“Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 23:7 Mean?
"Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked." God commands not just avoidance of falsehood but distance from it — "keep thee far." Don't just refrain from lying; stay away from situations, systems, and relationships where falsehood operates. The prohibition against killing the innocent connects directly to the justice system: don't let the courts become instruments of murder through false testimony or corrupt verdicts.
"I will not justify the wicked" is God's own commitment: he won't acquit the guilty, even if human courts do. The statement serves as both a warning to corrupt judges and a comfort to the falsely accused. If human justice fails, divine justice won't. God's refusal to justify wickedness is the ultimate backstop.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where in your life are you too close to 'a false matter' — and what would 'keeping far' look like?
- 2.When have you stayed silent while falsehood was destroying someone innocent?
- 3.How does God's promise to 'not justify the wicked' comfort you if you've been wrongly accused?
- 4.What does it cost you to maintain distance from falsehood in your workplace, community, or relationships?
Devotional
Keep far from a false matter. Not close. Not near. Far. God doesn't want you adjacent to falsehood. He wants distance between you and it — enough distance that you can't be mistaken for a participant.
This is more radical than just "don't lie." It means: don't be in the room where lies are being manufactured. Don't sign the document that you know is misleading. Don't stay silent when false testimony is destroying someone innocent. Don't participate in systems that produce unjust outcomes and call them justice. Keep far.
The innocent and righteous — slay them not. In the context of ancient Israel's justice system, this meant: don't let the courts kill people who haven't done anything wrong. But the principle extends to every sphere where you have influence over another person's life. Don't destroy someone's reputation with false accusations. Don't end someone's career with manufactured evidence. Don't assassinate someone's character because it's convenient.
And then the guarantee: "I will not justify the wicked." Human courts might acquit the guilty. False testimony might win the day. The powerful might escape consequences. But God will not justify the wicked. Period. If you've been wrongly accused, falsely condemned, or destroyed by lies — God sees. And his court doesn't make the same mistakes yours did.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And thou shalt take no gift,.... Of the persons whose cause is to be tried in a court of judicature before judges;…
Four precepts evidently addressed to those in authority as judges: (a) To do justice to the poor. Comparing Exo 23:6…
Here are, I. Cautions concerning judicial proceedings; it was not enough that they had good laws, better than ever any…
a false matter i.e., as the context shews, a case that can only be carried through with the help of false statements,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture