Deuteronomy 25:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court for judgment, the judges shall justify the innocent and condemn the guilty.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה רִיב֙ בֵּ֣ין אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְנִגְּשׁ֥וּ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט וּשְׁפָט֑וּם וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ אֶת־הַצַּדִּ֔יק וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּ אֶת־הָרָשָֽׁע׃

Transliteration

When yihyeh rîb between ʾănāšîm wə-niggəšû to the-mišpāṭ û-šəpāṭûm wə-hiṣdîqû ʾet-the-ṣaddîq wə-hiršîʿû ʾet-the-rāšāʿ

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - when/if
• *yihyeh*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - there will be
• *rîb*: noun masculine singular - dispute/controversy
• *bên*: preposition - between
• *ʾănāšîm*: noun masculine plural - men
• *wə-niggəšû*: conjunction + niphal perfect 3rd common plural - and they come/approach
• *ʾel*: preposition - to/toward
• *ha-mišpāṭ*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the judgment/court
• *û-šəpāṭûm*: conjunction + qal perfect 3rd common plural + 3rd masculine plural suffix - and they judge them
• *wə-hiṣdîqû*: conjunction + hiphil perfect 3rd common plural - and they justify/pronounce righteous
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ha-ṣaddîq*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the righteous person
• *wə-hiršîʿû*: conjunction + hiphil perfect 3rd common plural - and they condemn/pronounce guilty
• *ha-rāšāʿ*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the wicked/guilty person

Word Meanings

• *rîb*: dispute/controversy/legal case
• *mišpāṭ*: judgment/court/justice/legal process
• *ṣaddîq*: righteous one/innocent party/just person
• *rāšāʿ*: wicked one/guilty party/wrongdoer

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and conmn the wicked.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  If there is a dispute between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  If there be a controversy{H7379} between men,{H582} and they come{H5066} unto judgment,{H4941} and [the judges] judge{H8199} them; then they shall justify{H6663} the righteous,{H6662} and condemn{H7561} the wicked;{H7563}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  If there be a controversy{H7379} between men{H582}, and they come{H5066}{(H8738)} unto judgment{H4941}, that the judges may judge{H8199}{(H8804)} them; then they shall justify{H6663}{(H8689)} the righteous{H6662}, and condemn{H7561}{(H8689)} the wicked{H7563}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  When there is strife betwene men, let the come vnto the lawe, and let the iudges iustifie the rightuous and condemne the trespeaser.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whan there is a stryfe betwene men, they shalbe brought before ye lawe and iudged: and the iudges shall iustifye the righteous, and condemne the vngodly.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  When there shall be strife betweene men, and they shall come vnto iudgement, and sentence shall be giuen vpon them, and the righteous shall be iustified, and the wicked condemned,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  If there be strife betweene men, they shall come vnto the lawe, and let the Iudges geue sentence betwene them: and iustifie the righteous, & condemne the vngodly.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that [the judges] may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `When there is a strife between men, and they have come nigh unto the judgment, and they have judged, and declared righteous the righteous, and declared wrong the wrong-doer,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and `the judges' judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  If there is an argument between men and they go to law with one another, let the judges give their decision for the upright, and against the wrongdoer.

• World English Bible (2000)

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty.

Referenced Verses

• Prov 17:15 : 15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the Lord.
• 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.
• Deut 19:17-19 : 17 both parties to the dispute must stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate thoroughly, and if the witness proves to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.
• 2 Sam 23:3 : 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'The one who rules over people must be righteous, ruling in the fear of God.'
• 2 Chr 19:6-9 : 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.' 7 Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful and act, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice, partiality, or taking of bribes. 8 In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. 9 He gave them these orders: 'You must act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a whole heart.' 10 Whatever case comes to you from your fellow Israelites living in their cities—whether of bloodshed or other matters of the law, commands, statutes, or decrees—you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise, His wrath will come upon you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.
• Job 29:7-9 : 7 When I went out to the city gate, and took my seat in the public square, 8 the young men saw me and stepped aside, and the aged stood and rose to their feet. 9 Leaders refrained from speaking and laid their hands on their mouths. 10 The voices of nobles quieted, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 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.
• Ps 58:1-2 : 1 For the director, 'Do Not Destroy,' a Miktam of David. 2 Do you rulers truly speak justice? Do you judge people with fairness?
• Ps 82:2-4 : 2 How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. 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 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.
• Deut 1:16-17 : 16 At that time, I commanded your judges, saying, 'Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly between a man and his brother or the foreigner who is residing among them.' 17 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.
• Deut 16:18-20 : 18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. 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. 20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
• Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
• Isa 1:17 : 17 Learn to do what is good; seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.
• Isa 1:23 : 23 Your rulers are rebellious and companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, and the widow's case never comes before them.
• Isa 5:23 : 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deny justice to the righteous!
• Isa 11:4 : 4 But he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
• Isa 32:1-2 : 1 Indeed, a king will reign in righteousness, and rulers will govern with justice. 2 Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
• Jer 21:12 : 12 House of David, this is what the LORD says: Execute justice in the morning and rescue the one who is robbed from the hand of the oppressor, or my wrath will go out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of the evil of your deeds.
• Ezek 44:24 : 24 In any dispute, they shall stand as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They shall keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed festivals and sanctify My Sabbaths.
• Mic 3:1-2 : 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.
• Hab 1:4 : 4 Therefore, the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so justice comes out distorted.
• Hab 1:13 : 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
• Mal 3:18 : 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
• Matt 3:10 : 10 Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.