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

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.

19 Do 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.

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

Original words

You are to appoint תִּֽתֶּן־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular judges שֹׁפְטִ֣ים H8199 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural and officials וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים H7860 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural for your tribes לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ H7626 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular in every בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct town שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ H8179 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֧ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לְךָ֖ Preposition | second person masculine singular They are to judge וְשָׁפְט֥וּ H8199 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular with righteous צֶֽדֶק׃ H6664 Noun - masculine singular judgment מִשְׁפַּט־ H4941 Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 19

Cross-references

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

Original words

Do not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle deny תַטֶּ֣ה H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular justice מִשְׁפָּ֔ט H4941 Noun - masculine singular or show partiality תַכִּ֖יר H5234 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . פָּנִ֑ים H6440 Noun - masculine plural . . . וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle accept תִקַּ֣ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a bribe שֹׁ֔חַד H7810 Noun - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction a bribe הַשֹּׁ֗חַד H7810 Article | Noun - masculine singular blinds יְעַוֵּר֙ H5786 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the eyes עֵינֵ֣י H5869 Noun - cdc of the wise חֲכָמִ֔ים H2450 Adjective - masculine plural and twists וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף H5557 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular the words דִּבְרֵ֥י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of the righteous צַדִּיקִֽם׃ H6662 Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

Pursue תִּרְדֹּ֑ף H7291 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular justice צֶ֥דֶק H6664 Noun - masculine singular and justice alone צֶ֖דֶק H6664 Noun - masculine singular so that לְמַ֤עַן H4616 Conjunction you may live תִּֽחְיֶה֙ H2421 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular and you may possess וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ H3423 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָֽךְ׃ס Preposition | second person masculine singular

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