Exodus 23:2 kjv

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Exodus 23:2 nkjv

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

Exodus 23:2 niv

"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,

Exodus 23:2 esv

You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,

Exodus 23:2 nlt

"You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.

Exodus 23 verses

Exodus 23 2 Meaning

Exodus 23:2 instructs individuals not to conform to popular opinion or the prevailing sentiment of a group when it leads to doing wrong or perverting justice, especially within legal contexts. It forbids joining a crowd that intends to commit evil acts and specifically warns against allowing the majority to sway one's testimony in a legal dispute, thereby distorting truth and justice. This verse upholds individual moral responsibility and the supremacy of righteousness over social pressure.

Exodus 23 2 Context

Exodus 23:2 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exod 20:22–23:33), a collection of civil and moral laws given immediately after the Ten Commandments. This section provides detailed regulations for Israelite society, focusing heavily on judicial fairness, social justice, and protection for the vulnerable (such as the poor, sojourner, widow, and orphan). The preceding verses established the foundation of law with divine authority. Exodus 23, in particular, delves into the practical application of justice. This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial ethical guideline within the legal system, directly addressing potential corruption that could arise from popular influence or "mob rule" within court proceedings. Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, popular opinion and powerful individuals often swayed judgments. This divine command establishes a revolutionary standard, insisting on righteousness regardless of who is involved or how many people endorse wrong.

Exodus 23 2 Word analysis

• You shall not follow: Hebrew: לֹא-תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי (lo-tihyeh acharei). לֹא is a strong negative particle, expressing an absolute prohibition. תִהְיֶה (tihyeh) is the imperfect form of "to be," meaning "you shall not be." אַחֲרֵי (acharei) means "after" or "behind." Together, it creates the sense of "you shall not be behind" or "you shall not go after," implying conformity or following leadership.
• a crowd: Hebrew: רַבִּים (rabbim). Means "many," "great ones," or "a multitude." It denotes a large number of people. In this context, it signifies a popular movement, the majority, or a group.
• to do evil: Hebrew: לְרָעָה (lera'ah). לְ (le) means "to" or "for," indicating purpose or result. רָעָה (ra'ah) means "evil," "badness," or "wickedness." This phrase specifies that the prohibition is not against following any crowd, but only one that is engaging in or leading to something evil. This defines the moral boundary.
• nor shall you testify: Hebrew: וְלֹא-תַעֲנֶה (v’lo-ta'aneh). וְ (v'e) is "and" or "nor." לֹא (lo) again is the negative prohibition. תַעֲנֶה (ta'aneh) comes from the root עָנָה ('anah), meaning "to answer," "to respond," or "to testify." This specifically refers to giving testimony in a legal setting.
• in a dispute: Hebrew: עַל-רִב (al-riv). עַל (al) means "concerning" or "about." רִב (riv) refers to a "contention," "strife," "legal case," or "dispute." This clarifies the specific context of the warning – a legal or judicial argument where truth is sought.
• so as to turn aside: Hebrew: לִנְטֹת (lintot). לְ (le) again signifies purpose. נְטֹת (notot) comes from נָטָה (natah), meaning "to stretch out," "to incline," "to deviate," or "to turn aside." It conveys the idea of deviating from a straight path, which, in a legal sense, implies moving away from truth or impartiality.
• after many: Hebrew: אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים (acharei rabbim). This is a repetition of the earlier phrase, reinforcing the specific danger: yielding to the pressure of the majority. The repeated phrase highlights that both general conduct and specific testimony are susceptible to this kind of compromise.
• to pervert justice: Hebrew: לְהַטֹּת (lehaṭṭōt). This is the Hiphil infinitive of נָטָה (natah), meaning "to cause to incline," or more precisely, "to pervert," "to distort," or "to make deviate." It's a strong legal term often used to describe the corruption of judgment or the distortion of truth (e.g., Deut 16:19). It defines the specific evil that results from following the crowd in a legal setting.

Words-group analysis:

• "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil": This sets a broad ethical principle against conforming to popular but wicked trends or actions. It warns against surrendering one's moral compass to mob mentality in any area of life.
• "nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice": This specifies the legal application of the principle. It demands unwavering integrity in a court of law, requiring witnesses to speak truthfully, uninfluenced by what the majority wishes to hear or promote, thus ensuring the outcome is based on righteousness, not popular will.

Exodus 23 2 Bonus section

This verse establishes a foundational principle for an ideal society rooted in divine justice. It reflects a unique aspect of Israelite law compared to other ancient Near Eastern legal codes, many of which lacked such explicit prohibitions against popular perversion of justice. The repetition of "after many" highlights the strong emphasis on the temptation of collective thinking, which can override individual conscience. This passage is not a blanket call to contrarianism but a specific injunction to refuse to participate in, or facilitate, unrighteousness when influenced by a multitude. It underscores that God's law provides a standard above any human consensus. The command implies that moral decisions should be guided by objective truth and justice, not by the shifting tides of popular opinion. It is a profound statement about moral courage and the necessity of independent ethical thought.

Exodus 23 2 Commentary

Exodus 23:2 is a profound warning against the perils of conformity, particularly in matters of justice and moral rectitude. It posits that God's people must not allow prevailing trends or majority opinion to dictate their actions or beliefs, especially when those trends lead to evil or compromise truth. The initial clause, "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil," serves as a general ethical guideline, reminding individuals of their personal responsibility to discern right from wrong, regardless of the company they keep or the societal pressures they face. This underscores the individual accountability before God.

The second part of the verse, explicitly linked by "nor," focuses on a specific, crucial context: legal testimony. In ancient Israelite society, as in many communities, community consensus and pressure could heavily influence judicial outcomes. This command directly counters that potential for corruption, demanding that witnesses provide truthful testimony based on fact, not popular sentiment. To "turn aside after many to pervert justice" means to deviate from what is right and true, swayed by the sheer number of people supporting an unjust outcome. This foundational principle safeguards the judicial system from being compromised by populism or factionalism, ensuring that divine standards of justice are upheld above human inclination or bias. It implicitly challenges the common human tendency to avoid standing alone, valuing righteousness over social acceptance. The underlying message is that integrity and truth must stand independently, even if it means opposing the consensus.

Examples for Practical Usage:

• In Public Discourse: Refusing to parrot a popular, but divisive or false, narrative on social media or in conversations simply because "everyone else" is doing it.
• In a Committee Meeting: A team member holding their ground on an ethical concern about a project, even when the rest of the team or management wants to push forward despite the clear moral compromise.
• In School: A student refusing to participate in bullying or gossiping about another student, even when the majority of their peer group is engaged in such behavior.