Exodus 23:3
And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.
BSB
ASV
neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.
KJV
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause - The word דל dal, which we translate poor man, is probably put here in opposition to רבים rabbim, the great, or noble men, in the preceding verse: if so, the meaning is, Thou shalt neither be influenced by the great to make an unrighteous decision, nor by the poverty or distress of the poor to give thy voice against the dictates of justice and truth. Hence the ancient maxim, Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum. “Let justice be done, though the heavens should be dissolved.”
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
leads to
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
Through
Leviticus 19:15You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
leads to
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I…
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
