Exodus 23:2

Exodus 23:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
• New International Version (NIV)“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,
• New King James Version (NKJV)You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

Context of Exodus 23:2

1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. 3And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. 4If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

Exodus 23:2 word by word

לֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּ֖ים לְרָעֹ֑ת וְלֹא־תַעֲנֶ֣ה עַל־רִ֗ב לִנְטֹ֛ת אַחֲרֵ֥י רַבִּ֖ים לְהַטֹּֽת׃Read the interlinear

• You shall notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• followהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• followאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the crowdרַבrab · manyH7227
• in wrongdoingרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• When you testifyעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• inעַל‛al · uponH5921
• a lawsuitרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• pervert justiceנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186

Cross-references for Exodus 23:2

• Exodus 32:1Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!”
• Genesis 6:12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.
• Genesis 7:1Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
• Genesis 19:4Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house.
• Numbers 14:1Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept.
• Joshua 24:15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
• 1 Samuel 15:9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
• 1 Kings 19:10“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
• Job 31:34because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
• Proverbs 1:10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
• Proverbs 4:14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
• Matthew 27:24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
• Mark 15:15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
• Luke 23:23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.
• John 7:50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked,
• Acts 24:27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Commentaries on Exodus 23:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil - Be singular. Singularity, if in the right, can never be criminal. So completely disgraceful is the way of sin, that if there were not a multitude walking in that way, who help to keep each other in countenance, every solitary sinner would be obliged to hide his head. But רבים rabbim, which we translate multitude, sometimes signifies the great, chiefs, or mighty ones; and is so understood by some eminent…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-3Verses 1-3 These four commands, addressed to the conscience, are illustrations of the ninth commandment, mainly in reference to the giving of evidence in legal causes. Compare 1 Kings 21:10; Acts 6:11. Exodus 23:2 This verse might be more strictly rendered, “Thou shalt not follow the many to evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause so as to incline after the many to pervert justice.” Exodus 23:3 Countenance - Rather, show partiality to a man‘s…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3It is important to speak the truth, even when facing evil people, a crowd, or misguided motives (23:1, 2, 3, 7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. decline--depart, deviate from the straight path of rectitude.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 23:2

• Company
• Conspiracy
• Court
• Injustice
• Justice
• Popular Sins

In the dictionaries

• Beware
• Book
• Countenance
• Ingathering
• Refresh
• Seethe
• Turn
• Wrest
• Bible, the
• Blindness, Judicial

Commentaries on Exodus 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings