Deuteronomy 1:16
And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about fairness between Israelites; it mandates that the "stranger" living among them must receive the exact same righteous judgment. This shows God's deep concern for justice extending beyond His chosen people, even to those who were foreigners and outsiders.
Moses has just explained that he appointed judges to help him manage the people's disputes because he couldn't handle it all alone. This verse records the crucial charge he gave these newly appointed judges, laying out the principles for their work as they were about to enter the Promised Land. His instructions emphasize impartiality not just between fellow Israelites but also toward any foreigners living among them.
Imagine a courtroom where one person gets to talk for an hour, and the other only gets a minute. Doesn't sound fair, right? God's instructions for justice start with something so basic, yet so often missed.
Moses' charge to the judges begins with a crucial command: "Hear the causes between your brethren." This isn't just about listening; it's about giving both parties a full opportunity to speak. Think about it:
In a time when 'us' versus 'them' was the norm, God's mandate for justice had a radical inclusion: even the foreigner deserved fair treatment.
The charge explicitly extends righteous judgment to "the stranger that is with him." This wasn't a casual addition; it was a core component of God's justice.
Understand the original words
shophetim · Hebrew Noun
Men appointed to exercise authority, discern the truth, and settle disputes among the people of God according to His Law. Their role was to uphold justice and reflect God's own character in their rulings.
tzedeq · Hebrew Adverb
Acting in accordance with God’s standards of fairness, truth, and moral integrity. It refers to a standard of equity that is derived from the character of God rather than human preference.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A resident foreigner or sojourner who does not belong to the covenant nation by blood but lives within its borders. Biblical law mandates that they be treated with justice and fairness equal to that afforded to native Israelites.
This passage from Exodus outlines the qualities Moses' father-in-law advised him to look for in judges: able men, who fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. This directly parallels the charge given in Deuteronomy for judges to be righteous and impartial.
Leviticus 19:15This verse explicitly states, 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall treat the small and the great alike.' This directly echoes the principle Moses charged his judges with in Deuteronomy 1:16, emphasizing the importance of unbiased justice.
Proverbs 31:8-9This passage describes the ideal king as one who 'opens his mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on his tongue,' and crucially, 'Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.' This highlights the judicial responsibility to ensure justice for all, especially the vulnerable, which is the heart of Moses' charge.
John 7:24Jesus says, 'Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.' This New Testament teaching directly reflects the Old Testament command Moses gave to his judges, emphasizing that true judgment is righteous and impartial, not based on superficial factors.
James 2:1-4bensonDeuteronomy 1:16: "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him."
Deuteronomy 1:16 . The stranger — That converseth or dealeth with him. To such God would have justice equally administered as to his own people, partly for the honour of religion, and partly for the interest which every man hath in matters of common right.
wesleyDeuteronomy 1:16: "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him."
1:16 The stranger - That converseth or dealeth with himn. To Such God would have justice equally adtninistred as to his own people, partly for the honour of religion, and partly for the interest which every man hath in matters of common right.
This verse isn't just about fairness between Israelites; it mandates that the "stranger" living among them must receive the exact same righteous judgment. This shows God's deep concern for justice extending beyond His chosen people, even to those who were foreigners and outsiders.
Moses has just explained that he appointed judges to help him manage the people's disputes because he couldn't handle it all alone. This verse records the crucial charge he gave these newly appointed judges, laying out the principles for their work as they were about to enter the Promised Land. His instructions emphasize impartiality not just between fellow Israelites but also toward any foreigners living among them.
Moses has just explained that he appointed judges to help him manage the people's disputes because he couldn't handle it all alone. This verse records the crucial charge he gave these newly appointed judges, laying out the principles for their work as they were about to enter the Promised Land. His instructions emphasize impartiality not just between fellow Israelites but also toward any foreigners living among them.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Deuteronomy 1:16 is available in the Sola app.
This principle calls us to consider who might be on the margins in our own communities and ensure justice is accessible and impartial for everyone.
The Apostle James strongly condemns showing favoritism in the assembly, calling it a sin and a violation of the royal law to love your neighbor. This reinforces the ancient command found in Deuteronomy, showing that impartiality in judgment is a core principle of God's people throughout Scripture.
"And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him." — This verse isn't just about fairness between Israelites; it mandates that the "stranger" living among them must receive the exact same righteous judgment. This shows God's deep concern for justice ex…
