It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about fairness; it highlights that showing favoritism to the wicked is precisely the mechanism by which justice is denied to the righteous. It's not two separate wrongs, but one action flowing into the other – a corrupt judicial system is built by elevating the guilty and thus crushing the innocent.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs discussing wisdom versus foolishness and the importance of righteous conduct, particularly in judgment. It follows verses on the destructive nature of gossip and the value of discernment. The verse directly contrasts showing favoritously partial judgment towards the wicked with denying justice to those who are in the right, underscoring the moral corruption inherent in such actions.
Ever seen someone get away with something because they're popular or well-connected? This verse calls that out, plain and simple. It's not just unfair; it's fundamentally wrong.
This proverb slams the door on favoritism in judgment. The phrase 'accept the person' (or 'show partiality') means letting external factors like wealth, status, or relationships sway a decision.
Why is this so bad?
Imagine a courtroom where the verdict depends on who has the fancier suit or more powerful friends. This proverb paints a stark picture of what shouldn't happen, and points us to the only true standard.
The core of this verse is about the integrity of judgment. True justice isn't about politics, popularity, or personal gain; it's solely about the merits of the case.
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What guides a just decision?
Understand the original words
nasa' panim · Hebrew Verb/Idiom
Showing favoritism or being biased in legal or relational matters, violating the biblical mandate for impartial judgment and integrity.
tsaddiq · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
One who acts in alignment with God’s moral standards, living in faithfulness to His covenant and observing His commandments.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The exercise of fairness, integrity, and righteousness in judgment, reflecting the character of God, who is the ultimate Judge.
This verse directly echoes the principle in Proverbs, commanding not to show partiality to the poor or favor the rich in judgment, emphasizing God's standard for justice.
Deuteronomy 1:17Here, Moses instructs the judges to 'hear alike small and great,' reinforcing the idea that justice must be impartial, regardless of a person's status or influence.
Psalm 82:2-4This Psalm powerfully condemns those who 'defend the cause of the weak and fatherless' and 'maintain the rights of the afflicted and oppressed,' directly mirroring the injustice warned against in Proverbs.
Luke 20:21In the New Testament, Jesus's opponents try to trap him by asking if it's lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, using the phrase 'show no partiality,' highlighting the ongoing relevance of this principle.
James 2:1-4The apostle James fiercely rebukes the church for showing favoritism to the rich over the poor, directly linking this partiality to discrimination and a failure to uphold God's law.
pulpitProverbs 18:5: "It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment."
Verse 5. - It is not good to accept the person of the wicked. To "accept the person" is to show partiality, to be guided in judgment, not by the facts of a case, or the abstract principles of right or wrong, but by extraneous considerations, as a man's appearance, manners, fortune, family. (For the expression, comp. Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; and in our book, Proverbs 24:23; Prove…
clarkeProverbs 18:5: "It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment."
To accept the person of the wicked - We must not, in judicial cases, pay any attention to a man's riches, influence, friends, offices, etc., but judge the case according to its own merits. But when the wicked rich man opposes and oppresses the poor righteous, then all those things should be utterly forgotten.
This verse isn't just about fairness; it highlights that showing favoritism to the wicked is precisely the mechanism by which justice is denied to the righteous. It's not two separate wrongs, but one action flowing into the other – a corrupt judicial system is built by elevating the guilty and thus crushing the innocent.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs discussing wisdom versus foolishness and the importance of righteous conduct, particularly in judgment. It follows verses on the destructive nature of gossip and the value of discernment. The verse directly contrasts showing favoritously partial judgment towards the wicked with denying justice to those who are in the right, underscoring the moral corruption inherent in such actions.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs discussing wisdom versus foolishness and the importance of righteous conduct, particularly in judgment. It follows verses on the destructive nature of gossip and the value of discernment. The verse directly contrasts showing favoritously partial judgment towards the wicked with denying justice to those who are in the right, underscoring the moral corruption inherent in such actions.
"It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice." — This verse isn't just about fairness; it highlights that showing favoritism to the wicked is precisely the mechanism by which justice is denied to the righteous. It's not two separate wrongs, but o…
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Last reviewed October 2026