Exodus 23:3

3 Du sollst den Geringen nicht beschönigen in seiner Sache.

Exodus 23:3 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:3

Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
] Because he is a poor man, and for that reason endeavour to carry his cause for him, right or wrong, from a foolish pity to him as a poor man, and from an affectation of gaining the applause of people on that account; or "thou shalt not honour" or "adorn" a poor man ^F21, by a set speech in favour of his cause, though wrong, dressed up in the best manner, and set off with all the colourings of art, to make it appear in the most plausible manner; the law is against respect of persons, as not the person of the rich, so neither is the person of the poor to be accepted, but the justice of their cause is to be regarded; so the Targum of Jonathan,

``the poor that is guilty in his judgment or cause, his face (or person) thou shalt not accept to have pity on him, for no person is to be accepted in judgment.''

---

FOOTNOTES:

F21 (rdht al) "non honorabis", Pagninus, Vatablus, Drusius, Cartwright; "non decorabis", Montanus; "ne ornes", Tigurine version; "ne honorato", Junius & Tremellius; "ne ornato", Piscator.

Exodus 23:3 In-Context

1 Du sollst falscher Anklage nicht glauben, daß du einem Gottlosen Beistand tust und ein falscher Zeuge seist.

2 Du sollst nicht folgen der Menge zum Bösen und nicht also verantworten vor Gericht, daß du der Menge nach vom Rechten weichest.

3 Du sollst den Geringen nicht beschönigen in seiner Sache.

4 Wenn du deines Feindes Ochsen oder Esel begegnest, daß er irrt, so sollst du ihm denselben wieder zuführen

5 Wenn du den Esel des, der dich haßt, siehst unter seiner Last liegen, hüte dich, und laß ihn nicht, sondern versäume gerne das Deine um seinetwillen.