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

14“Then you responded, ‘Your plan is a good one.’ 15So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten. “At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions 17and impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich. Don’t be afraid of anyone’s anger, for the decision you make is God’s decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.’ 18“At that time I gave you instructions about everything you were to do.

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 also gave this charge to the people:
• Deuteronomy 31:14Then the Lord said to Moses, “The time has come for you to die. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tabernacle, so that I may commission him there.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tabernacle.
• Numbers 27:19Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
• 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.
• 1 Timothy 6:17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
• Exodus 23:2“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.
• Leviticus 19:15“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.
• 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
• 2 Chronicles 19:6and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.
• Psalms 58:1Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?
• John 7:24Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
• Deuteronomy 10:18He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.
• Deuteronomy 24:14“Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns.
• Exodus 22:21“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
• Exodus 23:9“You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of 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