Proverbs 18:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Complete Jewish Bible:

It is not good to be partial to the guilty and thus deprive the innocent of justice.

Berean Standard Bible:

Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.

American Standard Version:

To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Norto turn aside the righteous in judgment.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

It is not good^{H2896} to accept^{H5375} the person^{H6440} of the wicked^{H7563}, to overthrow^{H5186} the righteous^{H6662} in judgment^{H4941}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Proverbs 18:5

Proverbs 18:5 is a part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible, which includes the book of Proverbs. This literature is characterized by its practical advice on living a virtuous and successful life, often in the form of pithy sayings and observations about human behavior. The historical context of Proverbs is broad, as the sayings were collected over many centuries, with some possibly dating back to the time of Solomon, around the 10th century BCE. However, the book likely reached its final form much later, during the post-exilic period (after 538 BCE).

The verse itself addresses the theme of justice and righteousness, which are recurrent concerns in the Old Testament. Proverbs 18:5 warns against showing partiality to the wicked—that is, favoring or aligning oneself with those who engage in wrongdoing. The phrase "accept the person of the wicked" suggests an endorsement or tolerance of their behavior, which the verse declares is "not good." This aligns with other biblical injunctions against favoritism and corruption in the legal process (see Exodus 23:1-3, Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 16:19).

Moreover, the verse highlights the negative consequences of such partiality, stating that it can lead to the "overthrow of the righteous in judgment." This indicates that when the wicked are favored, it can result in unjust legal outcomes where the innocent are punished, and justice is perverted. The verse underscores the importance of impartial justice, a principle that is foundational to the moral and legal fabric of ancient Israelite society as well as to many legal systems throughout history.

In summary, Proverbs 18:5 succinctly teaches that it is wrong to show favoritism to the wicked, as it can lead to the unjust treatment of the righteous in legal matters. This reflects the broader biblical emphasis on justice, integrity, and the proper administration of law, which are essential for a just and equitable society. The verse serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of ethical conduct and fairness in social and legal interactions.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2896
   There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טוֹב
   Transliteration: ṭôwb
   Pronunciation: tobe
   Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
   
2. Strong's Number: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7563
   There are 249 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָשָׁע
   Transliteration: râshâʻ
   Pronunciation: raw-shaw'
   Description: from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5186
   There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָטָה
   Transliteration: nâṭâh
   Pronunciation: naw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6662
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צַדִּיק
   Transliteration: tsaddîyq
   Pronunciation: tsad-deek'
   Description: from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man).
   
7. Strong's Number: H4941
   There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
   Transliteration: mishpâṭ
   Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
   Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong.