Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
7. a false matter ] i.e., as the context shews, a case that can only be carried through with the help of false statements, and false witnesses.
slay thou not ] by false accusations, false witness, or an unjust sentence. The words are addressed indifferently to accuser, witness, and judge. Cf. Deu 27:25, Psa 94:6; Psa 94:21.
for I do not justify the wicked ] I do not justify the man who is in the wrong ( v. 1b), and who accuses the innocent unjustly; and therefore the judges should act similarly. LXX. however read, and thou shalt not justify the wicked, which may be the original reading (B.); cf. Deu 25:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Keep thee far, i.e. abstain from all occasions, degrees, or appearances of it. Compare Job 22:23; Pro 4:14,15.
A false matter, i.e. an unrighteous judgment; for he is speaking to the judges, as appears both by the foregoing and following verses.
Slay thou not; condemn not to death, nor to any other unjust penalty, for the same reason.
I will not justify the wicked, and therefore not condemn the innocent; one contrary being here understood from the other, as is frequent in the book of the Proverbs; and what I do not, thou who actest in my name and stead shouldst not do. Or rather thus, Know, O judge, (for to such he speaks,) if thou dost pronounce such a wicked sentence, I will not justify thee, or hold thee guiltless, i.e. I will severely punish thee, as Exo 20:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Keep thee far from a false matter,…. Or “word” z; from receiving a false testimony, or taking the false or wrong side of a cause, or engaging in a bad one; keep aloof off from it, as much at a distance from it as possible:
and the innocent and the righteous slay thou not; that is, do not condemn them to death, nor join with the majority in their condemnation, if they appear to be innocent and righteous; nor give orders, or join in giving orders to the executioner to put such to death. The Targum of Jonathan is,
“he that goes righteous out of the house of thy judgment (out of the sanhedrim, to which he belonged), and they find out his sin (afterwards), and he that goes out guilty, and they (afterwards) find out his righteousness, do not slay:”
for I will not justify the wicked: the wicked judge in pronouncing an unjust sentence on innocent and righteous men, or if they absolve wicked men, at the same time they put to death the innocent and righteous, God will not justify those wicked men cleared by them, but will, in his own time and way, sooner or later, inflict the deserved punishment on them: this is not contrary to Ro 4:5 for though God justifies the ungodly, he does not justify ungodliness in them, or them in ungodliness, but from it, and that by the imputation of the righteousness of his Son.
z “a verbo mendacii”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Tigurine version, Fagius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. Keep thee far from a false matter. Since he seems to speak of perjury, which brings about the death of the innocent, some might perhaps prefer that this passage should be annexed to the Sixth Commandment; but this is easily solved; for Moses is expressly condemning false-witness, and at the same time instances one case of it, whereby it may appear how detestable a crime it is, viz., the slaying of a brother by calumny, because the false witness rather kills him with his tongue than the executioner with his sword. Although, therefore, it is a gross act of inhumanity to lie in general against one’s brother, yet is its atrocity increased if he be put to death by perjury; because murder is thus combined with perfidy. A threat follows, whereby God summons false-witnesses before His tribunal, where they who have brought the good into peril by their falsehoods shall not escape with impunity.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Keep thee far from a false matter.A false accusation seems to be intended. If we make one it may result in an innocent mans death, and we shall be murderers; God will then assuredly hold us guilty.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Righteous slay thou not By false testimony against them . If an innocent and righteous man is convicted and suffers the death penalty on account of the testimony of a lying witness, that witness is guilty of his death .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Ver. 7. Keep thee far from a false matter. ] Stand aloof off; keep at a distance. See Isa 33:15 . A public man should be above all price or sale: and every man should carefully keep himself from the occasions of sin. A good man dare not come near the train, though he be far off the blow.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wicked = a wicked one. Hebrew. rash ‘ a. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
far from: Exo 23:1, Lev 19:11, Deu 19:16-21, Job 22:23, Pro 4:14, Pro 4:15, Isa 33:15, Luk 3:14, Eph 4:25, 1Th 5:22
the innocent: Deu 27:25
for I will not: Exo 34:7, Pro 17:15, Nah 1:3, Rom 1:18, Rom 2:5, Rom 2:6
Reciprocal: Exo 18:16 – a matter Exo 20:16 – General Exo 23:2 – to decline Lev 19:15 – General Lev 19:16 – stand Deu 1:16 – Hear Deu 1:17 – ye shall hear Deu 16:19 – respect Deu 25:1 – General 1Ki 8:32 – justifying Psa 15:5 – nor taketh Psa 82:2 – judge Psa 94:21 – condemn Pro 24:24 – that Eze 22:12 – taken gifts 1Ti 6:10 – the love
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 23:7. Keep thee far from a false matter From assisting or abetting all ill thing. Yea, keep thee far from it, dread it as a dangerous snare. I will not justify the wicked That is, I will condemn him that unjustly condemns others.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the {d} innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
(d) Whether you are the magistrate or are commanded by the magistrate.