Leviticus 19:15

15 Gij zult geen onrecht doen in het gericht; gij zult het aangezicht des geringen niet aannemen, noch het aangezicht des groten voortrekken; in gerechtigheid zult gij uw naaste richten.

Leviticus 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.

Leviticus 19:15 In-Context

13 Gij zult uw naaste niet bedriegelijk verdrukken, noch beroven; des dagloners arbeidsloon zal bij u niet vernachten tot aan den morgen.

14 Gij zult den dove niet vloeken, en voor het aangezicht des blinden geen aanstoot zetten; maar gij zult voor uw God vrezen; Ik ben de HEERE!

15 Gij zult geen onrecht doen in het gericht; gij zult het aangezicht des geringen niet aannemen, noch het aangezicht des groten voortrekken; in gerechtigheid zult gij uw naaste richten.

16 Gij zult niet wandelen als een achterklapper onder uw volken; gij zult niet staan tegen het bloed van uw naaste; Ik ben de HEERE!

17 Gij zult uw broeder in uw hart niet haten; gij zult uw naaste naarstiglijk berispen, en zult de zonde in hem niet verdragen.