Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. New Living Translation “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the LORD your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. English Standard Version “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. New King James Version “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. New American Standard Bible “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. NASB 1995 “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. NASB 1977 “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Legacy Standard Bible “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your gates of the towns which Yahweh your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Amplified Bible “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your cities (gates) which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Christian Standard Bible “Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. Holman Christian Standard Bible Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. American Standard Version Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. English Revised Version Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. GOD'S WORD® Translation Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly. Good News Translation "Appoint judges and other officials in every town that the LORD your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially. International Standard Version "Appoint judges and civil servants according to your tribes in all your cities that the LORD your God is about to give you, so they may judge the people impartially. Majority Standard Bible 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. NET Bible You must appoint judges and civil servants for each tribe in all your villages that the LORD your God is giving you, and they must judge the people fairly. New Heart English Bible You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Webster's Bible Translation Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. World English Bible You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou set for yourself judges and authorities within all your gates which your God YHWH is giving to you, for your tribes; and they have judged the people [with] a righteous judgment. Young's Literal Translation 'Judges and authorities thou dost make to thee within all thy gates which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, for thy tribes; and they have judged the people -- a righteous judgment. Smith's Literal Translation Judges and scribes shall thou give to thee in all thy gates which Jehovah thy God gave to thee according to thy tribes: and they judged the people just judgment. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou shalt appoint judges and magistrates in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in all thy tribes: that they may judge the people with just judgment, Catholic Public Domain Version You shall appoint judges and magistrates at all your gates, which the Lord your God will give to you, throughout each of your tribes, so that they may judge the people with a just judgment, New American Bible In all the communities which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes to administer true justice for the people. New Revised Standard Version You shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes, in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall render just decisions for the people. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall appoint to yourselves judges and scribes in all your cities, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes; and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Make for yourself Judges and Scribes in all your cities that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people with the judgment of righteousness. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, tribe by tribe; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt make for thyself judges and officers in thy cities, which the Lord thy God gives thee in thy tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judges and Justice18You 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. 19Do 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.… Cross References 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. 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. / 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. / And 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.” Romans 13:1-4 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ... Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. Isaiah 1:26 I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 1 Samuel 8:1-3 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. 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? Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them 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. James 2:8-9 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. / But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 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. Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “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.’ ... Amos 5:14-15 Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. / Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” Treasury of Scripture Judges and officers shall you make you in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Judges Deuteronomy 1:15-17 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes… Deuteronomy 17:9,12 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: … Deuteronomy 19:17,18 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; … Jump to Previous Appoint Authorities Judge Judges Judging Judgment Officers Officials Overseers Righteous Righteousness Throughout Towns Tribe Tribes UprightJump to Next Appoint Authorities Judge Judges Judging Judgment Officers Officials Overseers Righteous Righteousness Throughout Towns Tribe Tribes UprightDeuteronomy 16 1. The feast of the Passover9. of weeks 13. of tabernacles 16. Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts 18. Of judges and justice 21. Asherah poles and images are forbidden You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes In the context of ancient Israel, the appointment of judges and officials was crucial for maintaining order and justice within the community. This directive reflects the decentralized nature of Israelite governance, where each tribe had a degree of autonomy. The role of judges was not only judicial but also spiritual, as they were expected to uphold God's laws. This system can be seen as a precursor to the later establishment of the monarchy, where centralized authority became more pronounced. The appointment of judges is reminiscent of Moses' earlier actions in Exodus 18:13-26, where he appointed leaders to help him judge the people, following the advice of his father-in-law Jethro. in every town that the LORD your God is giving you They are to judge the people with righteous judgment Persons / Places / Events 1. JudgesIndividuals appointed to administer justice and make legal decisions for the people of Israel. Their role was crucial in maintaining order and righteousness within the community. 2. Officials These were likely assistants or administrators who supported the judges in their duties, ensuring that the laws were upheld and that justice was served efficiently. 3. Tribes of Israel The twelve tribes descended from the sons of Jacob, each of which was to have its own judges and officials to govern its people. 4. Towns The localities within the Promised Land where the Israelites settled. Each town was to have its own system of justice to ensure that the law was applied consistently across the nation. 5. The LORD your God The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is the ultimate authority and lawgiver, providing the land and the laws by which the Israelites were to live. Teaching Points The Importance of Righteous JudgmentGod desires justice and righteousness in society. Appointing judges and officials is a means to ensure that His laws are upheld and that fairness prevails. The Role of Leadership in Justice Leaders, whether in ancient Israel or today, have a responsibility to administer justice impartially. This requires wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to God's standards. Community Responsibility Each tribe and town had a role in appointing judges, indicating that justice is a communal responsibility. Believers today are called to support and pray for just leaders. God's Sovereignty in Governance The appointment of judges and officials is under God's direction, reminding us that all authority ultimately comes from Him and should reflect His character. Application to Modern Governance Christians are encouraged to engage with and support systems of justice that align with biblical principles, advocating for righteousness in their communities.(18) Judges and officers.--A fresh section of the book, as read in the synagogues, begins with these words. The land is now considered as the seat of the Kingdom of Jehovah, to the end of ch. 18. See Introduction for a complete analysis, and comp. Joshua 23:2, which shows that these magistrates were already appointed. Verses 18-20. - Moses had at an earlier period appointed judges to settle disputes among the people, and had given instructions to them for the discharge of their duty (Exodus 18; Deuteronomy 1:12-18). Whilst the people were in the wilderness, united as one body and under the leadership of Moses, this arrangement was sufficient; but a more extended arrangement would be required when they came to be settled in Canaan and dispersed in towns and villages over the whole land. In prospect of this, Moses here enacts that judges and officers were to be appointed by the people in all their gates, in all their places of residence, which the Lord should give them. Verse 18. - Judges and officers. The "officers" (shoterim, writers) associated with the judges both in the earlier arrangements and in that which was to succeed were secretaries and clerks of court, and acted also as assessors and advisers of the judges. No instruction is given as to the number of judges and officers, or as to the mode of appointing them; nor was this necessary. The former would be determined by the size and population of the place where they were appointed, and the latter would, as a matter of course, follow the method instituted by Moses in the earlier arrangement (see Deuteronomy 1:13-15; Exodus 18:21-26).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You are to appointתִּֽתֶּן־ (tit·ten-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set judges שֹׁפְטִ֣ים (šō·p̄ə·ṭîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate and officials וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים (wə·šō·ṭə·rîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7860: A scribe, an official superintendent, magistrate for your tribes לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ (liš·ḇā·ṭe·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe in every בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every town שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ (šə·‘ā·re·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate the LORD יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative is giving you. נֹתֵ֥ן (nō·ṯên) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set They are to judge וְשָׁפְט֥וּ (wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate the people הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock with righteous צֶֽדֶק׃ (ṣe·ḏeq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity judgment. מִשְׁפַּט־ (miš·paṭ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style Links Deuteronomy 16:18 NIVDeuteronomy 16:18 NLT Deuteronomy 16:18 ESV Deuteronomy 16:18 NASB Deuteronomy 16:18 KJV Deuteronomy 16:18 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 16:18 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 16:18 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 16:18 French Bible Deuteronomy 16:18 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 16:18 You shall make judges and officers (Deut. 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