Deuteronomy 1:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Do not show partiality in judgment; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring any case that is too difficult for you to me, and I will hear it.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹֽא־תַכִּ֨ירוּ פָנִ֜ים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט כַּקָּטֹ֤ן כַּגָּדֹל֙ תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן לֹ֤א תָג֙וּרוּ֙ מִפְּנֵי־אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֥י הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט לֵאלֹהִ֣ים ה֑וּא וְהַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְשֶׁ֣ה מִכֶּ֔ם תַּקְרִב֥וּן אֵלַ֖י וּשְׁמַעְתִּֽיו

Transliteration

Not takkîrû pānîm in-the-mišpāṭ; as-the-qāṭōn as-the-gādōl tišmā'ûn; not tāgûrû from-pənê-ʾîš, for the-mišpāṭ to-ʾĕlōhîm it; and-the-dābār which yiqšeh from-you, taqrîbûn to-me and-šāma'tîw.

Grammar Details

• *takkîrû*: 2nd person masculine plural imperfect, hiphil form of *nkr* - 'recognize/acknowledge'
• *pānîm*: masculine plural noun - 'faces/persons'
• *mišpāṭ*: masculine singular noun with definite article - 'judgment/legal decision'
• *qāṭōn*: masculine singular adjective with prefix *kə* - 'small/insignificant'
• *gādōl*: masculine singular adjective with prefix *kə* - 'great/significant'
• *tišmā'ûn*: 2nd person masculine plural imperfect - 'you shall hear/listen'
• *tāgûrû*: 2nd person masculine plural imperfect, qal form of *gwr* - 'fear/be afraid'
• *pənê*: construct form of *pānîm* - 'face of'
• *ʾîš*: masculine singular noun - 'man'
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun (used as singular) - 'God'
• *dābār*: masculine singular noun with definite article - 'word/matter'
• *yiqšeh*: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect, qal form of *qšh* - 'be difficult/hard'
• *taqrîbûn*: 2nd person masculine plural imperfect, hiphil form of *qrb* - 'bring near/present'
• *šāma'tîw*: 1st person singular perfect with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - 'I will hear it'

Word Meanings

• *takkîrû pānîm*: recognize faces/show partiality/be partial
• *tāgûrû*: be afraid/fear/be in awe
• *mišpāṭ*: judgment/justice/legal decision/case
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine being
• *yiqšeh*: be difficult/hard/beyond your ability

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; 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, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of anyone, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; 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, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; 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, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Se that ye knowe no man in Iudgement: but heare the small as well as the greate and be afrayed of no man, for the lawe is Gods. And the cause that is to harde for you, brynge vnto me and I will heare it.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Ye shall knowe no personne in iudgment, but shall heare the small as well as the greate, and be afrayed of no man: for the Iudgment is Gods. But yf eny cause be to harde for you, let it be broughte vnto me, yt I maye heare it.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Ye shal haue no respect of person in iudgement, but shall heare the small aswell as the great: yee shall not feare the face of man: for the iudgemet is Gods: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring vnto me, and I will heare it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Ye shall haue no respect of any person in iudgement, but you shall heare the small aswell as the great: You shall not feare the face of any man, for the iudgement is Gods. And the cause that is to harde for you, referre it vnto me, and I wyll heare it.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; 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, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  ye do not discern faces in judgment; as the little so the great ye do hear; ye are not afraid of the face of any, for the judgment is God's, and the thing which is too hard for you, ye bring near unto me, and I have heard it;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In judging, do not let a man's position have any weight with you; give hearing equally to small and great; have no fear of any man, for it is God who is judge: and any cause in which you are not able to give a decision, you are to put before me and I will give it a hearing.

• World English Bible (2000)

  You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  They must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.

Referenced Verses

• Exod 18:26 : 26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the difficult cases to Moses, but they decided the simple ones themselves.
• Deut 16:19 : 19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
• 2 Chr 19:6 : 6 He said to the judges, 'Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals, but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a judgment.'
• Lev 19:15 : 15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
• Prov 24:23 : 23 These also belong to the wise: showing partiality in judgment is not good.
• Exod 18:22 : 22 Let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every difficult case to you, but have them decide simple cases themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
• Jas 2:9 : 9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
• Deut 10:17 : 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
• Exod 23:6-7 : 6 Do not deny justice to your poor among you in their lawsuit. 7 Stay far from a false accusation; do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify the wicked.
• Prov 22:22-23 : 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate. 23 For the LORD will plead their case and will rob of life those who rob them.
• Prov 29:25 : 25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be kept safe.
• Jer 1:17 : 17 But you, prepare yourself; rise and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.
• Jer 5:28-29 : 28 They have grown fat and sleek. They excel in evil deeds; they do not defend the rights of the fatherless so they might prosper, nor do they uphold the cause of the needy. 29 Should I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord. Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
• Amos 5:11-12 : 11 Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact a grain tax from them, though you have built houses of cut stone, you will not live in them; though you have planted delightful vineyards, you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know your many transgressions and your mighty sins: oppressing the righteous, taking bribes, and turning aside the needy at the gate.
• Mic 2:1-3 : 1 Woe to those who devise wickedness and plan evil on their beds! At dawn, they carry it out because they have the power to do it. 2 They covet fields and seize them; they take houses and rob them. They oppress a man and his house, a person and their inheritance. 3 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I am planning disaster against this family, from which you cannot free your necks, nor will you walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.'
• Mic 3:1-4 : 1 Then I said: "Hear now, leaders of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not your responsibility to know justice? 2 You who hate good and love evil; you tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones. 3 You eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin, break their bones, and chop them up like meat for the pot, like flesh in a cauldron. 4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. He will hide His face from them at that time because of the evil they have done.
• Mic 7:3-4 : 3 Their hands are skilled at doing evil: the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, and the powerful speak out their selfish desires. Together they weave a web of corrupt schemes. 4 The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge. The day your watchmen foretold has come, the day of your visitation. Now confusion is upon them.
• Matt 22:16 : 16 And they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth. You do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you do not look at people’s appearances.'
• Mark 12:14 : 14 When they came, they said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are truthful and you don't show partiality to anyone, for you do not regard the appearance of people but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?'
• Luke 20:21 : 21 So they questioned him, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in truth.
• Acts 10:34-35 : 34 Then Peter began to speak: 'Now I truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35 but in every nation, the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.
• Rom 2:11 : 11 For God shows no partiality.
• Eph 6:9 : 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way, without threatening them, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
• Col 3:25 : 25 But the one who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no favoritism.
• 1 Thess 2:4 : 4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak—not to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.
• Jas 2:1-5 : 1 My brothers, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of favoritism. 2 Suppose a man with gold rings and dressed in fine clothes enters your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothing and say, 'Here is a good seat for you,' but tell the poor man, 'You stand there,' or 'Sit here by my footstool,' 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
• Job 22:6-9 : 6 For you have taken pledges from your brothers without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But the powerful man owns the land, and the honored man dwells in it. 9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
• Job 29:11-17 : 11 For when the ear heard me, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw me, it gave testimony about me. 12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. 13 The blessing of the one about to perish came upon me, and I made the widow's heart sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of one I did not know. 17 I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the prey from his teeth.
• Job 31:13-16 : 13 If I have denied justice to my male or female servants when they had a grievance against me, 14 what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when He calls me to account? 15 Did not the same One who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same God form us both within our mothers? 16 If I have withheld the desires of the poor or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
• Job 31:34 : 34 because I so feared the crowd and the contempt of clans terrified me that I kept silent and would not go outside—
• Ps 82:3-4 : 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
• Exod 18:18 : 18 You and these people who come to you will surely wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
• Exod 23:2-3 : 2 Do not follow the majority to do evil, and do not testify in a dispute to turn aside after the majority to pervert justice. 3 Do not show partiality to a poor person in his lawsuit.
• Deut 17:8-9 : 8 If a case arises that is too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults—matters of dispute in your towns, you are to go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. 9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decision they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you.
• Deut 24:17 : 17 Do not pervert justice for the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow's garment as security for a pledge.
• 1 Sam 12:3-4 : 3 Here I am. Testify against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded or oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes to wrongdoing? If so, I will restore it to you. 4 They replied, 'You have not defrauded us, oppressed us, or taken anything from anyone’s hand.'
• 1 Sam 16:7 : 7 But the LORD told Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
• 2 Sam 14:14 : 14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him.
• 1 Kgs 21:8-9 : 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 9 In those letters she wrote, 'Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.' 10 Then seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them accuse him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death. 11 So the elders and nobles of this city, who lived there, carried out Jezebel’s instructions, just as she had written in the letters she sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Two worthless men came and sat opposite Naboth. They testified against him before the people, saying, 'Naboth has cursed God and the king.' So they took him outside the city, stoned him to death, and he died. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, 'Naboth has been stoned and is dead.'
• 1 Pet 1:17 : 17 If you call upon the Father, who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, live your lives in reverent fear during the time of your temporary residence here.