Focused Passage

Exodus 23:1-9

Justice, Sabbath Mercy, Festivals, and Covenant Faithfulness

The chapter moves from commands about truthful justice and impartial courts, to mercy toward enemies and vulnerable workers, to Sabbath and sabbatical rest, to Israel’s festival calendar, to worship instructions, and finally to covenant promises and warnings concerning the angel of the LORD, conquest, idolatry, and life in the promised land.

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

1 “You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

2 You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.

3 And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

4 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

6 You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.

7 Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

9 Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Psalms 101:5 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:16 Classic cross-references Exodus 20:16 Classic cross-references Proverbs 19:5 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 6:9 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle spread תִשָּׂ֖א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a false שָׁ֑וְא H7723 Noun - masculine singular report שֵׁ֣מַע H8088 Noun - masculine singular construct Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb join תָּ֤שֶׁת H7896 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular . . . יָֽדְךָ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . עִם־ H5973 Preposition the wicked רָשָׁ֔ע H7563 Adjective - masculine singular by being לִהְיֹ֖ת H1961 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct a malicious חָמָֽס׃ס H2555 Noun - masculine singular witness עֵ֥ד H5707 Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 2

Cross-references

Romans 12:2 Classic cross-references 3 John 1:11 Classic cross-references Proverbs 1:10 Classic cross-references Proverbs 1:15 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:15 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You shall not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle follow תִהְיֶ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . אַחֲרֵֽי־ H310 Preposition the crowd רַבִּ֖ים H7227 Adjective - masculine plural in wrongdoing לְרָעֹ֑ת H7451 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural When you testify תַעֲנֶ֣ה H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular in עַל־ H5921 Preposition a lawsuit רִ֗ב H7379 Noun - masculine singular do not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle pervert justice לְהַטֹּֽת׃ H5186 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct by siding לִנְטֹ֛ת H5186 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct with אַחֲרֵ֥י H310 Preposition the crowd רַבִּ֖ים H7227 Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

James 3:17 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:15 Classic cross-references Psalms 82:2 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 1:17 Classic cross-references Isaiah 56:11 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle show favoritism תֶהְדַּ֖ר H1921 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to a poor man וְדָ֕ל H1800 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct in his lawsuit בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃ס H7379 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Romans 12:20 Classic cross-references Matthew 5:44 Classic cross-references Proverbs 25:21 Classic cross-references Luke 6:27 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 22:1 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

If כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you encounter תִפְגַּ֞ע H6293 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your enemy’s אֹֽיִבְךָ֛ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular stray תֹּעֶ֑ה H8582 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular ox שׁ֧וֹר H7794 Noun - masculine singular construct or א֥וֹ H176 Conjunction donkey חֲמֹר֖וֹ H2543 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular you must return it הָשֵׁ֥ב H7725 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute . . . תְּשִׁיבֶ֖נּוּ H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular to him לֽוֹ׃ס Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Galatians 6:2 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 22:4 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

If כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you see תִרְאֶ֞ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the donkey חֲמ֣וֹר H2543 Noun - masculine singular construct of one who hates you שֹׂנַאֲךָ֗ H8130 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular fallen רֹבֵץ֙ H7257 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular under תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition its load מַשָּׂא֔וֹ H4853 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular do not וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ H2308 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular leave מֵעֲזֹ֣ב H5800 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct it there ל֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular you must help him עָזֹ֥ב H5800 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תַּעֲזֹ֖ב H5800 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with it עִמּֽוֹ׃ס H5973 Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Leviticus 19:15 Classic cross-references Proverbs 22:22 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 23:3 Classic cross-references Exodus 20:16 Classic cross-references Exodus 22:9 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle deny תַטֶּ֛ה H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular justice מִשְׁפַּ֥ט H4941 Noun - masculine singular construct to the poor אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ H34 Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular in their lawsuits בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃ H7379 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 7

Cross-references

Proverbs 17:15 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:25 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:16 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 6:10 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Stay far away תִּרְחָ֑ק H7368 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular from a false שֶׁ֖קֶר H8267 Noun - masculine singular accusation מִדְּבַר־ H1697 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Do not אַֽל־ H408 Adverb kill תַּהֲרֹ֔ג H2026 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the innocent וְנָקִ֤י H5355 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular or the just וְצַדִּיק֙ H6662 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction I will not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle acquit אַצְדִּ֖יק H6663 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular the guilty רָשָֽׁע׃ H7563 Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 16:19 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 7:7 Classic cross-references Proverbs 17:23 Classic cross-references Isaiah 5:23 Classic cross-references Proverbs 15:27 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle accept תִקָּ֑ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a bribe וְשֹׁ֖חַד H7810 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular for כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction a bribe הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ H7810 Article | Noun - masculine singular blinds יְעַוֵּ֣ר H5786 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular those who see פִּקְחִ֔ים H6493 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 צַדִּיקִֽים׃ H6662 Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 9

Cross-references

Exodus 22:21 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 23:7 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 22:29 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:15 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:33 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 16:18-20 OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 24:17-22 OliveGrove study links Genesis 18:19 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle oppress תִלְחָ֑ץ H3905 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a foreign resident וְגֵ֖ר H1616 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular since you וְאַתֶּ֗ם H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural yourselves know יְדַעְתֶּם֙ H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - נֶ֣פֶשׁ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct how it feels to be foreigners הַגֵּ֔ר H1616 Article | Noun - masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you were הֱיִיתֶ֖ם H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural foreigners גֵרִ֥ים H1616 Noun - masculine plural in the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular

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