Deuteronomy 25:1

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab as part of his final covenant address before they cross the Jordan. The passage establishes the official procedure for resolving legal disputes once the community settles in the land.

The words — The Hebrew term רִיב (riv) denotes a formal "dispute" or legal controversy requiring adjudication. The phrase אֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּט (el-hamishpat) literally means "to the place of judgment," directing parties to the designated judicial venue.

The thread — This judicial principle recurs in Deuteronomy 1:16, which commands judges to hear disputes fairly, and in Proverbs 17:15, which condemns perverting justice by acquitting the guilty or condemning the righteous. It also aligns with Deuteronomy 17:8, which outlines procedures for cases too complex for local adjudication.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to submit grievances to established legal processes rather than pursuing private retaliation. It demands that authorities render verdicts strictly according to the evidence, ensuring the innocent are acquitted and the guilty are condemned.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּֽי־ki-if יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehit will happen רִיב֙riva dispute בֵּ֣יןbeinbetween אֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.Shimpeople וְנִגְּשׁ֥וּve./ni.ge.Shuand/ they will draw near אֶל־'el-to הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖טha./mish.Patthe/ place of judgment וּשְׁפָט֑וּםu./she.fa.Tu/mand/ they will judge/ them וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ve./hitz.Di.kuand/ they will declare righteous אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַצַּדִּ֔יקha./tza.Dikthe/ righteous [one]וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּve./hir.Shi.'uand/ they will condemn as guilty אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָרָשָֽׁע׃ha./ra.Sha'the/ guilty [one]

King James Version

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Cross-references

Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
Deuteronomy 17:8 If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.
Exodus 23:6 You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Deuteronomy 19:17 both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
2 Chronicles 19:6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
Job 29:7 When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
Psalms 58:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?