Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

EXODUS 23:6KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 23:6 (KJV)

What does Exodus 23:6 mean?

Exodus 23:6 tells those handling a legal dispute not to let a person’s poverty lead them to give an unfair decision. A poor person’s case is to be judged fairly, rather than being twisted against that person because of a lack of wealth or standing.

God gives this instruction to the Israelites among laws about disputes and testimony. The words “in his cause” place the instruction in the setting of a particular case: a poor person has a claim or dispute that needs a decision.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 23:6

  • “wrest” — נָטָה (natah): The word can carry the sense of turning or bending something aside. Here it pictures a legal decision being turned away from its proper course.
  • “judgment” — מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat): The word can refer to a legal decision or to justice in a case. Here it points to the decision owed to the poor person, not simply to an opinion about that person.

Why Exodus 23:6 matters

  • Poverty is not a reason to decide a case in someone’s favor either. Earlier, Exodus 23:3 says not to favor a poor person in a dispute; verse 6 guards against unfair treatment in the other direction.
  • The instruction addresses the handling of a case, not only the truth of what a witness says. Nearby laws speak against false reports and testimony in Exodus 23:1–2, while verse 6 focuses on the judgment given to the poor person.

Where else these words appear

“poor” Hebrew H34 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 23:11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
  • Psalms 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
  • Proverbs 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

“cause” Hebrew H7379 · used in 61 verses

  • Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
  • Job 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
  • Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.