New International Version
Exodus 23:8
8“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
Exodus 23:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.
Context of Exodus 23:8
6“Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent. 9“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. 10“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,
Read all of Exodus 23Exodus 23:8 word by word
וְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח כִּ֤י הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 23:8
- Deuteronomy 16:19Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.
- 1 Samuel 8:3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
- 1 Samuel 12:3Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”
- Psalms 26:10in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
- Proverbs 15:27The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.
- Proverbs 17:8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.
- Proverbs 19:4Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
- Ecclesiastes 7:7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
- Isaiah 1:13Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
- Isaiah 5:23who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent.
- Ezekiel 22:12In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.
- Hosea 4:18Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
- Amos 5:12For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
- Micah 7:3Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together.
Commentaries on Exodus 23:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Thou shalt take no gift - A strong ordinance against selling justice, which has been the disgrace and ruin of every state where it has been practiced. In the excellent charter of British liberties called Magna Charta, there is one article expressly on this head: Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus aut differemus, rectum aut justitiam - Art. xxxiii. "To none will we sell, to none will we deny or defer, right or justice." This was the more necessary in those…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Four precepts evidently addressed to those in authority as judges: (a) To do justice to the poor. Comparing Exodus 23:6 with Exodus 23:3, it was the part of the judge to defend the poor against the oppression of the rich, and the part of the witness to take care lest his feelings of natural pity should tempt him to falsify evidence. (b) To be cautious of inflicting capital punishment on one whose guilt was not clearly proved. A doubtful case…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9This call for justice includes a mixed list of covenant requirements. Most of these requirements deal with fairness and honesty in daily life. They show how God’s people should treat others with integrity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. put not thine hand--join not hands.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 23:8
In the dictionaries
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
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