And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
2 CHRONICLES 19:6KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 19:6 mean?
King Jehoshaphat tells the judges that their decisions are made on the LORD’s behalf, not merely for the people who bring cases before them. He urges them to be careful because the LORD is present when they give judgment.
Jehoshaphat has just appointed judges in the fortified cities of Judah. His words give their work a serious setting: a judge’s decision is made in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 19:6
- “heed” — רָאָה (ra’ah): This word often means “see” or “look.” Here it carries the sense of watching carefully what one is doing.
- “judges” — שָׁפַט (shaphat): This word can mean to judge or settle a dispute. It points to the judges’ role in deciding cases brought before them.
- “man” — אָדָם (adam): This word can refer to a human being or to people generally. In this verse, it contrasts human authority with the LORD’s authority.
Why 2 Chronicles 19:6 matters
- The judges’ responsibility extends beyond pleasing people. The contrast “not for man, but for the LORD” places their work under a higher authority.
- The warning concerns the actual decisions they make. The phrase “who is with you in the judgment” places the LORD’s presence alongside the judges as they hear and decide cases.
- Careful judgment includes fairness. In the next verse, Jehoshaphat warns against showing favoritism and taking gifts to influence a decision.