Proverbs 24:23

23 And this thing I say to you that are wise to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

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 son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.

22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance by both? [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not fit to be eaten by the young eagles. son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.]

23 And this thing I say to you that are wise to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.

25 But they that reprove shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;