Christian Standard Bible
Deuteronomy 25:1
1“If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty.
Deuteronomy 25:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
- New International Version (NIV)When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,
Context of Deuteronomy 25:1
“If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. 2If the guilty party deserves to be flogged, the judge will make him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime. 3He may be flogged with forty lashes, but no more. Otherwise, if he is flogged with more lashes than these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.
Read all of Deuteronomy 25Deuteronomy 25:1 word by word
כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה רִיב֙ בֵּ֣ין אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְנִגְּשׁ֥וּ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט וּשְׁפָט֑וּם וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ אֶת־הַצַּדִּ֔יק וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּ אֶת־הָרָשָֽׁע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If there be a controversyרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
- between menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- and they comeנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
- unto judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- may judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- them; then they shall justifyצָדֵקtsâdaq · to justifyH6663
- the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- and condemnרָשַׁעrâsha‛ · be wickedH7561
- the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 25:1
- Deuteronomy 16:18“Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deuteronomy 17:8“If a case is too difficult for you — concerning bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults — cases disputed at your city gates, then go up to the place the Lord your God chooses.
- Deuteronomy 19:17the two people in the dispute are to stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and judges in authority at that time.
- Exodus 23:6“You must not deny justice to a poor person among you in his lawsuit.
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, “The one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
- 2 Chronicles 19:6Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.
- Job 29:7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square,
- Psalms 58:1Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?
- Psalms 82:2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?Selah
- Proverbs 17:15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just — both are detestable to the Lord.
- Proverbs 31:8Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.
- Isaiah 1:17Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
- Isaiah 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
- Isaiah 11:4but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips.
- Isaiah 32:1Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly.
- Jeremiah 21:12House of David, this is what the Lord says: Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor, or my anger will flare up like fire and burn unquenchably because of your evil deeds.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 25:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1They shall justify the righteous - This is a very important passage, and is a key to several others. The word צדק tsadak is used here precisely in the same sense in which St. Paul sometimes uses the corresponding word , not to justify or make just, but to acquit, declare innocent, to remit punishment, or give reasons why such a one should not be punished; so here the magistrates הצדיקו hitsdiku, shall acquit, the righteous - declare him innocent, because…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Render it: (1) If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and the judges judge them, and justify the righteous and condemn the wicked (compare the marginal reference. and Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 17:15); (2) then it shall be, etc. Deuteronomy 25:2 Scourging is named as a penalty in Leviticus 19:20. The beating here spoken of would be on the back with a rod or stick (compare Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Extent of punishment. (1-3) The ox that treadeth the corn. (4) Marriage of a brother's wife. (5-12) Of unjust weights. (13-16) War against Amalek. (17-19) Verses 1-3 Every punishment should be with solemnity, that those who see it may be filled with dread, and be warned not to offend in like manner. And though the criminals must be shamed as well as put to pain, for their warning and disgrace, yet care should be taken that they do not appear totally vile…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-192-3. if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten--In judicial sentences, which awarded punishment short of capital, scourging, like the Egyptian bastinado, was the most common form in which they were executed. The Mosaic law, however, introduced two important restrictions; namely: (1) The punishment should be inflicted in presence of the judge instead of being inflicted in private by some heartless official; and (2) The maximum amount of it should be limited…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 25:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 25
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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