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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Deuteronomy 25:1 If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/25-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/05_Deu_25_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 25:1 - Fairness and Mercy" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. <a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/25.htm">New King James Version</a> “If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, <a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/25.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty, <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/25.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, <a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/25.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, <a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court for judgment, and the judges judge their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, <a href="/amp/deuteronomy/25.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “If there is a controversy between men, and they go to court, and the judges decide [the issue] between them, and they judge in favor of the innocent and condemn the guilty, <a href="/csb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. <a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. <a href="/asv/deuteronomy/25.htm">American Standard Version</a> If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. <a href="/erv/deuteronomy/25.htm">English Revised Version</a> If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked; <a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/25.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> This is what you must do whenever [two] people have a disagreement that is brought into court. The judges will hear the case and decide who's right and who's wrong. <a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/25.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Suppose two Israelites go to court to settle a dispute, and one is declared innocent and the other guilty. <a href="/isv/deuteronomy/25.htm">International Standard Version</a> "When there is a conflict between individuals, let them come to court to judge the case, decide who is innocent, and condemn the guilty person. <a href="/msb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned. <a href="/net/deuteronomy/25.htm">NET Bible</a> If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty. <a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/25.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and the judges judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked; <a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/25.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> If there shall be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. <a href="/web/deuteronomy/25.htm">World English Bible</a> If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/25.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> “When there is a strife between men, and they have come near to the judgment, and they have judged, and declared righteous the righteous, and declared wrong the wrongdoer, <a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/25.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'When there is a strife between men, and they have come nigh unto the judgment, and they have judged, and declared righteous the righteous, and declared wrong the wrong-doer, <a href="/slt/deuteronomy/25.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> If there shall be a controversy between men and they drew near to judgment, and they judged them; and they justified the just and condemned the unjust.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> If there be a controversy between men, and they call upon the judges: they shall give the prize of justice to him whom they perceive to be just: and him whom they find to be wicked, they shall condemn of wickedness. <a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/25.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> “If there is a case between persons, and they apply to the judges, they shall give the palm of justice to the one whom they perceive to be just, and they shall condemn of impiety the one who is impious. <a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/25.htm">New American Bible</a> When there is a dispute and the parties draw near for judgment, and a decision is given, declaring one party in the right and the other in the wrong, <a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/25.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Suppose two persons have a dispute and enter into litigation, and the judges decide between them, declaring one to be in the right and the other to be in the wrong.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/25.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> IF there is a lawsuit between a man and his neighbor, they shall come before the judges, and the judges shall judge them; and they shall acquit the innocent, and condemn the guilty. <a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/25.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> "And if there shall be a judicial case between a man and his neighbor, let them approach the Judges and they shall judge them and they shall justify the innocent and they shall condemn the guilty.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/25.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them, by justifying the righteous, and condemning the wicked, <a href="/sep/deuteronomy/25.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And if there should be a dispute between men, and they should come forward to judgment, and the judges judge, and justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked: <a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=6674" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/25.htm">Fairness and Mercy</a> 1<a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yeh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">there is</a> <a href="/hebrew/7379.htm" title="7379: rîḇ (N-ms) -- Strife, dispute. Or rib; from riyb; a contest.">a dispute</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên (Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">between</a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’ă·nā·šîm (N-mp) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">men,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5066.htm" title="5066: wə·nig·gə·šū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To draw near, approach. ">they are to go</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4941.htm" title="4941: ham·miš·pāṭ (Art:: N-ms) -- Judgment. ">court</a> <a href="/hebrew/8199.htm" title="8199: ū·šə·p̄ā·ṭūm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp:: 3mp) -- To judge, govern. ">to be judged,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6662.htm" title="6662: haṣ·ṣad·dîq (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Just, righteous. From tsadaq; just.">so that the innocent</a> <a href="/hebrew/6663.htm" title="6663: wə·hiṣ·dî·qū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To be just or righteous. A primitive root; to be right.">may be acquitted</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7563.htm" title="7563: hā·rā·šā‘ (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Wicked, criminal. From rasha'; morally wrong; concretely, an bad person.">and the guilty</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7561.htm" title="7561: wə·hir·šî·‘ū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To be wicked, act wickedly. A primitive root; to be wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate.">condemned.</a> 2If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall have him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes his crime warrants.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/23-7.htm">Exodus 23:7</a> Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty. <a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Proverbs 17:15</a> Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD. <a href="/isaiah/5-23.htm">Isaiah 5:23</a> who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice. <a href="/1_kings/8-32.htm">1 Kings 8:32</a> then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness. <a href="/2_chronicles/6-23.htm">2 Chronicles 6:23</a> then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness. <a href="/proverbs/18-5.htm">Proverbs 18:5</a> Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. <a href="/proverbs/24-24.htm">Proverbs 24:24</a> Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him; <a href="/isaiah/11-4.htm">Isaiah 11:4</a> but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. <a href="/job/27-7.htm">Job 27:7</a> May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust. <a href="/psalms/82-2.htm">Psalm 82:2-4</a> “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah / Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. <a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1-4</a> Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/6-1.htm">1 Corinthians 6:1-6</a> If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! / Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? / Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ... <a href="/matthew/5-25.htm">Matthew 5:25</a> Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. <a href="/luke/18-2.htm">Luke 18:2-8</a> “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ / For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, ... <a href="/james/2-6.htm">James 2:6</a> But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.<a href="/deuteronomy/16-18.htm">Deuteronomy 16:18-20</a> Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment… <a href="/deuteronomy/17-8.htm">Deuteronomy 17:8,9</a> If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; … <a href="/deuteronomy/19-17.htm">Deuteronomy 19:17-19</a> Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Acquitting</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/19-17.htm">Argument</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-13.htm">Case</a> <a href="/exodus/22-9.htm">Condemn</a> <a href="/romans/8-34.htm">Condemning</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Controversy</a> <a href="/numbers/4-32.htm">Court</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Decide</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-9.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Dispute</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-9.htm">Innocent</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-12.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-11.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-2.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-17.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/exodus/23-7.htm">Justify</a> <a href="/luke/10-29.htm">Justifying</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-18.htm">Law</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Resort</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-13.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-17.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-9.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-16.htm">Wrong</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-15.htm">Wrongdoer</a> <a href="/exodus/2-13.htm">Wrong-Doer</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Acquitting</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-7.htm">Argument</a> <a href="/joshua/20-4.htm">Case</a> <a href="/job/9-20.htm">Condemn</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-32.htm">Condemning</a> <a href="/2_samuel/15-2.htm">Controversy</a> <a href="/ruth/4-10.htm">Court</a> <a href="/judges/11-27.htm">Decide</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-19.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/26-17.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/judges/11-27.htm">Dispute</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-25.htm">Innocent</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/judges/3-10.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-31.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-19.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/esther/7-4.htm">Justify</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-32.htm">Justifying</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-3.htm">Law</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-31.htm">Resort</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-4.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-16.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-19.htm">Wrong</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Wrongdoer</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm">Wrong-Doer</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 25</div>1. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Punishment must not exceed forty lashes</a> 4. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-4.htm">The ox is not to be muzzled</a> 5. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Of raising seed unto a brother</a> 11. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-11.htm">Of the immodest woman</a> 13. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-13.htm">Of unjust weights and measures</a> 17. <a href="/deuteronomy/25-17.htm">The memory of Amalek is to be blotted out</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The Mosaic Law provided a framework for resolving such conflicts, emphasizing justice and fairness. This reflects the broader biblical principle of seeking peace and reconciliation, as seen in <a href="/matthew/5-9.htm">Matthew 5:9</a>, where peacemakers are called blessed.they are to go to court The court system in ancient Israel was established to ensure that disputes were resolved according to God's laws. Judges were appointed to interpret and apply the law, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/16-18.htm">Deuteronomy 16:18</a>. This system underscores the importance of order and justice in society, reflecting God's character as a God of justice (<a href="/isaiah/30-18.htm">Isaiah 30:18</a>).to be judged Judgment in this context involves discerning the truth and making a decision based on the law. The role of judges was crucial, as they were to be impartial and wise, as instructed in <a href="/deuteronomy/1-16.htm">Deuteronomy 1:16-17</a>. This process points to the ultimate judgment of God, who will judge all people with perfect justice (<a href="/psalms/9-7.htm">Psalm 9:7-8</a>).so that the innocent may be acquitted The acquittal of the innocent is a fundamental principle of justice, ensuring that those who have not committed wrongdoing are not punished. This reflects God's desire for righteousness and fairness, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Proverbs 17:15</a>, which condemns justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous.and the guilty condemned Condemning the guilty serves as a deterrent to wrongdoing and upholds the moral order established by God. This principle is echoed in <a href="/romans/13-4.htm">Romans 13:4</a>, where governing authorities are described as God's servants to execute wrath on wrongdoers. It also foreshadows the final judgment, where Christ will separate the righteous from the wicked (<a href="/matthew/25-31.htm">Matthew 25:31-46</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/men_in_dispute.htm">Men in Dispute</a> The verse refers to individuals involved in a legal disagreement or conflict, highlighting the need for resolution through judicial means. 2. <a href="/topical/c/court.htm">Court</a> This is the setting where disputes are to be resolved. In ancient Israel, courts were often held at the city gates, where elders and judges would convene. 3. <a href="/topical/j/judges.htm">Judges</a> These are the appointed individuals responsible for hearing cases and making judgments. They play a crucial role in maintaining justice and order according to God's laws. 4. <a href="/topical/i/innocent.htm">Innocent</a> Refers to the party in the dispute who is found not guilty of any wrongdoing after the case is heard. 5. <a href="/topical/g/guilty.htm">Guilty</a> Refers to the party in the dispute who is found to have committed a wrongdoing and is thus condemned by the judges.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_justice.htm">The Importance of Justice</a> God values justice and fairness, and He has established systems to ensure that disputes are resolved justly. As believers, we should uphold justice in our communities and personal lives. <a href="/topical/r/role_of_authority.htm">Role of Authority</a> Respect for authority and the judicial process is crucial. We should trust and support systems that are designed to maintain order and justice, while also advocating for their integrity. <a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_judgment.htm">Discernment in Judgment</a> Judges and leaders must exercise discernment and wisdom, seeking God's guidance to ensure that their decisions align with His principles of righteousness. <a href="/topical/p/personal_responsibility.htm">Personal Responsibility</a> Individuals should strive to resolve conflicts peacefully and seek reconciliation, reflecting Christ's teachings on forgiveness and peacemaking. <a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a> The community plays a role in supporting justice by holding leaders accountable and ensuring that the innocent are protected and the guilty are corrected.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_25.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 25</a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_deut._25_1-3_flogging.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1–3: Is there historical or archaeological evidence that flogging was actually carried out as described? </a> <a href="/q/how_does_deut._25_4_fit_modern_farming.htm">Deuteronomy 25:4: How do we reconcile the command not to muzzle an ox with modern agricultural practices? </a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_stance_on_torture.htm">What is the Bible's stance on torture?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_israelites_request_a_king.htm">Why did Israelites request a king?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/25.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XXV.<a href="/context/deuteronomy/25-1.htm" title="If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.">Deuteronomy 25:1-3</a>. HUMANITY IN PUNISHMENTS.(1) They shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.--"I will not justify the wicked" (<a href="/exodus/23-7.htm" title="Keep you far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay you not: for I will not justify the wicked.">Exodus 23:7</a>). "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord" (<a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm" title="He that justifies the wicked, and he that comdemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.">Proverbs 17:15</a>). It should be noticed that justify is here used forensically, not meaning to make righteous, but to treat as righteous. Those who object to this sense in St. Paul's Epistles, will find it hard to put any other sense upon the word in the rest of Holy Scripture.(2) If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten.--Literally, a son of beating, or of Haccoth, according to the Hebrew. The treatise called Maccoth, in the Talmud, describes the infliction of the punishment in later times, when "of the Jews five times" St. Paul "received forty stripes save one." The details have been described by Canon Farrar in an appendix to his Life of St. Paul.Shall cause him to lie down.--The Talmud interprets the position as not sitting nor standing, nor exactly lying, but with the body inclined.Before his face.--This is interpreted as on the front of his body. The thirty-nine stripes were given thirteen on one shoulder, thirteen on the other, and thirteen on the breast.(3) Forty stripes.--The Talmud says that they considered first what a man could bear, and flogged him according to their estimate. In some cases, if the whole punishment could not be administered at once, it was divided. It is contemplated as possibly fatal, however. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/25.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 1-3. - The first and second verses should be read as one sentence, of which the protasis is in ver. 1 and the apodosis in ver. 2, thus: If there be a strife between men, and they come to judgment, and they (i.e. the judges) give judgment on them, and justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked, then it shall be, if the wicked deserve to be beaten (literally, be the son of blows), that the judge, etc. It is assumed that the judges shall pronounce just judgment, and apportion to the guilty party his due punishment; and then it is prescribed how that is to be inflicted. In the presence of the judge the man was to be cast down, and the adjudged number of blows were to be given him, not, however, exceeding forty, lest the man should be rendered contemptible in the eyes of the people, as if he were a mere slave or brute. This punishment was usually inflicted with a stick (<a href="/exodus/21-10.htm">Exodus 21:10</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/7-14.htm">2 Samuel 7:14</a>, etc.), as is still the case among the Arabs and Egyptians; sometimes also with thorns (<a href="/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7, 16</a>); sometimes with whips and scorpions, i.e. scourges of cord or leather armed with sharp points or hard knots (<a href="/1_kings/12-11.htm">1 Kings 12:11, 14</a>). Though the culprit was laid on the ground, it does not appear that the bastinado was used among the Jews as it is now among the Arabs; the back and shoulders were the parts of the body on which the blows fell (<a href="/proverbs/10-13.htm">Proverbs 10:13</a>; <a href="/proverbs/19-29.htm">Proverbs 19:29</a>; <a href="/proverbs/26-3.htm">Proverbs 26:3</a>; <a href="/isaiah/1-6.htm">Isaiah 1:6</a>). According to his fault, by a certain number; literally, according to the requirement of his crime in number; i.e. according as his crime deserved. The number was fixed at forty, probably because of the symbolical significance of that number as a measure of completeness. The rabbins fixed the number at thirty-nine, apparently in order that the danger of exceeding the number prescribed by the Law should be diminished (cf. <a href="/2_corinthians/11-24.htm">2 Corinthians 11:24</a>); but another reason is assigned by Maimonides, viz. that, as the instrument of punishment was a scourge with three tails, each stroke counted for three, and thus they could not give forty, but only thirty-nine, unless they exceeded the forty (Maimon., 'In Sanhedrin,' 17:2). <a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>If כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction there is יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be a dispute רִיב֙ (rîḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7379.htm">Strong's 7379: </a> Strife, dispute between בֵּ֣ין (bên) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> An interval, space between men, אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (’ă·nā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_582.htm">Strong's 582: </a> Man, mankind they are to go וְנִגְּשׁ֥וּ (wə·nig·gə·šū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5066.htm">Strong's 5066: </a> To draw near, approach to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to court הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט (ham·miš·pāṭ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4941.htm">Strong's 4941: </a> A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style to be judged, וּשְׁפָט֑וּם (ū·šə·p̄ā·ṭūm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8199.htm">Strong's 8199: </a> To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate so that the innocent הַצַּדִּ֔יק (haṣ·ṣad·dîq) Article | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6662.htm">Strong's 6662: </a> Just, righteous may be acquitted וְהִצְדִּ֙יקוּ֙ (wə·hiṣ·dî·qū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6663.htm">Strong's 6663: </a> To be just or righteous and the guilty הָרָשָֽׁע׃ (hā·rā·šā‘) Article | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7563.htm">Strong's 7563: </a> Wrong, an, bad person condemned. וְהִרְשִׁ֖יעוּ (wə·hir·šî·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7561.htm">Strong's 7561: </a> To be, wrong, to disturb, violate <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">Deuteronomy 25:1 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-1.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 25:1 If there be a controversy between men (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 24:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 24:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/25-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 25:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 25:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>