What is the meaning of Exodus 23:8?

Do not accept a bribe

“Do not accept a bribe…” (Exodus 23:8)

• God’s instruction is crystal-clear: any payment or gift meant to sway a decision is forbidden.

• The same prohibition appears in Deuteronomy 16:18-19, where judges are warned not to “accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise.” Consistency across passages reinforces that this is not a cultural suggestion but a timeless command.

• Proverbs 17:23 echoes the danger: “A wicked man receives a covert bribe to pervert the course of justice.”

• Refusing bribes preserves personal integrity and upholds God’s standard of impartial justice (Leviticus 19:15; James 2:1-4).

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for a bribe blinds those who see

“…for a bribe blinds those who see…” (Exodus 23:8)

• Bribery dulls moral perception. What once seemed obvious becomes blurry when money or favors cloud the conscience.

• Isaiah 5:22-23 warns against acquitting the guilty “for a bribe,” showing how distorted judgment spirals into societal decay.

• Deuteronomy 27:25 pronounces a curse on anyone who accepts a bribe to shed innocent blood, underscoring how blinding effects lead to grave injustice.

• Practically, accepting a bribe severs fellowship with the God who “shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34).

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and twists the words of the righteous

“…and twists the words of the righteous.” (Exodus 23:8)

• Bribery doesn’t just confuse the guilty; it perverts truth itself, bending the testimony of those who stand for what is right.

• Psalm 94:20 exposes rulers who “frame injustice by statute,” revealing how corruption weaponizes legal language.

• Isaiah 29:20-21 foretells judgment on those “who with a word make a man out to be guilty,” highlighting how bribery manipulates speech.

• Micah 3:9-11 shows leaders “who abhor justice” and “build Zion with bloodshed” because they “judge for a bribe,” illustrating institutional damage when righteous words are twisted.

• For believers, truthful speech is non-negotiable (Ephesians 4:25). Safeguarding it means rejecting any influence that would distort it.

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summary

Exodus 23:8 calls every believer to absolute integrity. By forbidding bribes, God protects clear sight, honest speech, and righteous judgment. When we refuse corrupt gain, we mirror His impartial character, safeguard the vulnerable, and keep truth from being bent out of shape.