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Deuteronomy 1:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 1:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God`s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God`s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.
Deuteronomy 1:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good [for us] to do.
15So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.
16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him.
17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God`s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.
18And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.
19And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
20And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which Jehovah our God giveth unto us.
← Deuteronomy 1:16Deuteronomy 1:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, etc.] Or pass judgment, and give sentence according to the outward appearances, circumstances, and relations of men; as whether they be friends or foes, rich or poor, old or young, men or women, learned or unlearned; truth and justice should always take place, without any regard to what persons are: but you shall hear the small as well as the great; persons in low, life, and in mean circumstances, as well as great and noble personages; or little causes and of no great moment, as well as those of the utmost importance; all must be attended to, a cause about a “prutah” or a farthing, as well as one about a hundred pounds, in which Jarchi instances, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Respect persons - Heb. Not know, or acknowledge faces, that is, not give sentence according to the outward qualities of the person, as he is poor or rich, your friend or enemy, but purely according to the merit of the cause. For which reason some of the Grecian law - givers ordered that the judges should give sentence in the dark where they could not see mens faces. The judgment is God's - It is passed in the name of God, and by commission from him, by you as representing his person, and doing his work; who therefore will defend you therein against all your enemies, amid to whom you must give an exact account. Deuteronomy 1:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall not: Deu 10:17, Deu 16:19; Lev 19:15; Sa1 16:7; Sa2 14:14; Pro 24:23; Luk 20:21; Act 10:34, Act 10:35; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; Jam 2:1, Jam 2:3, Jam 2:9; Pe1 1:17 respect persons: Heb. acknowledge faces, That is, let not the bold, daring countenances of the rich or mighty induce you to give an unrighteous decision; and let not the abject look of the poor man induce you either to favour him in an unrighteous cause, or to give judgment against him at the demand of the oppressor. ye shall hear: Exo 23:3, Exo 23:6, Exo 23:7; Sa1 12:3, Sa1 12:4; Job 22:6-9, Job 29:11-17, Job 31:13-16; Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4; Pro 22:22, Pro 22:23; Jer 5:28, Jer 5:29; Amo 5:11, Amo 5:12; Mic 2:1-3, Mic…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification