Proverbs 18:5
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "accept the person" is key here, meaning judges shouldn't let wealth, status, or any external factor sway their decision. This isn't just about avoiding favoritism to the wicked, but actively guarding against letting any personal bias, even positive bias, cause injustice to the righteous.
This proverb stands within a section of Proverbs that offers wisdom on justice and wise leadership, contrasting the ways of the foolish with those of the wise. It directly follows verses discussing foolish speech and the consequences of poor judgment. The verses immediately after this one continue the theme of righteous living by urging us to control our tongues and to seek wisdom rather than foolishness.
We often think of justice as just following the rules. But what if favoritism in judgment is a deeper, more personal offense?
The verse calls out the practice of 'accepting the person,' which means showing favoritism. In ancient Israelite culture, this often involved letting a person's social standing, wealth, or connections influence how a judge ruled. It wasn't just about making a mistake; it was a conscious choice to disregard the facts and the law because of who someone was. This isn't just a problem for judges; it shows up in our own lives when we let who someone is—their looks, their popularity, their status—sway our opinions or how we treat them, even when it comes to simple fairness.
Justice isn't just about punishing the guilty; it's also about defending those who are wronged. What does this look like in action?
The second part of the verse is a crucial counterpoint: 'to overthrow the righteous in judgment.' This isn't just about failing to acquit someone who is innocent. It means actively turning aside the just cause of a righteous person. Imagine a situation where someone’s rights are being trampled, and instead of stepping in to uphold fairness, a position of influence is used to silence or discredit them. This speaks to the responsibility we have to not only avoid being biased ourselves but also to ensure that justice prevails for those who are vulnerable or wrongly accused.
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 passage directly states, 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.' It establishes the foundational principle against favoritism in legal matters, which Proverbs 18:5 warns against.
Deuteronomy 1:17This verse echoes the command from Leviticus, stating, 'you shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated from the face of anyone, for the judgment belongs to God.' It emphasizes that true justice is impartial and ultimately answerable to God, directly supporting Proverbs' caution against favoring the wicked.
Psalm 82:2-4This psalm calls out those who 'defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and the oppressed. Deliver the weak and the needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.' It paints a vivid picture of the opposite of what Proverbs 18:5 condemns, highlighting the divine expectation for justice to protect the vulnerable and condemn the wicked.
Isaiah 5:20This verse condemns those who 'call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!' This prophetic warning directly relates to the perversion of justice mentioned in Proverbs 18:5, where favoring the wicked means calling their wrong actions right.
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.
The phrase "accept the person" is key here, meaning judges shouldn't let wealth, status, or any external factor sway their decision. This isn't just about avoiding favoritism to the wicked, but actively guarding against letting any personal bias, even positive bias, cause injustice to the righteous.
This proverb stands within a section of Proverbs that offers wisdom on justice and wise leadership, contrasting the ways of the foolish with those of the wise. It directly follows verses discussing foolish speech and the consequences of poor judgment. The verses immediately after this one continue the theme of righteous living by urging us to control our tongues and to seek wisdom rather than foolishness.
This proverb stands within a section of Proverbs that offers wisdom on justice and wise leadership, contrasting the ways of the foolish with those of the wise. It directly follows verses discussing foolish speech and the consequences of poor judgment. The verses immediately after this one continue the theme of righteous living by urging us to control our tongues and to seek wisdom rather than foolishness.
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Jesus warns, 'Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be held, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.' While this speaks to personal judgment, it underscores the principle that our judgments have consequences and should be measured, just as Proverbs 18:5 insists on fairness and righteousness in judicial pronouncements.
"It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice." — The phrase "accept the person" is key here, meaning judges shouldn't let wealth, status, or any external factor sway their decision. This isn't just about avoiding favoritism to the wicked, but activ…
