Proverbs 18:5

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שְׂאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁ֣ע לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַטּ֥וֹת צַ֝דִּ֗יק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

Transliteration

śəʾēṯ pənê-rāšāʿ not-ṭôḇ to-haṭṭôṯ ṣaddîq in-the-mišpāṭ

Grammar Details

• *śəʾēṯ*: verb, qal infinitive construct - lifting/raising/showing partiality
• *pənê*: noun, masculine plural construct - face of
• *rāšāʿ*: noun, masculine singular - wicked person/criminal
• *ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/right
• *haṭṭôṯ*: verb, hiphil infinitive construct - turning aside/perverting
• *ṣaddîq*: noun, masculine singular - righteous person
• *mišpāṭ*: noun, masculine singular - judgment/justice/legal decision

Word Meanings

• *śəʾēṯ*: lifting/raising/showing favor/showing partiality
• *pənê*: face/presence/person
• *rāšāʿ*: wicked person/criminal/guilty one
• *ṭôḇ*: good/right/appropriate/fitting
• *haṭṭôṯ*: turning aside/perverting/subverting
• *ṣaddîq*: righteous person/innocent one/just person
• *mišpāṭ*: judgment/justice/legal case/verdict

Referenced Verses

• Lev 19:15 : 15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
• Prov 24:23 : 23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
• Prov 28:21 : 21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
• Ps 82:2 : 2 How long will ye judge{H8799)} unjustly, and accept{H8799)} the persons of the wicked? Selah.
• Prov 17:15 : 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
• Deut 16:19 : 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
• 1 Kgs 21:9-9 : 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
• Job 13:7-8 : 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
• Job 34:19 : 19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
• Deut 1:16-17 : 16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17 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.
• Isa 5:23 : 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
• Isa 59:14 : 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
• Mic 7:3 : 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
• Matt 22:16 : 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.