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Leviticus 19:35
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and placesuch over them,to be rulers of thousands,and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude todo evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrestjudgment:

you must not show partiality to the poor
This phrase highlights the need for impartiality in judgment, regardless of a person's social or economic status. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, the poor were often vulnerable and could be easily exploited. However, this command insists that their poverty should not influence the fairness of legal proceedings. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's concern for justice for all, as seen inExodus 23:3, which also warns against showing favoritism to the poor in legal matters.

or favoritism to the rich;
Similarly, this phrase warns against the common human tendency to favor the wealthy, who might wield influence or power. In the historical context, the rich could potentially bribe or sway judges, leading to corrupt decisions. The Bible consistently condemns such practices, as seen inProverbs 18:5, which states that it is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice. This command ensures that justice is blind to wealth and status, reflecting the impartiality of God, who judges all people equally.

you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
This final phrase encapsulates the essence of the command: fairness and equity in judgment. The term "neighbor" implies a close community relationship, emphasizing that justice is not just a legal obligation but a moral one that affects communal harmony. This principle is reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches the importance of loving one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). The call to judge fairly is a reflection of God's own fair and righteous judgment, as seen in passages likePsalm 9:8, where God judges the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

God begins by stating the principle. Justice is His own attribute (Deuteronomy 32:4), so bending it off-course is never merely an administrative error; it is a moral offense against Him. Israel’s judges were to keep truth straight, to “let justice roll on like a river” (Amos 5:24). When rulers warped justice in Jeremiah’s day, the whole nation crumbled (Jeremiah 5:28-29). The command still stands: Christians are to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and refuse every temptation to twist facts or procedures for personal gain.

God cares deeply for the disadvantaged (Psalm 68:5), yet He forbids romanticizing poverty at the expense of fairness.Exodus 23:3 repeats the warning: “Do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.” Compassion is commanded (Proverbs 14:21), but the courtroom must operate on evidence, not sentiment.James 2:15-16 expects believers to meet practical needs, yetJames 2:9 condemns biased judgment as sin. Charity flows from love; verdicts flow from truth.

The flip side is equally clear. Wealth, power, or influence may sway human hearts, but never God’s (Job 34:19;2 Chronicles 19:7). Bribes blind even the wise (Deuteronomy 16:19), so the law outlaws them entirely (Exodus 23:8). When Pilate bowed to wealthy pressure and condemned Jesus, he illustrated the tragedy of partiality (Luke 23:23-24). In church life, leaders must avoid the same trap, treating the well-dressed and the shabby alike (James 2:1-4).

The final clause gathers the earlier thoughts into one positive duty. Justice is never abstract; it touches “your neighbor,” the person made in God’s image standing before you (Genesis 9:6). Fair judgment reflects the Lord who “judges impartially according to each man’s work” (1 Peter 1:17). In practical terms:

• Hear both sides (Proverbs 18:17).

• Evaluate facts, not faces (John 7:24).

• Let love steer the heart while truth steers the verdict (Zechariah 8:16-17).

Such fairness fulfills both the letter of the law and the broader call to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), showing a world of crooked scales what the righteousness of God looks like in daily life.

Leviticus 19:15 calls God’s people to upright, equal-handed justice—neither bending truth for the poor nor currying favor with the rich, but judging every neighbor with the same righteous standard. By doing so, we mirror the character of the Judge of all the earth and uphold love’s demand for truth in community life.

Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor.--The general statement in the preceding clause is here more minutely defined. The consideration for the infirm enjoined inLeviticus 19:14 is not to influence the decision of the judge, who is to administer justice, even if the poor is thereby reduced to greater poverty, and though the rich party to the suit may benevolently desire a verdict against himself to save the needy (Exodus 23:3). The authorities during the second Temple illustrate it as follows:--"If the rich man should say I am by law obliged to provide for the poor, I will therefore let him win the suit, and he will thus have his wants supplied without being subjected to the humiliation of receiving alms; for this reason it is said thou shalt not respect the person of the poor."

Nor honour the person of the mighty.--Jewish juries, in their extreme desire to be impartial, have gone so far as to urge, that whilst the case betweenarich man and a poor is being tried, they should both be dressed alike, both alike should either stand or sit, both should have the same right of speech, and both should be addressed by the judge in the same courteous manner. "If ye have respect to persons," says the Apostle, in allusion to this passage, "ye commit sin,andare convinced of the law as transgressors" (James 2:9, withLeviticus 19:2-4).