Deuteronomy 1:16

Deuteronomy 1:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
• New International Version (NIV)And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.

Context of Deuteronomy 1:16

14You agreed that this was a good idea. 15So I took the heads of your tribes who were wise and experienced men and made them officers for each of your tribes. I put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. Also at that time I gave these instructions to your judges: “Hear the cases that your people bring. Judge each case fairly, no matter whether it is ⌞a dispute⌟ between two Israelites or ⌞a dispute⌟ between an Israelite and a non-Israelite. 17Be impartial in your decisions. Listen to the least important people the same way you listen to the most important people. Never be afraid of anyone, since your decisions come from God. You may bring me any case that’s too hard for you, and I will hear it.” 18So I told you how to handle these situations.

Deuteronomy 1:16 word by word

וָאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹ֤עַ בֵּין־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם צֶ֔דֶק בֵּֽין־אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵין־אָחִ֖יו וּבֵ֥ין גֵּרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I chargedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• your judgesשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• at that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• between your brethrenאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• righteouslyצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• and the strangerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 1:16

• Deuteronomy 27:11That same day Moses gave the people this command:
• Deuteronomy 31:14The Lord said to Moses, “The time of your death is coming soon. Call for Joshua. Both of you come to the tent of meeting, and I will give him his instructions.” Moses and Joshua came to the tent of meeting.
• Numbers 27:19Make him stand in front of the priest Eleazar and the whole community, and give him his instructions in their presence.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children. We comforted you and encouraged you. Yet, we insisted that
• 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.
• 1 Timothy 6:17Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
• Exodus 23:2Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice.
• Leviticus 19:15“Don’t be corrupt when administering justice. Never give special favors to poor people, and never show preference to important people. Judge your neighbor fairly.
• 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke to them. The rock of Israel told me, ‘The one who rules humans with justice rules with the fear of God.
• 2 Chronicles 19:6He told the judges, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. When you judge, you aren’t doing it for a human but for the Lord. He will be with you when you hear a case.
• Psalms 58:1Do you rulers really give fair verdicts? Do you judge Adam’s descendants fairly?
• John 7:24Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly.”
• Deuteronomy 10:18He makes sure orphans and widows receive justice. He loves foreigners and gives them food and clothes.
• Deuteronomy 24:14Don’t withhold pay from hired workers who are poor and needy, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living in one of your cities.
• Exodus 22:21“Never mistreat or oppress foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.
• Exodus 23:9“Never oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be foreigners because you were foreigners living in Egypt.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1:16

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 Moses reminds the people of the happy constitution of their government, which might make them all safe and easy, if it was not their own fault. He owns the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, and prays for the further accomplishment of it. We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God; why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope? Good laws were given to the Israelites, and good men were to see to the execution of them…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Show no partiality (literally Do not notice faces): People appearing before the court should be treated as though they were wearing a mask to conceal their identity. Judges were not to be influenced by rich and powerful persons in the community but were to judge on the basis of God’s own impartiality (10:17) and treat all persons equally under the law.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-189-18. I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone--a little before their arrival in Horeb. Moses addresses that new generation as the representatives of their fathers, in whose sight and hearing all the transactions he recounts took place. A reference is here made to the suggestion of Jethro (Ex 18:18). In noticing his practical adoption of a plan by which the administration of justice was committed to a select number of…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 1:16

• Aliens
• Court
• Government
• Israel
• Judge
• Moses
• Officer
• Rulers
• Strangers

In the dictionaries

• Dread
• Exodus
• Galilee
• Heaven
• Magistrate
• Deuteronomy
• Judge
• Judging Judgment
• Nicodemus
• Pentateuch

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1

• 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