Leviticus 19 15

Leviticus 19:15 kjv

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.

Leviticus 19:15 nkjv

'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.

Leviticus 19:15 niv

"?'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Leviticus 19:15 esv

"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Leviticus 19:15 nlt

"Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

Leviticus 19 verses

Leviticus 19 15 Meaning

Leviticus 19:15 commands against perverting justice by showing favoritism. It prohibits judging unfairly by leaning towards either the poor out of sympathy or the powerful out of fear or desire for gain. Instead, it mandates that all judgments must be rendered with unwavering righteousness and impartiality, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their social standing, receives true and equitable justice.

Leviticus 19 15 Context

Leviticus 19 is part of the "Holiness Code" (chapters 17-26), a section emphasizing the ethical and moral standards God set for His people, Israel, reflecting His own holy character. This chapter contains a broad array of commandments addressing various aspects of daily life, cultic practices, and social interaction, often framed as "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2). Verse 15 specifically addresses judicial integrity, forming a core ethical principle within the Israelite legal system. It seeks to establish a just society that mirrors God's own justice, a sharp contrast to the arbitrary and often corrupt judicial practices common among surrounding nations. This command would have resonated with an agricultural society where disputes over land, animals, or debts were common, requiring fair resolution to maintain social harmony.

Leviticus 19 15 Word Analysis

• You shall do no injustice (לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל - lo ta'asu 'avel):
  • עָוֶל ('avel): Signifies wrong, perversion, injustice, or unrighteousness. It is a fundamental violation of what is right.
  • This is a strong negative command, establishing a foundational principle for any form of judgment or official decision-making. It applies to all dealings where a person's standing, property, or reputation is at stake.
• in judgment (בַּמִּשְׁפָּט - bammishpat):
  • מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat): Means judgment, justice, legal decision, or ordinance. It denotes the act of discerning and applying justice, particularly in legal or official proceedings.
  • The command is specifically contextualized within the formal legal and judicial process, applying to judges, elders, or anyone exercising authority in settling disputes.
• you shall not be partial to the poor (לֹא תִשָּׂא פְנֵי דָל - lo tissa' p'nei dal):
  • לֹא תִשָּׂא פְנֵי (lo tissa' p'nei): Literally "you shall not lift up the face of," an idiom for showing partiality, favoritism, or accepting bribes. It implies granting special consideration or undue deference.
  • דָל (dal): Refers to the poor, weak, or lowly.
  • This command guards against a potentially well-intentioned but misguided sympathy that might lead to an unfair ruling in favor of a poor person, thus unjustly harming the other party. True justice must be blind to social status.
• nor show favoritism to the mighty (וְלֹא תֶהְדַּר פְּנֵי גָדֹול - v'lo tehaddar p'nei gadol):
  • וְלֹא תֶהְדַּר פְּנֵי (v'lo tehaddar p'nei): "And you shall not honor the face of," or "show partiality to." This is another idiom for showing undue deference or respect, often out of fear, awe, or hope for personal gain (e.g., bribes).
  • גָדֹול (gadol): Means great, mighty, prominent, or powerful.
  • This warns against the more common temptation for judges to rule in favor of influential, wealthy, or powerful individuals, due to potential rewards, political pressure, or intimidation.
• but in righteousness (בְּצֶדֶק - b'tzedek):
  • צֶדֶק (tzedek): Signifies righteousness, justice, equity, or what is morally right and fair. It describes a state of conformity to God's standard of right conduct.
  • This is the positive counter-command, instructing what should be done. It is the core principle that must guide every judgment, reflecting God's own perfect justice.
• you shall judge your neighbor (תִּשְׁפֹּט עֲמִיתֶךָ - tishpot 'amitekha):
  • תִּשְׁפֹּט (tishpot): From שָׁפַט (shaphat), meaning to judge, rule, or decide.
  • עֲמִיתֶךָ ('amitekha): Means your fellow, neighbor, companion, or associate. This term broadly encompasses anyone in the community, emphasizing that justice is owed to all, without exception, in dealings within the community.
  • This phrase clarifies the scope of the judgment, applying the principle of impartial justice to all members of the Israelite community, reinforcing the principle of treating everyone with the love commanded in verse 18.

Leviticus 19 15 Bonus Section

The command in Leviticus 19:15 is a precursor to the concept of God's universal and unbiased justice, later elaborated in the New Testament as Him being "no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34, Rom 2:11). This ethical demand reveals a key aspect of Israel's covenant with Yahweh: true worship extends beyond ritual to encompass just social structures. The detailed prohibition of specific biases highlights the practical temptations inherent in human nature and warns against them. This verse also sets a standard for all leaders and individuals with influence within the community, holding them accountable to a higher moral code derived from God's holiness, thereby establishing a legal system distinct from pagan cultures which often practiced class-based favoritism.

Leviticus 19 15 Commentary

Leviticus 19:15 is a foundational statement on judicial ethics, underscoring that justice in Israel must reflect God's own character of absolute impartiality and righteousness. It prohibits both explicit corruption (favoring the rich) and misplaced sentimentality (favoring the poor), as both pervert justice. While it might seem compassionate to rule in favor of the disadvantaged, such a ruling, if not based purely on the merits of the case, inherently renders injustice to the opposing party. This verse demands that decisions be based solely on truth and evidence, aligning with divine standards, not human biases or pressures. This standard of righteous judgment applied not only to formal legal settings but implicitly to all areas of life where discernment and decision-making about others' well-being were required. The ultimate goal was to foster a society where the inherent dignity of every individual, created in God's image, was upheld through fair and equitable treatment under the law.

Examples:

• A judge must rule solely on evidence, regardless if a poor litigant claims hardship or a wealthy one threatens economic influence.
• A business owner must pay wages fairly, not overpay a friend or underpay a competitor due to personal bias.