Exo 23:3-6 | NET2full | STEP | and you must not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit .

‏ Exodus 23:3-6

3 and you must not show partiality ^{▼▼tn The point here is one of false sympathy and honor, the bad sense of the word הָדַר (hadar; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 237).} to a poor man in his lawsuit.

4 “If you encounter ^{▼▼tn Heb “meet” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).} your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return ^{▼▼tn The construction uses the imperfect tense (taken here as an obligatory imperfect) and the infinitive absolute for emphasis.} it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, ^{▼▼tn The line reads “you will cease to forsake him”—refrain from leaving your enemy without help.} but be sure to help ^{▼▼tn The law is emphatic here as well, using the infinitive absolute and the imperfect of instruction (or possibly obligation). There is also a wordplay here: two words עָזַב (ʿazav) are used, one meaning “forsake” and the other possibly meaning “arrange” based on Arabic and Ugaritic evidence (see U. Cassuto, Exodus, 297-98).} him with it. ^{▼▼sn See H. B. Huffmon, “Exodus 23:4-5: A Comparative Study,” A Light Unto My Path, 271-78.}

6 “You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.