Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

DEUTERONOMY 1:17KJV
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Deuteronomy 1:17 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 1:17 mean?

Deuteronomy 1:17 tells Israel’s leaders to judge fairly, treating everyone equally—whether someone is important or not—and not to let fear of people affect their decisions, because judgment ultimately belongs to God. If a case is too difficult, they are to bring it to Moses for him to decide.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the judges he appointed among the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. He stresses that justice must not be swayed by a person’s status or by intimidation. Moses also makes clear that God is the true authority behind every judgment, and that especially challenging cases should be brought to him for guidance.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 1:17

  • "respect" (נָכַר, nakar): This word means to show partiality or favoritism. Moses warns the judges not to let personal bias or social standing influence their decisions.
  • "persons" (פָּנִים, panim): Literally "faces," this word refers to outward appearance or status. The verse tells judges not to be influenced by how someone looks or their position in society.
  • "judgment" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word means a legal decision or ruling. The verse reminds the judges that every decision is ultimately God’s, not just a human matter.
  • "afraid" (גוּר, gur): This word means to fear or be intimidated. Moses tells the judges not to let fear of people sway their sense of justice.

Why Deuteronomy 1:17 matters

  • Deuteronomy 1:17 clarifies that justice in Israel was meant to be impartial, protecting both the powerless and the powerful from unfair treatment.
  • The verse highlights that God is the ultimate judge, so human leaders are accountable to a higher standard than just public opinion or pressure.
  • This instruction fits into the larger context of Deuteronomy, where Moses is preparing the people for life in the land by emphasizing just leadership and dependence on God’s guidance.

Where else these words appear

“hard” Hebrew H7185 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
  • 2 Samuel 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
  • Nehemiah 9:29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments,(which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

“respect” Hebrew H5234 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 27:23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
  • Ruth 3:14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
  • Job 24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

“afraid” Hebrew H1481 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
  • Psalms 61:4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

“small” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.