2 Chronicles 19:6
New International Version
He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

New Living Translation
and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the LORD. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.

English Standard Version
and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment.

Berean Standard Bible
Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

New American Standard Bible
He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for mankind but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.

NASB 1995
He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.

NASB 1977
And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for Yahweh who is with you when you render judgment.

Amplified Bible
and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the LORD who is with you in the matter of judgment.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the matter of judgment.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the matter of judgment.

American Standard Version
and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and he is with you in the judgment.

Contemporary English Version
and told them: Be careful when you make your decisions in court, because you are judging by the LORD's standards and not by human standards, and he will know what you decide.

English Revised Version
and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He told the judges, "Pay attention to what you're doing. When you judge, you aren't doing it for a human but for the LORD. He will be with you when you hear a case.

Good News Translation
and instructed them: "Be careful in pronouncing judgment; you are not acting on human authority, but on the authority of the LORD, and he is with you when you pass sentence.

International Standard Version
"Pay careful attention to your duties, because you are judging not only for the sake of human beings but also for the Lord—and he is present with you as you make your rulings.

Majority Standard Bible
Then he said to the judges, ?Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.

NET Bible
He told the judges, "Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the LORD, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.

New Heart English Bible
and said to the judges, "Consider what you do: for you do not judge for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and says to the ones judging, “See what you are doing—for you do not judge for man, but for YHWH, who [is] with you in the matter of judgment;

Young's Literal Translation
and saith unto the judges, 'See what ye are doing -- for not for man do ye judge, but for Jehovah, who is with you in the matter of judgment;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to the judges, See ye what ye do: for not for man shall ye judge, but for Jehovah; and he with you in the word of judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And charging the judges, he said: Take heed what you do: for you exercise not the judgment of man, but of the Lord: and whatsoever you judge, it shall redound to you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And instructing the judges, he said: “Pay attention to what you are doing. For you exercise judgment, not of man, but of the Lord. And whatever you will have judged, it will come back to you.

New American Bible
and he said to them: “Take care what you do, for the judgment you give is not human but divine; for when it comes to judgment God will be with you.

New Revised Standard Version
and said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the LORD’s behalf; he is with you in giving judgment.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to the judges, Take heed what you do; for you judge not for man, but for the LORD our God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to the Judges: “See what you do, that it is not for the children of men you judge, but for LORD JEHOVAH our God, and be strong and judge the judgment of truth, and LORD JEHOVAH will be with you for eternity
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and said to the judges: 'Consider what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD; and [He is] with you in giving judgment.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to the judges, Take good heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, and with you are matters of judgment.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehoshaphat's Reforms
5He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment. 7And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:16-17
At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. / Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

Exodus 18:21-22
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. / Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

Leviticus 19:15
You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

Proverbs 24:23
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Deuteronomy 16:18-20
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. / Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. / Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

1 Samuel 12:3-5
Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” / “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” / Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

Psalm 82:1-4
A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods: / “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah / Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. ...

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 18:2-8
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ / For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, ...

John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

Romans 2:1-3
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. / And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. / So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?

1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? / Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!


Treasury of Scripture

And said to the judges, Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

Take

Joshua 22:5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Chronicles 28:10
Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

ye judge

Deuteronomy 1:17
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.

Psalm 82:1-6
A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods…

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

judgment [heb] matter of judgment

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2 Chronicles 19
1. Jehoshaphat, reproved by Jehu, visits his kingdom
5. His instructions to the judges
8. to the priests and Levites














Then he said to the judges
This phrase refers to King Jehoshaphat, who was addressing the judges he appointed throughout the fortified cities of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a reformer king who sought to bring the nation back to the worship of Yahweh. The appointment of judges was part of his efforts to establish justice and righteousness in the land, reflecting the judicial system outlined in Deuteronomy 16:18-20. The role of judges was crucial in maintaining social order and ensuring that the laws of God were upheld.

Consider carefully what you do
Jehoshaphat's admonition to the judges emphasizes the gravity and responsibility of their role. The Hebrew concept of justice is deeply rooted in the character of God, who is just and righteous. Judges were to reflect God's justice, making decisions that were fair and impartial. This call to careful consideration is echoed in Proverbs 21:3, which states that doing what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

for you are not judging for man
This phrase highlights the divine accountability of the judges. Their judgments were not merely civil or societal but were seen as acts of service to God. This perspective elevates the role of a judge from a mere public servant to a representative of divine justice. It underscores the biblical principle that all authority is established by God (Romans 13:1-2), and those in positions of authority are ultimately accountable to Him.

but for the LORD
Judges were to see themselves as executing God's justice, not merely human justice. This aligns with the biblical theme that God is the ultimate judge (Psalm 75:7). The judges were to act as His agents, ensuring that their decisions reflected His will and character. This divine perspective on justice is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where God is often depicted as the defender of the oppressed and the upholder of righteousness.

who is with you when you render judgment
This assurance of God's presence is significant. It implies that God is actively involved in the process of justice, guiding and supporting those who seek to uphold His laws. This echoes the promise of God's presence with His people, as seen in Joshua 1:9 and Matthew 28:20. The presence of God with the judges serves as both a comfort and a warning, reminding them of their sacred duty and the divine oversight of their actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehoshaphat
The king of Judah who initiated reforms to bring the nation back to the worship of Yahweh. He appointed judges throughout the land to ensure justice and righteousness.

2. Judges
Appointed by Jehoshaphat to administer justice in the cities of Judah. They were instructed to judge not for man, but for the LORD.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Jehoshaphat reigned and implemented his judicial reforms.

4. Judicial Reforms
The event where Jehoshaphat appointed judges and instructed them to judge with the fear of the LORD, emphasizing divine accountability.
Teaching Points
Divine Accountability
Judges and leaders are accountable to God for their actions. This principle applies to all positions of authority, reminding us that our ultimate accountability is to God.

Fear of the LORD
The fear of the LORD should guide our decisions and actions, ensuring that we act justly and righteously in all circumstances.

Integrity in Leadership
Leaders must act with integrity, knowing that they serve not just people, but God Himself. This calls for honesty, fairness, and impartiality.

God's Presence in Judgment
Recognize that God is present in our decision-making processes, providing wisdom and guidance when we seek Him earnestly.

Justice as Worship
Administering justice is an act of worship, reflecting God's character and upholding His standards in society.(6) Ye judge not for man, but for the Lord.--'Tis not for man that ye will judge, but for Jehovah, as His vicegerents, and ministers of His will. (Comp. Romans 13:1-4.)

Who is with you in the judgment.--This rightly gives the sense of the brief words: "and with you in word of doom." i.e., Jehovah will be present with you at the time of your giving sentence. (See on 2Chronicles 20:17, and comp. Psalm 82:1-4 : "God standeth in God's Assembly; in the midst of gods (i.e., judges) He judgeth.") The LXX. and Vulgate misunderstand the passage; but the Syriac renders: "Be strong, and judge true judgment, and the Lord will be with you for ever." (Comp. also Deuteronomy 1:17 : "The decision belongeth to God"; and Exodus 21:6.) The name "Jehoshaphat" denotes Jehovah judgeth. . . .

Verses 6, 7. - The statement of the Divine principles laid down in these verses for the foundations of the "kingdom of heaven" on earth, and the doing of God's "will on earth, even as it is in heaven," stretch from Moses and Job (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Job 34:19) to SS. Paul and Peter (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; 1 Peter 1:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then he said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the judges,
הַשֹּֽׁפְטִ֗ים (haš·šō·p̄ə·ṭîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

“Consider carefully
רְאוּ֙ (rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

what
מָֽה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

do,
עֹשִׂ֔ים (‘ō·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you are not
לֹ֧א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

judging
תִּשְׁפְּט֖וּ (tiš·pə·ṭū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

for man,
לְאָדָ֛ם (lə·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

but
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

for the LORD,
לַיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

who is with you
וְעִמָּכֶ֖ם (wə·‘im·mā·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

when you render judgment.
מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 19:6 And said to the judges Consider what (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 19:5
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