Deuteronomy 1:17

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Ye shall not respect{H5234} persons{H6440} in judgment;{H4941} ye shall hear{H8085} the small{H6996} and the great{H1419} alike; ye shall not be afraid{H1481} of the face{H6440} of man;{H376} for the judgment{H4941} is God's:{H430} and the cause{H1697} that is too hard{H7185} for you ye shall bring{H7126} unto me, and I will hear{H8085} it.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Ye shall not respect{H5234}{(H8686)} persons{H6440} in judgment{H4941}; but ye shall hear{H8085}{(H8799)} the small{H6996} as well as the great{H1419}; ye shall not be afraid{H1481}{(H8799)} of the face{H6440} of man{H376}; for the judgment{H4941} is God's{H430}: and the cause{H1697} that is too hard{H7185}{(H8799)} for you, bring{H7126}{(H8686)} it unto me, and I will hear{H8085}{(H8804)} 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 And they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
• Deut 16:19 : 19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe: for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
• 2 Chr 19:6 : 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
• Lev 19:15 : 15 You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
• Prov 24:23 : 23 These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
• Exod 18:22 : 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.
• Jas 2:9 : 9 But if you show partiality, 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, a great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show partiality nor take a bribe:
• Exod 23:6-7 : 6 You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his dispute. 7 Keep far from a false matter, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.
• Prov 22:22-23 : 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their cause and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
• Prov 29:25 : 25 The fear of man brings a snare; but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
• Jer 1:17 : 17 Therefore prepare yourself, and arise, and speak to them all that I command you: do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
• Jer 5:28-29 : 28 They have grown fat, they shine: yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked: they do not judge the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy they do not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? says the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
• Amos 5:11-12 : 11 Since you tread upon the poor, and you take from him burdens of wheat: you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine of them. 12 For I know your many transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
• Mic 2:1-3 : 1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it because it is in the power of their hand. 2 They covet fields and take them by violence, and houses, and take them away; so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, against this family I devise an evil from which you shall not remove your necks; neither shall you go haughtily, for this time is evil.
• Mic 3:1-4 : 1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O leaders of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know justice? 2 Who hate good and love evil; who strip their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, like meat for the pot, and like flesh within the cauldron. 4 Then they shall cry to the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, because they have done evil in their deeds.
• Mic 7:3-4 : 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. 4 The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your visitation comes; now shall be their perplexity.
• Matt 22:16 : 16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, nor do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the person of men.
• Mark 12:14 : 14 When they had come, they said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are true, and do not care about anyone; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
• Luke 20:21 : 21 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither do you show favoritism, but teach the way of God truly:
• Acts 10:34-35 : 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality: 35 But in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.
• Rom 2:11 : 11 For there is no partiality with God.
• Eph 6:9 : 9 And, you masters, do the same things to them, refraining from threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
• Col 3:25 : 25 But he who does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no partiality.
• 1 Thess 2:4 : 4 But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
• Jas 2:1-5 : 1 My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and there also comes in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say to him, Sit here in a good place, and say to the poor, Stand there, or sit here under my footstool, 4 are you not then partial 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 a pledge from your brother for nothing, 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 as for the mighty man, he possessed the land; and the honorable man lived in it. 9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
• Job 29:11-17 : 11 When the ear heard me, it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it approved me; 12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless, and the one who had no helper. 13 The blessing of a dying man came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a crown. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the case I did not know. 17 And I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the victim from his teeth.
• Job 31:13-16 : 13 If I have despised the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He visits, what shall I answer Him? 15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
• Job 31:34 : 34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, so that I kept silent and went not out of the door?
• Ps 82:3-4 : 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them from the hand of the wicked.
• Exod 18:18 : 18 You will surely wear yourself out, and these people who are with you as well, for this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
• Exod 23:2-3 : 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to pervert justice by following the majority. 3 Nor shall you show favoritism to a poor man in his dispute.
• Deut 17:8-9 : 8 If a matter arises that is too hard for you to judge, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of dispute within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses, 9 and you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge who is in office in those days, and inquire, and they shall declare to you the verdict of the judgment. 10 You shall do according to the decision they give you at the place which the LORD chooses, and you shall be careful to do according to all that they instruct you.
• Deut 24:17 : 17 You shall not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's clothing as a pledge:
• 1 Sam 12:3-4 : 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes with it? and I will restore it to you. 4 And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from any man's hand.
• 1 Sam 16:7 : 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
• 2 Sam 14:14 : 14 For we must die, and are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but he devises means, so that his banished are not expelled from him.
• 1 Kgs 21:8-9 : 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, worthless fellows, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You blasphemed 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 of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, and as it was written in the letters she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And two men, worthless fellows, came in and sat before him; and the men bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
• 1 Pet 1:17 : 17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in reverent fear;