Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Three Feasts and Just Judges: The Covenant Calendar and the Justice That Guards It

From Passover and the memory of the exodus night (vv. 1-8) through the Feast of Weeks and the agricultural firstfruits thanksgiving (vv. 9-12) to the Feast of Booths and the harvest's completion (vv. 13-15), the three-times-a-year summary (vv. 16-17), the appointment of just judges (vv. 18-20), and the closing cultic prohibitions (vv. 21-22).

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18You 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.

19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

20Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

1 Samuel 8:1Classic cross-references Exodus 18:21Classic cross-references John 8:11Classic cross-references John 7:24Classic cross-references Psalms 58:1Classic cross-references

Original words

You are to appointתִּֽתֶּן־H5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularjudgesשֹׁפְטִ֣יםH8199Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluraland officialsוְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗יםH7860Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralfor your tribesלִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָH7626Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularin everyבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructtownשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָH8179Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֧הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֛יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis givingנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singularThey are to judgeוְשָׁפְט֥וּH8199Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe peopleהָעָ֖םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwith righteousצֶֽדֶק׃H6664Noun - masculine singularjudgmentמִשְׁפַּט־H4941Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 19

Cross-references

James 2:1Classic cross-references Romans 2:11Classic cross-references Psalms 15:5Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 7:7Classic cross-references Exodus 23:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Do notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particledenyתַטֶּ֣הH5186Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularjusticeמִשְׁפָּ֔טH4941Noun - masculine singularor show partialityתַכִּ֖ירH5234Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular. . .פָּנִ֑יםH6440Noun - masculine plural. . .וְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleDo notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleacceptתִקַּ֣חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulara bribeשֹׁ֔חַדH7810Noun - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctiona bribeהַשֹּׁ֗חַדH7810Article | Noun - masculine singularblindsיְעַוֵּר֙H5786Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe eyesעֵינֵ֣יH5869Noun - cdcof the wiseחֲכָמִ֔יםH2450Adjective - masculine pluraland twistsוִֽיסַלֵּ֖ףH5557Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יH1697Noun - masculine plural constructof the righteousצַדִּיקִֽם׃H6662Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Philippians 4:8Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 5:15Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:9Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 6:11Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:5Classic cross-references

Original words

Pursueתִּרְדֹּ֑ףH7291Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularjusticeצֶ֥דֶקH6664Noun - masculine singularand justice aloneצֶ֖דֶקH6664Noun - masculine singularso thatלְמַ֤עַןH4616Conjunctionyou may liveתִּֽחְיֶה֙H2421Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularand you may possessוְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣H3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe landהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis givingנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלָֽךְ׃סPreposition | second person masculine singular

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