Exodus 23:6 — Word Study
WLCלֹ֥א תַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃
BSAYou shall notlôʼ [absolutely refuse] denynâṭâh▸ justicemishpâṭ [righteous judgment] to the poorʼebyôwn [needy, oppressed, or destitute ones] in their lawsuitsrîyb [disputes, causes, or strife]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| תַטֶּ֛ה | you must turn aside | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| מִשְׁפַּ֥ט | [the] justice of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ | needy [person] your | Suffix |
| בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃ | in case at law his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. |
| KJV | Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not wrest the justice due to thy poor in his cause. |
| YLT | 'Thou dost not turn aside the judgment of thy needy one in his strife; |
| WEB | “You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. |
| BBE | Let no wrong decisions be given in the poor man's cause. |
Where they part company is אֶבְיֹן — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main command with clarifying phrases that specify the subjects involved and the context of the action.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָטָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 23:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws about Justicegenerated
Exodus 23:6 is part of a series of laws given to the Israelites that emphasize the importance of justice and fairness in their community. The surrounding verses (Exodus 23:5, 7-8) further elaborate on the principles of helping others and avoiding corruption in judgment, highlighting the moral responsibilities of individuals in society.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 23:2–3 | You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 16:19 | Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 27:19 | ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 19:7 | And 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.” |
| 5 | Job 31:13–21 | If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 16 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶבְיֹנְךָ, 'ev.yo.ne.Khagenerated
The word אֶבְיֹן ('evyon) specifically refers to someone who is needy or poor, often highlighting their vulnerability and the need for protection and support. This term is derived from a root indicating want, and it emphasizes the social responsibility to care for those who are destitute or oppressed.
In this verse, the command to not deny justice to the needy underscores the importance of fairness in legal matters, particularly for those who may not have the means to defend themselves. The use of this term reflects God's concern for social justice and the protection of the marginalized.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is תַטֶּ֛ה, you must turn aside, which governs the entire clause. The structure is straightforward, with a negation at the beginning, followed by the action and its object, emphasizing the command against injustice.
The Hebrew construction places the negation לֹא at the forefront, highlighting the prohibition against denying justice. This word order serves to emphasize the importance of the command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תַטֶּ֛ה as διαστρέψεις (diastrepsēs), which means 'to turn aside' or 'to distort.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the command, indicating that not only should justice be upheld, but it should not be twisted or perverted.
The Greek word for אֶבְיֹן is πένητος (penētos), which also conveys the idea of being poor or in need, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning while maintaining the focus on social justice.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 23:6 instructs the Israelites not to deny justice to the poor in their legal disputes. This command highlights the importance of fairness and protection for those who are needy, ensuring that everyone receives proper treatment under the law.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To deny justice to the poor means to refuse them fair treatment in legal matters, which can lead to further oppression and injustice.
Justice is crucial for the needy because they often lack the resources to defend themselves, making them vulnerable to exploitation and unfair treatment.
We can ensure justice for the poor by advocating for their rights, providing legal assistance, and standing against corruption and injustice in our communities.
Examples of injustice faced by the poor include discrimination in legal proceedings, lack of access to legal representation, and exploitation by those in power.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I actively support justice for the needy in my community?
- What steps can I take to educate myself about the legal rights of the poor?
- In what ways can I advocate for fairness in legal matters for those who are vulnerable?
- How does this command challenge me to reflect on my own attitudes toward the poor?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 23:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. As the poor man was not to be favoured when his cause was bad through an affected pity for him as a poor man, so his judgment was not to be
Read John Gill on Exodus 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Of the poor which is among thee, not of the poor Jews only, as some peradventure may conceive; for common right must be done even to the Gentiles. Compare .
Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 23 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 23:6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.Ver. 6. The judgment of thy poor.] I have seen, saith one, the king of Persia many times to alight from his horse, only to do justice to a poor body. Causes are to be heard, and not persons: the Athenian judges passed sentence in the dark. The Preacher’ s Travels, by J. Cartwright.
Read John Trapp on Exodus 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor.—If we are not to favour the poor man in a court of justice on account of his poverty (Exodus 23:3), much less are we to treat him with disfavour. (Comp. Deuteronomy 24:17; Deuteronomy 27:19; Jeremiah 5:28, &c.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor] Thou shalt neither countenance him in his crimes, nor condemn him in his righteousness. See Exodus 23:5; Exodus 23:7.
Read AdamClarke on Exodus 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6–9. Justice to be administered impartially: bribes not to be taken; the poor and the gêr not to be oppressed. The verses form the continuation of vv. 1–3, vv. 1–3 dealing with fairness in bearing witness, and these verses with fairness in administering justice.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 23 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFour precepts evidently addressed to those in authority as judges: (a) To do justice to the poor.
Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
“You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
“You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Thou shalt not wrest the justice due to thy poor in his cause.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Thou shalt not ouerthrowe the right of thy poore in his sute.
Strictly literal
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
'Thou dost not turn aside the judgment of thy needy one in his strife;
You do not turn aside the judgment of your poor in his strife;
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Do not thrust aside justice for your poor in his lawsuit.
From the Latin
Thou shalt not go aside in the poor man’s judgment.
Simplified
You must not prevent the poor from getting justice in their lawsuits.
Let no wrong decisions be given in the poor man's cause.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with the Septuagint providing a similar meaning but differing in word order. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using אביונך instead of אֶבְיֹן, indicating a variation in the term for 'poor.' The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration but maintain the core message of the verse.
לֹ֥א תַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תטה משׁפט אביונך בריבו
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: אביונך (poor)
[לא] תטה משפט אביונ׳ך בריב׳ו
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 23:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singularHVhi2ms
a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
judgment
justice, right, rectitude
ordinance
decision
one's (legal) right, privilege, due
proper, fitting, measure
custom, manner
what manner of
plan
base
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment
. justice, right, rectitude
. ordinance
. decision
. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
. . proper, fitting, measure
. custom, manner
. what manner of
. plan
4941 mishpat mish-pawt'
from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)
pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree
(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or
collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the
crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a
participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or
even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,
custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,
fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),
(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,
ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
see HEBREW for 08199
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance
1d) decision (in law)
1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word אֶבְיוֹן (*ebyown*) means needy or poor, derived from a root indicating want. It describes individuals who are destitute, oppressed, or in need of help, particularly from God. This term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, often referring to the lowest social class and the importance of caring for such individuals.
אֶבְיוֹן adj. in want, needy, poor,—so, alw. abs., Dt 15:4 + 40 t.; אֶבְיֹנְךָ Ex 23:6 Dt 15:11; אֶבְיוֹנִים Am 4:1 + 14 t.; אֶבְיוֹנֵי (אֶבְיֹנֵי) Ex 23:11 Is 29:19; אֶבְיוֹנֶיהָ ψ 132:15—(Hex. only JED; mostly poet., 23 t. ψ) needy, chiefly poor (in material things); as adj. Dt 15:7, 7, 9; 24:14 ψ 109:16 (both ∥ עָנִי); elsewhere subst.; ψ 49:3 (∥ עָשִׁיר); Dt 15:4, 11; subj. to oppression & abuse Am 2:6…
Read the full entry →H34 אֶבְיוֹן in want, needy, poor
34 'ebyown eb-yone'
from 14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling);
destitute:--beggar, needy, poor (man).
see HEBREW for 014
אֶבְיוֹן (ev.yon) — needy.
1) in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person
2) subject to oppression and abuse
3) needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God
4) general reference to lowest class
Adj | Suff — SuffixHAamsc/Sp2ms
רִיב (riyb) refers to strife or dispute, encompassing personal or legal contests. It can denote adversarial situations, chiding, or legal cases. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to conflict, such as quarrels and controversies, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
רִיב 62 n.m. strife, dispute
base
H7379 רִיב strife, dispute
7379 riyb reeb
or rib {reeb}; from 7378; a contest (personal or legal):--+
adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy,
multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing),
suit.
see HEBREW for 07378
רִיב (riv) — strife.
1) strife, controversy, dispute
1a) strife, quarrel
1b) dispute, controversy, case at law
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms