John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. If there be a controversy between men , etc.] Between two or more: and they come unto judgment ; into a court of judicature, bring their cause thither: that [the judges] may judge them ; who were never less than three; the great sanhedrim at Jerusalem consisted of seventy one, the lesser court was of twenty three, and the least of all three only: then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked : acquit the one, whose cause is good, and condemn the other to punishment, who is guilty of a crime, and as that deserves; which is to do righteous judgment; the contrary to this is an abomination to the Lord, ( Proverbs 17:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Every punishment should be with solemnity, that those who see it may be filled with dread, and be warned not to offend in like manner. An though the criminals must be shamed as well as put to pain, for their warning and disgrace, yet care should be taken that they do not appea totally vile. Happy those who are chastened of the Lord to humble them that they should not be condemned with the world to destruction.
Original Hebrew כי3588 יהיה1961 ריב7379 בין996 אנשׁים582 ונגשׁו5066 אל413 המשׁפט4941 ושׁפטום8199 והצדיקו6663 את853 הצדיק6662 והרשׁיעו7561 את853 הרשׁע׃7563
