Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Exodus 23:1-13, annotated.

This translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Other translations are available hereInformation about the original Hebrew meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided immediately below the scriptural text. Collections of scriptures dealing with similar principles are hyperlinked at the end of this post.

 

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“You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice3nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.

 

4“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.

 

6“You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.

 

8“You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

 

9“You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 

10“You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

 

12“Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. 

 

13Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.

 

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false = שָׁוְא = šāv'  Blue Letter Bible  emptiness, vanity, falsehood; nothingness; uselessness; wickedness

 

malicious  = חָמָס = ḥāmās Blue Letter Bible  violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice; unjust gain; damage; unrighteous; false witness

 

follow = אַחַר = 'aḥar Blue Letter Bible  after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time); the hind part; behind, beside, by, follow; extremity

 

evil = רַע = raʿ  Blue Letter Bible  bad, evil, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery, displeasing; sad, unhappy; hurtful; unkind, vicious in disposition, wicked (ethically)

 

multitude = רַב = raḇ  Blue Letter Bible  much, many, great, vast; numerous, abundant, enough; exceedingly; plenteous

 

pervert = נָטָה = natah Blue Letter Bible to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow; to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down; hold out; incline, influence; outstretched; wrest, cause to yield; spread oneself; seduce

 

partial = הָדַר = hāḏar  Blue Letter Bible  honour, adorn, glorify, be high; to swell up; favor or honour, be high or proud; tumid 

 

pervert = נָטָה = natah Blue Letter Bible to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow; to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down; hold out; incline, influence; outstretched; wrest, cause to yield; spread oneself; seduce

 

false = שֶׁקֶר = šeqer  Blue Letter Bible  lie, deception, falsehood; deceit, fraud, fraudulently; an untruth; by implication, a sham; feignedly, liar, lie, lying, vain thing; wrong, wrongfully; injurious in testimony; betrays; self-deceived; disappointment

 

bribe = שֹׁחַד = šōḥaḏ Blue Letter Bible present, bribe; donation; gift, present, reward

 

Oppress = לָחַץ = lachats Blue Letter Bible to squeeze, press; afflict, crush, force, hold fast

 

On your guard  = שָׁמַר = šāmar  Blue Letter Bible  keep, guard, observe, give heed; retain, treasure up (in memory); preserve; attend to

 

 

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Wisdom Principles--No lying

 

Wisdom Principles--How to Deal With Those Who Do You Wrong    

 

Wisdom Principles--We must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all  

 

Wisdom Principles--It is Human Nature to Treat the Poor Poorly (but that doesn't make it right)     

 

Wisdom Principles--Don't Discriminate Against Foreigners 

 

Wisdom Principles--No false/double standards 

 

Wisdom Principles--Diligence & Working 

 

Wisdom Principles--Caring for the weak & vulnerable 

 

 

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