Deuteronomy 25:1

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

When there is an argument between two people, they must both go to the judges. Then the judges will decide which of the two people is right. They will decide the punishment for the guilty person. 2The judge may decide that his officers should beat the guilty person as punishment. The judge will make him lie down on the ground. Then he will watch as his officers beat the guilty person. They will hit him as many times as he deserves because of his wicked act. 3But they must not hit him more than 40 times as his punishment. If it is more than that, nobody would respect him any more.

Deuteronomy 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 16:18Each tribe must choose judges and officers in every town that the Lord gives you. They must judge the people in a way that is fair.
• Deuteronomy 17:8It may be difficult for the judges in your towns to decide what is true. This may happen when one person has attacked or killed another person. It may happen when people cannot agree about some land. It may be anything that people in your towns are arguing about. If you do not know who is right, you must take those people to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
• Deuteronomy 19:17Then both of them must stand in front of the judges that the Lord has chosen. Those are the priests and the judges who have authority at that time.
• Exodus 23:6Always do what is right for your poor people when they stand in front of a judge.
• 2 Samuel 23:3Israel's God has spoken. The one who keeps Israel safe said to me, “A king should rule over people in a way that is right and fair. He should show that he respects and obeys God.
• 2 Chronicles 19:6He said to them, ‘Be careful how you do your job. Remember that you are not being a judge to please men. You are doing it to please the Lord. He will help you to decide what is right.
• Job 29:7I would go to the gate of the city, and sit there as one of the leaders.
• Psalms 58:1Do you rulers really say what is right? Do you judge people in a fair way?
• Psalms 82:2He asks them, ‘How long will you continue to judge people in a way that is not fair? How long will you say that wicked people are right? Selah.
• Proverbs 17:15If a judge says that a guilty person is not guilty, the Lord hates it. If a judge punishes someone who is not guilty, the Lord hates that too.
• Proverbs 31:8Speak on behalf of people who cannot speak for themselves. Help helpless people to receive justice.
• Isaiah 1:17Instead, learn to do what is right. Be honest and fair in what you do. Help people who are in pain. Make sure that widows and children who have no family receive justice.’
• Isaiah 5:23If people like that receive a bribe, they will not say that wicked people are guilty. They also refuse to say that righteous people are not guilty.
• Isaiah 11:4But he will judge poor people with true justice. He will decide to do what is right for all the helpless people. He will have authority everywhere in the land. The words that he speaks will bring death to wicked people.
• Isaiah 32:1Look! A king is coming who will rule in a right and fair way. Honest leaders will rule under his authority.
• Jeremiah 21:12‘Descendants of King David, the Lord says this to you: Every day you must be fair as you judge people. Punish those who rob other people. Punish those who are cruel to other people. Help the people that they have hurt. If you do not do judge in a fair way, I will be very angry. My anger will burn like a hot fire that nobody can stop. It will destroy you because of the evil things that you have done.’ The Lord says:

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

• Court
• Judge
• Justice
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Beat
• Exceed
• Hindmost
• Muzzle
• Stripe
• Stripes
• Atonement, Day of
• Condemn; Condemnation
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of

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