New Living Translation
Exodus 23:8
8“Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.
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 King James Version (NKJV)And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.
Context of Exodus 23:8
6“In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor. 7“Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent. “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. 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. 10“Plant and harvest your crops for six years,
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 must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.
- 1 Samuel 8:3But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
- 1 Samuel 12:3Now testify against me in the presence of the Lord and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”
- Psalms 26:10Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes.
- Proverbs 15:27Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.
- Proverbs 17:8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
- Proverbs 19:4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.
- Ecclesiastes 7:7Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart.
- Isaiah 1:13Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
- Isaiah 5:23They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.
- Ezekiel 22:12There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign Lord.
- Hosea 4:18When the rulers of Israel finish their drinking, off they go to find some prostitutes. They love shame more than honor.
- Amos 5:12For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
- Micah 7:3Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice.
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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