Deuteronomy 16:19-20 Explained

"Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." — Deuteronomy 16:19-20 (KJV)

Instructions to judges, with an unusually frank account of what a bribe does to a good person.

Read it in context: The Book of Deuteronomy. Also gathered under verses about justice.

Deuteronomy 16:19-20 in context

What does Deuteronomy 16:19-20 mean?

The reason given is psychological rather than moral. A gift blinds 'the eyes of the wise' and perverts 'the words of the righteous' — the danger is stated about competent, upright people, not about the corrupt. That is why the prohibition is absolute: it does not assume you would be swayed, it assumes you would not notice. 'Altogether just' is an emphatic doubling in the Hebrew, justice and only justice.

What is the context of Deuteronomy 16:19-20?

Moses is setting up the judiciary for life in the land: judges and officers in every town. The command comes with no enforcement mechanism attached, which puts the whole weight on the character of the appointee.

How do I pray Deuteronomy 16:19-20?

Ask where you have accepted something from a party whose case you will later weigh — a favour, access, goodwill. The verse's claim is that you will not feel the tilt, so introspection is not the test; the test is whether the gift exists. Then decide what to return.

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