English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 25:1
1"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,
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.
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Suppose two people take a dispute to court, and the judges declare that one is right and the other is wrong.
Context of Deuteronomy 25:1
"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, 2then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. 3Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother 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"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deuteronomy 17:8"If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
- Deuteronomy 19:17then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.
- Exodus 23:6"You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit.
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
- 2 Chronicles 19:6and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment.
- Job 29:7When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,
- Psalms 58:1Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
- Psalms 82:2"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Proverbs 17:15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
- Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
- Isaiah 1:17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
- Isaiah 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
- Isaiah 11:4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
- Isaiah 32:1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
- Jeremiah 21:12O house of David! Thus says the Lord: "'Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, 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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