New King James Version
Exodus 23:8
8And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
- 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 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“You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. 7Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. 9“Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 10“Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce,
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 16:19You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
- 1 Samuel 8:3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
- 1 Samuel 12:3Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
- Psalms 26:10In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
- Proverbs 15:27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
- Proverbs 17:8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
- Proverbs 19:4Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.
- Ecclesiastes 7:7Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.
- Isaiah 1:13Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
- Isaiah 5:23Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!
- Ezekiel 22:12In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord God.
- Hosea 4:18Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor.
- Amos 5:12For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.
- Micah 7:3That they may successfully do evil with both hands— The prince asks for gifts, The judge seeks a bribe, And the great man utters his evil desire; So they scheme 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries