2 Chronicles 19:6

2Ch 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who [is] with you in the judgment.

Ver. 6. And he said to the judges.] He left them their lesson: and it is such, surely, as deserveth not only to be written in letters of gold on all seats of judicature and in all houses of judges, but also to be engraven upon the tables of their hearts.

Take heed what ye do.] Carete vobis, cavete populo, do all deliberately, and on good advice: looking well about you.

For ye judge not for man, but for the Lord.] Non tam mei quam Dei estis vicarii: It is God whom you represent. See therefore that ye do it worthy of God: and that you express not him to the world as a corrupt and crooked judge.

Who is with you in the judgment.] As lord paramount. It is as if Jehoshaphat had said, I cannot ride circuit with you, but God both can and will. The Ethiopian judges always reserved the chief place on the tribunal empty for God; of whose presence they were persuaded, though they saw him not.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Both to preserve you, if you do justly, or to punish you, if you do the contrary.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 6. Take heed what ye do] A very solemn and very necessary caution; judges should feel themselves in the place of God, and judge as those who know they shall be judged for their judgments.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(6) Ye judge not for man, but for the Lord.—’Tis not for man that ye will judge, but for Jehovah, as His vicegerents, and ministers of His will. (Comp. Rom_13:1-4.)

Who is with you in the judgment.—This rightly gives the sense of the brief words: “and with you in word of doom.” i.e., Jehovah will be present with you at the time of your giving sentence. (See on 2Ch_20:17, and comp. Psa_82:1-4 : “God standeth in God’s Assembly; in the midst of gods (i.e., judges) He judgeth.”) The LXX. and Vulgate misunderstand the passage; but the Syriac renders: “Be strong, and judge true judgment, and the Lord will be with you for ever.” (Comp. also Deu_1:17 : “The decision belongeth to God”; and Exo_21:6.) The name “Jehoshaphat” denotes Jehovah judgeth.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6. Take heed] R.V. Consider.

who is with you in the judgment] Render, and He is with you in giving judgment (cp. R.V. and mg.). The judges in deciding cases against the rich and powerful were to strengthen themselves with the thought “God is with us” (“Immanuel”).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you,.... And act as having that before your eyes, and on your hearts:

take heed and do it; do the commands enjoined them by him, and do judgment according to the law of God:

for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God; none in his nature, nor in his law; none commanded nor approved of by him, and therefore none should be done by his representatives in judgment:

nor respect of persons; whether high or low, rich or poor:

nor taking of gifts; he accepts not the faces of men, nor receives bribes, nor should his judges; this is forbidden by him, Deu 16:19.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And whatsoever. Heb. "who is with you in the judgment." The Lord will confirm you just decisions, and punish your injustice. H. --- God stood in the synagogue of gods, or judges, Psalm lxxxi. 1. Judges ought not so much to regard man as God, when they pass sentence. C. --- How then will the Anabaptists deny that a man may sit in judgment? T.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

You represent God’s person, to whom judgement belongeth, and you have your commission and power from God, and not from man only; and your administration of justice is not only for man’s good, but also for God’s honour and service.

Who is with you; both to observe your carriage, and to defend you against all those enemies whom the impartial exercise of justice may provoke.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 6, 7. The statement of the Divine principles laid down in these verses for the foundations of the "kingdom of heaven" on earth, and the doing of God"s "will on earth, even as it is in heaven," stretch from Moses and Job (Lev_19:15; Deu_1:17 Deu_10:17 Deu_16:19; Job_34:19) to SS. Paul and Peter (Act_10:34; Rom_2:11; 1Pe_1:17)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Lord - You represent God's person to whom judgment belongeth, you have your commission from God, and not from man only; and your administration of justice is not only for man's good, but also for God's honour and service. With you - Both to observe your carriage, and to defend you against all those enemies whom the impartial exercise of justice may provoke.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

He said to the judges

"Jehoshaphat said to the judges"

he is with you

Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh was aware of what the judges decided or 2) Yahweh would hold the judges accountable for their decisions or 3) Yahweh would help and guide them in their decisions. (See: Idiom)

let the fear of Yahweh be upon you

This can be expressed in active form. AT: "you should remember to fear Yahweh when you judge"

there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor is there any favoritism or bribe taking

The abstract nouns "iniquity," "favoritism," and "bribe" can be translated using the verbs "sin," "favor," and "bribe." AT: "Yahweh our God will not sin or favor one person over another in judgment or be bribed" (See: Abstract Nouns)

translationWords

judge

fear

iniquity

favor

bribe

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

for you do not judge for man The meaning is: Do not think in your heart: What difference does it make if we pervert the law to declare our friends innocent and pervert the rights of the poor and favor the rich? Is it not so that the judgment is not for the Lord? Therefore, it says, “for the Lord.” It is for Him. If you convict the innocent, it is as though you take from your Creator’s property and pervert the law of Heaven, by bestowing a distorted verdict. Therefore, “see what you are doing,” and may your heart be in every judgment, as if the Holy One, blessed be He, is standing before you in judgment, and this is the meaning of: “and [He] is with you in the matter of the judgment.” In Sanhedrin (6b) it is stated “What are you doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord.” This is explained [as follows]: Perhaps the judge will say, “How does this problem concern me?” Therefore, Scripture states: “and it is with you concerning the matter of the judgment,” i.e., it is incumbent upon you to rule justly. And the judge must deal only with that which he sees with his own eyes.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.