Proverbs 24:23
in Proverbs 24These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
KJV
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
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This verse in Proverbs 24
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Belong to the wise - Either “are fitting for the wise, addressed to them,” or (as in the superscriptions of many of the Psalms) “are written by the wise.” Most recent commentators take it in the latter sense, and look on it as indicating the beginning of a fresh section, containing proverbs not ascribed to Solomon’s authorship. Compare the introduction to Proverbs.
This site's exposition
These also are sayings of the wise
"These also are sayings of the wise" is the book's fourth header, marking a short new collection credited simply to the wise. The new section opens on the note the earlier collection struck, "To show partiality in judgment is not good," with impartial justice named first.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
These things also to the wise. It is understood, are unknown, when each of the reprobates is suddenly snatched from the world by destruction. Or these things also are to be observed by the wise, which I have taught, not to be mingled with the …
To recognize a person in judgment is not good. He taught above to fear the king, and now forbids recognizing a person in judgment. Whence it is understood that subjects ought to render the debt of temporal obedience to princes, so that never out of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
These things also belong to the wise,.... Both what is said before concerning fearing God and the king; these belong to the wise and unwise, rich and poor, great and small; particularly judges and civil magistrates, and all subordinate governors, who have, or ought to have, a competency of wisdom; these ought to fear God and the king, as well as private subjects; and also what follows after, especially in this verse and Pro 24:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
These . . . wise--literally, "are of the wise," as authors (compare "Psalms of David," Hebrew). "These" refers to the verses following, Pr 24:24-34. to have respect--literally, "to discern faces," show partiality, 24, 25. of which an example is justifying the wicked, to which is opposed, rebuking him, which has a blessing.
These things also belong to the wise - גם אלה לחכמים gam elleh lachachamim, “These also to wise.” This appears to be a new section; and perhaps, what follows belongs to another collection. Probably fragments of sayings collected by wise men from the Proverbs of Solomon. It is not good to have respect - Judgment and justice should never be perverted.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אֵ֥לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | |
| לַֽחֲכָמִ֑ים | lachakhamim | [belong] to wise [people] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| הַֽכֵּר־ | haker- | to pay regard to | H5234 → | 49 times |
| פָּנִ֖ים | panim | face | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט | bemishpat | in judgment | H4941 → | 422 times |
| בַּל־ | bal- | not | H1077 → | 73 times |
| טֽוֹב׃ | tov | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
אֵ֥לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →
לַֽחֲכָמִ֑ים[belong] to wise [people]
lachakhamimH2450 →138 times
הַֽכֵּר־to pay regard to
haker-H5234 →49 times
פָּנִ֖יםface
panimH6440 →2123 times
בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣טin judgment
bemishpatH4941 →422 times
בַּל־not
bal-H1077 →73 times
טֽוֹב׃[is] good
tovH2896 →538 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
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.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 1:17
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…
- Deuteronomy 27:19
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Deuteronomy 1:17
Through
Proverbs 1:6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
it leads to
- Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,
- Mark 4:11
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
- Psalms 49:4
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
- Psalms 78:2
Through
2 Chronicles 19:7And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
it leads to
- Exodus 23:8
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- Genesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the…
- Exodus 23:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.