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Deuteronomy 1:17

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Deuteronomy 1:17

Verse 17 of 46

Scripture focus

Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.

Deuteronomy 1:17 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:17

Theological / Devotional

Not respect persons. The poor man was to receive equal treatment with the wealthy or with the man of high position. There was to be no respect of persons (see Ex. 23:2, 5; Lev. 19:15).

Judgment is God's. Riches, power, position, birth, education — none of these were to influence a judicial decision. The judges of Israel stood in the place of God. They were, in fact, called ’elohim, literally “gods,” the very word used of God in such texts as Gen. 1:1-31 (see Ex. 7:1). ’Elohim is applied to judges in Ex. 21:6 and 22:8, 9, in their capacity of speaking for God and giving decisions in His name.

By SdaBc