Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, New Living Translation “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. English Standard Version You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, Berean Standard Bible You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. King James Bible Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: New King James Version You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. New American Standard Bible You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to join together with a crowd in order to pervert justice; NASB 1995 “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; NASB 1977 “You shall not follow a multitude in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; Legacy Standard Bible You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a case so as to turn aside after the masses in order to cause justice to be turned aside; Amplified Bible You shall not follow a crowd to do [something] evil, nor shall you testify at a trial or in a dispute so as to side with a crowd in order to pervert justice; Christian Standard Bible “You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. Holman Christian Standard Bible You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. American Standard Version Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice: Contemporary English Version Always tell the truth in court, even if everyone else is dishonest and stands in the way of justice. English Revised Version Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest judgment: GOD'S WORD® Translation Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don't side with the majority to pervert justice. Good News Translation Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice. International Standard Version You are not to follow the majority in doing wrong, and you are not to testify in a lawsuit so as to follow the majority and pervert justice. Majority Standard Bible You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. NET Bible "You must not follow a crowd in doing evil things; in a lawsuit you must not offer testimony that agrees with a crowd so as to pervert justice, New Heart English Bible You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice; Webster's Bible Translation Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: World English Bible “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou are not after many to [do] evil, nor do you testify concerning a strife, to turn aside after many to cause [others] to turn aside; Young's Literal Translation Thou art not after many to evil, nor dost thou testify concerning a strife, to turn aside after many to cause others to turn aside; Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not be after multitudes for evil; thou shalt not answer for the multitude to stretch out after multitudes to pervert justice. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth. Catholic Public Domain Version You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil. Neither shall you go astray in judgment, by agreeing with the majority opinion, apart from the truth. New American Bible You shall not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When testifying in a lawsuit, you shall not follow the crowd in perverting justice. New Revised Standard Version You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shall you testify in a lawsuit so as to pervert justice, in order to side with a multitude which deviates from justice. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You shall not go after many to do evil and do not answer against judgment to turn away after many who do turn away: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to pervert justice; Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt not associate with the multitude for evil; thou shalt not join thyself with a multitude to turn aside with the majority so as to shut out judgment. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Justice and Mercy1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. 2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. 3And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.… Cross References Proverbs 1:10-15 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. ... 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. Deuteronomy 16:19 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. Proverbs 24:1-2 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; / for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble. Proverbs 4:14-15 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. / Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 1 Peter 4:3-4 For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. / Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. Matthew 23:2-3 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Treasury of Scripture You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shall you speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: follow Exodus 32:1-5 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him… Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. speak or answer to decline Exodus 23:6,7 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause… Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 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. Jump to Previous Bear Cause Court Crowd Decision Decline Dispute Evil Follow General Judgment Justice Masses Moved Multitude Opinion Order Others Pervert Side Speak Support Testify Turn Witness Words Wrest WrongJump to Next Bear Cause Court Crowd Decision Decline Dispute Evil Follow General Judgment Justice Masses Moved Multitude Opinion Order Others Pervert Side Speak Support Testify Turn Witness Words Wrest WrongExodus 23 1. Of slander, false witness, and partiality4. Of charitableness 6. Of justice in judgment 8. Of taking bribes 9. Of oppressing a stranger 10. Of the year of rest 12. Of the Sabbath 13. Of idolatry 14. Of the three feasts 18. Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice 20. An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. This command emphasizes the importance of individual moral responsibility, even when societal pressures encourage otherwise. In the context of ancient Israel, this directive was crucial as the Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations with differing moral codes. The principle here is timeless, warning against the dangers of conforming to societal norms that contradict God's laws. This echoes the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation from worldly practices, as seen in Leviticus 20:26, where God calls His people to be distinct. The New Testament reinforces this idea in Romans 12:2, urging believers not to conform to the patterns of this world. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God, including this commandment, and communicated them to the people. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God who were given these laws to guide their conduct and ensure justice and righteousness in their community. 3. Mount Sinai The place where Moses received the laws from God, including the commandment found in Exodus 23:2. 4. Judicial Context The setting in which this commandment is particularly relevant, emphasizing the importance of justice and truth in legal proceedings. 5. The Crowd Represents societal pressure and the temptation to conform to popular opinion, even when it leads to wrongdoing. Teaching Points Resist Peer PressureAs believers, we are called to stand firm in our convictions and not be swayed by the majority when it leads to wrongdoing. Uphold Justice In all situations, especially in legal matters, we must prioritize truth and justice over popular opinion or personal gain. Discernment in Decision-Making Seek God's wisdom and guidance to discern right from wrong, rather than relying on the consensus of the crowd. Courage to Stand Alone Sometimes following Christ means standing alone against the tide of popular opinion, and we must be prepared to do so. Influence of Community Choose your community wisely, as those around you can influence your actions and decisions, for better or worse.(2) Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil . . . --It is perhaps true that the offence especially condemned is joining with a majority in an unrighteous judgment; but the words of the precept extend much further than this, and forbid our being carried away by numbers or popularity in any case. Vox populi vox Dei is a favourite maxim with many, but Scripture nowhere sanctions it. Job boasts that he did not fear a great multitude (Job 31:34). David says that the "ten thousands of the people set themselves against him round about" (Psalm 3:6). The prophets had always the multitude against them. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way," said our blessed Lord, "which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." But 'wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" Matthew 7:13-14). We must be prepared to face unpopularity if we would walk in accordance with the Law of God.Verse 2. - Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. Rather, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to evil." A law alike for deed, for word, and for thought. The example of the many is to be shunned. "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." But "strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13, 14). It is extraordinary that so many, even of professing Christians, are content to go with the many, notwithstanding the warnings against so doing, both of the law and of the Gospel. Neither shalt thou speak, etc. Rather, "Neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to go aside after a multitude to put aside justice." The general precept is followed by a particular application of it. In judging a cause, if thou art one of the judges, thou shalt not simply go with the majority, if it he bent on injustice, but form thine own opinion and adhere to it. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You shall notלֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no follow תִהְיֶ֥ה (ṯih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be a crowd רַבִּ֖ים (rab·bîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 7227: Much, many, great in wrongdoing. לְרָעֹ֑ת (lə·rā·‘ōṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7451: Bad, evil When you testify תַעֲנֶ֣ה (ṯa·‘ă·neh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond in עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against a lawsuit, רִ֗ב (riḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute do not וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no pervert justice לְהַטֹּֽת׃ (lə·haṭ·ṭōṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend by siding לִנְטֹ֛ת (lin·ṭōṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend with אַחֲרֵ֥י (’a·ḥă·rê) Preposition Strong's 310: The hind or following part a crowd. רַבִּ֖ים (rab·bîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 7227: Much, many, great Links Exodus 23:2 NIVExodus 23:2 NLT Exodus 23:2 ESV Exodus 23:2 NASB Exodus 23:2 KJV Exodus 23:2 BibleApps.com Exodus 23:2 Biblia Paralela Exodus 23:2 Chinese Bible Exodus 23:2 French Bible Exodus 23:2 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 23:2 You shall not follow a crowd (Exo. 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