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Leviticus 19:15

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 19:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.
Leviticus 19:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.
13Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
14Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind; but thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah.
15Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.
16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.
17Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.
← Leviticus 19:14Leviticus 19:16 →
← Full Chapter 19 Leviticus Overview

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 do no unrighteousness in judgment, etc.] This is said with respect to judges and witnesses, as Aben Ezra notes; that the one should not bear false witness in a court of judicature to the perversion of justice, and the other should not pronounce an unrighteous sentence, justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor; that is, in judgment, or in a court of judicature, when a cause of his is brought before it; though privately his person may be respected, and he relieved in his distress as a poor man; but in a court of justice his person and character as a poor man are not to be regarded; the cause is not to be given either for him or…”
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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
“The poor - So as through pity to him to give an unrighteous sentence. Leviticus 19:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“19:15 Neither the poor nor the rich were to be favored in a legal case. Justice was the priority at all times (see Exod 23:3, 6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lev 19:35; Exo 18:21, Exo 23:2, Exo 23:2, Exo 23:3, Exo 23:7, Exo 23:8; Deu 1:17, Deu 16:19, Deu 25:13-16, Deu 27:19; Ch2 19:6, Ch2 19:7; Psa 82:2; Pro 18:5, Pro 24:23; Jam 2:6-9 Leviticus 19:16”
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Related study paths

Read Leviticus 19 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification