Deuteronomy 16:18 kjv
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Deuteronomy 16:18 nkjv
"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Deuteronomy 16:18 niv
Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.
Deuteronomy 16:18 esv
"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
Deuteronomy 16:18 nlt
"Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the LORD your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly.
Deuteronomy 16 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 18:13-26 | ...Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads... judges... | Origin of decentralized judicial system. |
| Num 11:16-17 | Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel... | Appointment of elders to share leadership. |
| Deut 1:13-17 | ...choose wise, understanding, and experienced men... judge righteously... | Qualities required for those in authority. |
| Deut 16:19 | You shall not pervert justice... not show partiality... | Strict warning against corruption. |
| Deut 16:20 | Justice, and only justice, you shall follow... | Emphatic command to pursue pure justice. |
| Lev 19:15 | You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor... | Impartiality in judgment is a divine command. |
| Ex 23:6 | You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. | Protect the vulnerable in legal matters. |
| Ex 23:8 | And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted... | Condemnation of bribery. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up a country, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Justice as foundational to societal stability. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression... | Prophetic call to righteous action. |
| Isa 10:1-2 | Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees... to turn aside the needy from justice. | Condemnation of unjust laws and practices. |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | A key prophetic theme of true worship and justice. |
| Jer 22:3 | Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness... rescue him who is robbed. | Divine mandate for leaders to enact justice. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... execute true and righteous judgment in your gates. | Reiteration of true justice in the "gates." |
| Ps 7:11 | God is a righteous judge... | God's character as the ultimate standard. |
| Ps 33:5 | ...He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. | God's attribute intertwined with justice. |
| Ps 82:3-4 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. | Call to protect the marginalized through justice. |
| Prov 11:18 | The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. | Link between righteousness and true reward. |
| Matt 5:6 | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. | Christian pursuit of God's character. |
| Rom 13:3-4 | For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad... for he is God’s servant for your good. | Role of governing authorities in God's plan. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... | Christian submission to secular authority. |
| 1 Cor 6:1-8 | When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law... | Principle of internal Christian dispute resolution. |
| Jas 2:1, 4 | My brothers, show no partiality... have you not then made distinctions... | Direct New Testament warning against favoritism. |
| Isa 9:7 | ...He will establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness... | Prophecy of Messiah's just reign. |
| Isa 11:4 | He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. | Messiah's perfect and decisive judgment. |
Deuteronomy 16 verses
Deuteronomy 16 18 Meaning
Deuteronomy 16:18 commands the Israelites to establish a system of justice in every town they inhabit. They are to appoint both "judges" (šōp̄eṭîm) for rendering verdicts and "officers" (šōṭĕrîm) for administrative oversight and enforcement, ensuring that justice is administered righteously and impartially for all people throughout their tribes.
Deuteronomy 16 18 Context
Deuteronomy 16 is part of Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites, given just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter immediately follows commands regarding the three annual pilgrimage festivals (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks/Pentecost, Booths/Tabernacles), emphasizing their obligation to rejoice before the Lord and bring offerings. Verse 18 then shifts to the foundational requirement for civil society and maintaining internal order: the establishment of a just legal system. The immediate context underlines that God's people, even in their land, must reflect His righteous character not only in worship but also in their everyday societal functions. Historically, this command was given as Israel was transitioning from a nomadic tribal group led directly by Moses to a settled nation, requiring a formalized structure for local governance and dispute resolution distinct from direct prophetic leadership or the initial tribal heads. The "gates" were the central hub for public life, legal proceedings, and commerce in ancient Near Eastern cities, making them the natural place for justice to be administered.
Deuteronomy 16 18 Word analysis
- Judges (šōp̄eṭîm): Plural of šōp̄ēṭ, from the verb šāpaṭ meaning "to judge, govern, decide." These individuals were primarily responsible for adjudicating legal disputes, declaring innocence or guilt, and delivering verdicts based on God's Law. Their role was critical for maintaining covenant faithfulness within the community.
- and officers (šōṭĕrîm): Plural of šōṭēr. These were often administrators, scribes, or enforcers who assisted the judges. Their tasks might include recording judicial proceedings, ensuring that judgments were carried out, organizing public works, or summoning people for court. They were the executive arm of the local legal system.
- shalt thou make thee: The phrase tiṯṯen-lәḵā (lit. "you shall give to yourself" or "you shall appoint for yourselves") signifies that the responsibility for establishing this system of justice rests directly on the community or the people. It emphasizes a collective duty to institute righteous governance, rather than waiting for an external ruler or a top-down mandate.
- in all thy gates (šə‘āreḵā): The city "gates" in ancient Israel were not just entry points but served as the primary public space for commerce, social gathering, public proclamations, and critically, legal and administrative proceedings. Placing judges and officers "in all thy gates" means that every city or town was to have its own local judicial system, making justice accessible and decentralized.
- which the Lord thy God giveth thee: This phrase grounds the establishment of these systems in divine provision. The land, and the means to organize life within it, are gifts from God, underscoring that the justice system must operate under His divine authority and principles.
- throughout thy tribes: This stresses the widespread and comprehensive application of this law. It was not for a select few cities or only at the central sanctuary, but for every Israelite tribe and settlement, ensuring that justice was uniformly available across the entire nation.
- and they shall judge the people: This explicitly states the function of the appointed individuals – to resolve disputes and govern the populace. It highlights the direct practical application of their roles.
- with just judgment (mišpaṭ-ṣeḏeq): This is a powerful, emphatic double expression: mišpāṭ meaning "judgment, justice" and ṣeḏeq meaning "righteousness, equity." It is not enough to simply have judgment; it must be true, impartial, righteous, and according to divine standards. This sets the moral bar for all legal decisions and practices, reflecting God's own character of absolute justice.
- Judges and officers: This pairing highlights the necessity of both juridical decision-makers and administrative enforcers for a functional justice system. One without the other would be incomplete or ineffective; judgments need to be made fairly, and those judgments need to be properly executed.
- in all thy gates, throughout thy tribes: This grouping emphasizes the decentralized and universal nature of the command. Justice was meant to be local, accessible, and applicable to all, permeating every level and location of Israelite society. It avoids the pitfalls of a distant, unreachable, or centralized legal system prone to delay or corruption.
- they shall judge the people with just judgment: This phrase succinctly defines the core mandate. It combines the action (to judge) with the recipient (the people) and, most importantly, the unwavering standard (with just judgment), making it clear that the process and outcome must align with God's perfect righteousness.
Deuteronomy 16 18 Bonus section
The requirement for appointing local judges and officers demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of governance and community well-being, even in antiquity. It avoids the tyranny of a highly centralized system, empowering local communities with the means to uphold God's law among themselves. This decentralized approach promoted accessibility of justice for every individual, irrespective of their social standing or proximity to a central authority. It fostered local accountability and reinforced the idea that righteousness was not just a theological concept but a practical necessity for daily life within the promised land. This setup anticipated the later period of the Judges, highlighting a crucial role filled before the rise of kings, but also provides a continuous mandate for local judicial function even under monarchy or later leadership structures. It is a reminder that even for God's people, the active establishment and maintenance of fair and righteous societal structures are commanded by divine will.
Deuteronomy 16 18 Commentary
Deuteronomy 16:18 establishes a cornerstone for the civil life of the Israelite nation: the institutionalization of local justice. The command to appoint judges and officers at every city gate throughout all tribes underscored the critical importance of a universally accessible, decentralized system of law rooted in God's righteousness. These leaders were tasked not just with resolving disputes but with governing, ensuring social order and ethical conduct in light of the covenant. The emphatic instruction to render "just judgment" (mišpaṭ-ṣeḏeq) goes beyond mere legality; it demands an unwavering commitment to impartiality, truth, and equity, reflecting the very character of the Righteous God. This system was vital to prevent chaos, protect the vulnerable, and maintain the purity of the covenant community, demonstrating that true worship of God must extend to ethical conduct in all aspects of daily life, particularly in matters of justice and governance. This divine mandate lays a foundational principle relevant for any society seeking order and righteousness.