Leviticus 19:15-16
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The verse doesn't just say "don't favor the poor"; it explicitly warns against "respecting the person of the poor" in judgment. This highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about being unkind to the poor, but about preventing pity from clouding the scales of justice, ensuring everyone is judged by the truth of their case, not their circumstances.
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus 19 outlining ethical and judicial responsibilities for the Israelite community. Just before this, the text discusses protecting the vulnerable, and immediately after, it addresses avoiding slander and gossip. Therefore, this verse serves as a critical principle for ensuring fairness and integrity within their legal system, emphasizing that judgment must be unbiased by wealth or poverty.
Imagine a courtroom where whispers of sympathy for the underdog or deference to the influential sway the verdict. This verse calls us to a higher standard.
Leviticus 19:15 lays down a crucial principle for judgment: impartiality. It explicitly warns against two common pitfalls:
The core command is to judge 'in righteousness.' This means decisions must be based on truth and equity, regardless of the parties involved.
What does it truly mean to judge 'in righteousness'? It's more than just following rules; it's about reflecting God's own character.
The verse culminates with the directive: 'but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.' This isn't just about procedural fairness; it's about the quality of the judgment.
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Understand the original words
avel · Hebrew Noun
An act of wrongdoing or unrighteousness; in a legal or social context, it refers to perverting justice or treating people unfairly.
tzedeq · Hebrew Noun
The quality of being upright, just, and in conformity with God’s standard of moral character; it is the basis upon which decisions and judgments should be made.
rakil · Hebrew Noun
The act of spreading malicious gossip or false reports to damage someone's reputation, strictly forbidden in the law to preserve communal harmony.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God (Yahweh), indicating His supreme authority, faithfulness, and the source of moral law.
This New Testament passage directly quotes and expands on the Leviticus command, highlighting that showing favoritism, whether to the poor or the rich, is a sin and makes one a transgressor of the law.
Deuteronomy 1:17This verse reiterates the same principle for judges, emphasizing that justice belongs equally to all, and they are not to be influenced by a person's status or favoritism.
Proverbs 18:5This proverb warns against showing partiality in judgment, stating that it is an abomination to acquit the guilty or condemn the righteous, directly supporting the command for impartial justice.
Psalm 82:2-4This psalm laments the injustice of leaders who show favoritism to the wicked and defend the cause of the helpless, underscoring the divine expectation for judges to defend the weak and uphold righteousness.
bensonLeviticus 19:15: "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."
Leviticus 19:15 . The poor — So as, through pity to him, to give an unrighteous sentence.
pulpitLeviticus 19:15: "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."
Verse 15. - Justice is to be done to all. The less danger of respecting the person of the poor has to be guarded against, as well as the greater and more obvious peril of honouring the person of the mighty. The scales of Justice must be held even and her eyes bandaged, that she may not prefer one a…
The verse doesn't just say "don't favor the poor"; it explicitly warns against "respecting the person of the poor" in judgment. This highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about being unkind to the poor, but about preventing pity from clouding the scales of justice, ensuring everyone is judged by the truth of their case, not their circumstances.
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus 19 outlining ethical and judicial responsibilities for the Israelite community. Just before this, the text discusses protecting the vulnerable, and immediately after, it addresses avoiding slander and gossip. Therefore, this verse serves as a critical principle for ensuring fairness and integrity within their legal system, emphasizing that judgment must be unbiased by wealth or poverty.
This verse is part of a broader section in Leviticus 19 outlining ethical and judicial responsibilities for the Israelite community. Just before this, the text discusses protecting the vulnerable, and immediately after, it addresses avoiding slander and gossip. Therefore, this verse serves as a critical principle for ensuring fairness and integrity within their legal system, emphasizing that judgment must be unbiased by wealth or poverty.
"“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up again…" — The verse doesn't just say "don't favor the poor"; it explicitly warns against "respecting the person of the poor" in judgment. This highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about bein…
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Last reviewed October 2026
