostle Paul affirms the divine origin of all authority, declaring that “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (v. 1).

I know many people may think, “But that politician is corrupt,”; “That president is immoral,” or, “That judge is a liberal and makes ungodly rulings.” Some rightly wonder, “What about leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, who killed millions of people?” Yes, there are times to react to unjust leadership, but the problem in our culture is that respect for authority and its institutions has collapsed. When there is no respect for authority and its institutions, chaos ensues.

Again, authority brings God’s order. This is why the Torah says we shall not curse a judge (Exod. 22:28, TLB). Despite the imperfections of human leaders, their authority is ultimately delegated by God for the purpose of maintaining peace and justice in society. God’s people are called to respect positions of authority out of devotion to Him, regardless of the personal qualities or actions of individual leaders.

This commandment reminds us of Adon Olam’s (the Master of the Universe’s) supremacy. Cursing God not only demonstrates a lack of reverence for His divine authority but also reflects a rebellious attitude toward His sovereignty. While it may be tempting to carelessly criticize or condemn leaders we perceive as corrupt or unjust, we must also uphold the truth that authority is established by the Most High. This does not mean turning a blind eye to injustice or condoning wrongdoing but rather seeking to address concerns with the right attitude through appropriate channels and means in accordance with biblical principles.

Moreover, the precept against cursing God and leaders (Exod. 22:28) serves as a countercultural reminder of the importance of upholding structure in society. In a culture where skepticism and cynicism toward authority are prevalent, we as believers are called to demonstrate a different way of living, characterized by respect for divinely established positions of leadership. In so doing, we promote God’s ordained order in the earth.