Levítico 19:15

15 »No tuerzas la justicia en asuntos legales al favorecer al pobre ni al ser parcial con el rico y poderoso. Siempre juzga con imparcialidad a las personas.

Levítico 19:15 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 19:15

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment
This is said with respect to judges and witnesses, as Aben Ezra notes; that the one should not bear false witness in a court of judicature to the perversion of justice, and the other should not pronounce an unrighteous sentence, justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous:

thou shalt not respect the person of the poor;
that is, in judgment, or in a court of judicature, when a cause of his is brought before it; though privately his person may be respected, and he relieved in his distress as a poor man; but in a court of justice his person and character as a poor man are not to be regarded; the cause is not to be given either for him or against him on that account, without regard to the justice and equity of it; he may be pitied in other respects but in a cause between him and another, even a rich man, not pity, but justice, must take place, (See Gill on Exodus 23:3):

nor honour the person of the mighty;
not fear to put him to shame and blushing, by giving the cause against him, if he is in the wrong; his riches, his grandeur, his honour, must not came into any account, or have any weight or influence on the court to pervert justice: the Jewish writers, particularly Maimonides ^F26 suggest that there was to be no difference between a rich man and a poor man while their cause was trying; that they were to be clothed either both in a rich habit, or both in a mean one; and that their posture was to be alike, whether sitting or standing; as well as that no favour should be shown to one more than to another; as that one might have liberty to speak as much and as long as he pleased, and the other bid to be short; or the one be spoken tenderly to, and the other harshly:

[but] in righteousness shall thou judge thy neighbour;
be he rich or poor, doing justice to both, and showing no partiality to either; see ( Proverbs 18:5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 21. sect. 1, 2, 3.

Levítico 19:15 In-Context

13 »No defraudes ni le robes a tu prójimo.
»No retengas hasta el día siguiente el salario de tus obreros contratados.

14 »No insultes al sordo ni hagas tropezar al ciego. Debes temer a tu Dios; yo soy el Señor
.

15 »No tuerzas la justicia en asuntos legales al favorecer al pobre ni al ser parcial con el rico y poderoso. Siempre juzga con imparcialidad a las personas.

16 »No disemines chismes difamatorios entre tu pueblo.
»No te quedes con los brazos cruzados cuando la vida de tu prójimo corre peligro. Yo soy el Señor
.

17 »No fomentes odio en tu corazón contra ninguno de tus parientes.
Aclara los asuntos con la gente en forma directa, a fin de que no seas culpable de su pecado.