Bible Strands
Exodus 23:3
And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Yahweh delivers judicial instructions to Israel through Moses at Sinai, directly following the command to resist mob pressure in legal testimony.
The words — לֹ֥א (lo') negates תֶהְדַּ֖ר (teh.Dar), commanding against showing partiality to וְ/דָ֕ל (ve./Dal), the poor person, in בְּ/רִיבֽ/וֹ (be./ri.V/o), his lawsuit.
The thread — The text’s judicial standard parallels Leviticus 19:15’s prohibition against favoring either the poor or the rich, and echoes Psalms 82:2’s condemnation of judges who show partiality to the wicked.
Why it lands — The passage requires adjudicators to weigh cases strictly on evidence rather than the litigant’s financial standing, demanding readers apply consistent standards regardless of economic sympathy or social pressure.
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
King James Version
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:15 You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
- James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Psalms 82:2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Deuteronomy 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”