Proverbs 24:23

23 These [sayings] also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^[a]

Proverbs 24:23 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:23

These [things] also [belong] to the wise
Both what is said before concerning fearing God and the king; these belong to the wise and unwise, rich and poor, great and small; particularly judges and civil magistrates, and all subordinate governors, who have, or ought to have, a competency of wisdom; these ought to fear God and the king, as well as private subjects; and also what follows after, especially in this verse and ( Proverbs 24:24-26 ) . Some render the words, "these things also [are the sayings] of wise men" ^F21; not of Solomon, but of other wise men in his time, or who lived after him, and before the men of Hezekiah copied out the proverbs in the following chapters; see ( Proverbs 25:1 ) ; but it seems more than probable that what follows to the end of the chapter are the words of Solomon, as ( Proverbs 24:33 Proverbs 24:34 ) most clearly are, compared with ( Proverbs 6:10 Proverbs 6:11 ) ; [it is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment;
in trying causes in a court of judicature, no regard should be had to the persons of men by the judge on the bench, as the rich more than to the poor; or to a relation, a friend, an intimate acquaintance, more than to a stranger; but the justice of the cause ought to be attended to, and sentence given according to it, let it fall as it will: God does not accept persons, nor regard the rich more than the poor; nor should they that stand in his stead, and who in some sense represent him, ( Leviticus 19:15 ) ( Deuteronomy 1:17 ) ( Job 34:19 ) ; nor should Christians in their communities act such a partial part, ( James 2:1-3 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (Mymkxl hla Mg) "haec quoqne sapientum sunt", Tigurine version; "etiam haec sapientibus profecta sunt", Piscator; "etiam haecce sapientum", Cocceius, Schultens, so Grotius.

Proverbs 24:23 In-Context

21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king, and don't associate with rebels,

22 for their destruction will come suddenly; who knows what disaster these two can bring?

23 These [sayings] also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"- people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him;

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.

Footnotes

• [a] Pr 28:21; Dt 1:17; 16:19