Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
You must not show favoritism to a poor person in their legal case.
God is teaching that true justice means treating everyone equally in court, regardless of whether they are rich or poor.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of ancient Israel, God was giving laws to Moses on Mount Sinai as part of the Covenant Code to guide the nation in establishing a just society after their exodus from Egypt. This specific verse in Exodus 23:3 warns against showing favoritism to the poor in legal disputes, emphasizing that justice must be impartial and not influenced by a person's social or economic status. Such instructions were essential for maintaining fairness in the Israelite judicial system, where biases could easily arise in a community dealing with various social inequalities.
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